Each February, Black History Month provides the opportunity for celebration and serves as a strong reminder that Black history is our history. This year, the City of Mississauga, in partnership with the Black Caucus Alliance, will be recognizing the accomplishments of Mississauga’s Black community and shining a spotlight on talented artists, authors, musicians and more who are amplifying local Black voices and stories.

“Black History Month is a time for education, reflection and celebration in Mississauga. Diversity truly makes Mississauga shine, and we are committed to supporting the rich culture, heritage and history of Black Canadians in our City,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “While we have taken many positive steps forward, we acknowledge that there is more work to do as a City and community to tackle systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination. Through the leadership of the Black Caucus and their Black Community Engagement Report, the City of Mississauga has a blueprint to empower and create more space for the Black community, and will continue to make progress to move these recommendations forward.”

A variety of events, exhibitions, activities and programs will be taking place throughout February.

“We are pleased to continue to work with the City of Mississauga addressing anti-Black racism and working to create a more inclusive, equitable and accessible city,” said Linden King, Chair of the Black Caucus Alliance. “Celebrating Black History Month and hosting an evening of celebration to recognize those in the Black community is one way we can showcase the beauty of our Black culture and raise awareness about injustices we continue to face.”

Black History Month
Events, exhibits, tours and activities

EVENTS

Celebrating Black Excellence
Friday, February 24, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Mississauga City Hall, Great Hall
Free

An evening to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of Mississauga’s Black community. The celebration involves musical guests, keynote speakers and an awards ceremony. Nominations for the Black Excellence awards, which focus on the efforts and achievements of Mississauga’s Black residents and volunteers, are now being accepted. Mississauga residents can be nominated in five categories: health, youth, community, legacy and business. Nominations are being accepted until Friday, February 10.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the formal program gets underway at 7 p.m.

Learn more and plan your nomination

Africville Stories
Friday, February 3, from 8 to 10 p.m.
Living Arts Centre
Prices vary based on seating

Africville Stories is Joe Sealy’s new presentation that builds on his Juno award-winning Africville Suite. Africville Stories will present poignant and uplifting new stories about the people and their community.
Get tickets

Cirque Kalabante – Afrique en Cirque
Thursday, February 23, from 7:30 p.m.
Living Arts Centre
Prices vary based on seating

The Afrique en Cirque show symbolizes the strength, agility and joy of life found in African youth. A handful of daring acrobats, accompanied by their musicians, perform to the pulsating rhythm of the djembes of Guinea with their authentic and original choreography and acrobatics.
Get tickets

Black History Month Market
Friday, February 24, from 4 to 9 p.m.
Small Arms Inspection Building
Free

A Black History Month event hosted by The New Youth Council
Shop local Black-owned businesses, hear from community historians, and celebrate Black excellence in Mississauga. The event is being hosted in partnership with the Museums of Mississauga and the City’s Recreation division.
Book your tickets

Raptors 905 vs. Cleveland Charge Basketball Game
Thursday, February 2, from 7:30 p.m.
Paramount Fine Foods Centre
Prices vary based on seating

The Raptors 905 will dedicate their Thursday, February 2 game to Black History Month with the team wearing special jerseys all month.
Get tickets

Author Talk – Zalika Reid-Benta
Wednesday, February 22, from 7 to 8 p.m.
Virtual Event – Through WebEx
Free

Join award-winning author Zalika Reid-Benta and learn more about her story collection Frying Plantain. This story collection won the Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Literary Fiction.
Enroll today

Black History Month
Thursday, February 2, from 6:30 p.m.
Malton Library
Free

A special event celebrating the Love of Literacy. The event will include book readings, a meet and greet and a reception with Black Canadian authors. This event is will be held at the Malton Library and Community Centre in partnership Malton Neighbourhood Services.

TOURS

Black History in Ontario Museum
Throughout February
Bradley Museum
Free

This tour explores the Black experience in Upper Canada in the 19th century and local connections to enslavement and the Underground Railroad.
Book a guided tour

Cedar Park & Cherry Hill House– Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History
Throughout February
Benares Historic House
Free

This tour explores the lives and experiences of Black families in the Peel region in the 19th century. It encourages visitors to examine the gaps in our historical record and sharing of local history.
Book a guided tour

EXHIBIT

Unearth Uncover
Tuesday, February 7 to Saturday February 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Small Arms Inspection Building
Free

An exhibition inspired by plaques commemorating significant people, places and events in Black Canadian history. This exhibition is available to view during public hours.
Book your experience

A modified version of the full Unearth Uncover exhibition will travel to and be showcased at select Mississauga facilities throughout February.

ACTIVITIES

Library Storytime
Throughout February
Malton Library
Free

Visit Malton Library for special Family Storytime events with guest readers from the Black community or to check out the Black Authors display in the library all month.

School Programming
The Black Settlers in Peel school program is available to book until June 2023. Within this program, held by the Bradley Museum, explore what we know and don’t know about the history of early Black settlers in Peel region and discover the experiences of people who lived in the past.
Learn more

Reading Lists
Looking for some recommended reading this February? Check out Mississauga Library’s fiction and non-fiction eBook reading lists for our picks of best Black Canadian authors.

Playlist
To recognize and honour local Black musicians and artists, a music playlist – Black Excellence in Sauga – has been curated to showcase the incredible diversity of musical talent in Mississauga. The playlist has a wide range of music styles from punk-rock to hip-hop, jazz and pop, and will be in rotation all month long at the Mississauga Celebration Square ice rink.
View the playlist tracks on Spotify.

For more details and information about Mississauga’s Black History Month, visit mississauga.ca/black-history-month

Tags

• Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)