This week marks the start of Black History Month. Every February Canadians acknowledge, learn about and celebrate Black History in our schools and around our communities. The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build.”

Esquimalt High School takes great pride in honoring and celebrating Black History Month, embracing diversity and fostering a sense of unity within our school community.

Join us at Esquimalt High in commemorating this important month by attending thought-provoking events and engaging in initiatives that promote cultural awareness, education, and appreciation for the rich contributions of Black history.

• Black Student Union hosts Black History Movie Night
• Special assembly with guest speaker
• Special displays in Library and Foyer
• Bake Sale
• Classroom Visits

Please find below resources for educators to support Black History Month education:

• Government of Canada Site has an excellent site with updated Canadian specific information and resources.
• BCTF: Black History Month resources
• The Alberta Teacher’s Association – link to resources
• Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids – Black History in Canada Digital Edition
• Canada’s History: The History of Black Canadians; Strength and Unity Lesson Plans (FR/EN) for Grades 5-12
• Canada’s History: Strength, Melanin and Estrogen Lesson Plans (FR/EN) for Grades 3-8 – Activities to explore the role that Black women play in the Canadian mosaic.
• Canada’s History: Turtle Island: A Picture of Afro-Indigenous History in Canada Lesson Plan Grade 5-8 – This lesson is based on the article “Black and Indigenous” in the expanded (2022) Black history in Canada issue of Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids.
• Scholastic Books for Black History Month and beyond K-12
• Black History Month Events around Victoria for the month of February

Find out more about influential black women in Canada’s history here and through our school library learning commons website.

Check out these community events to celebrate Black History Month in Victoria and BC and this online timeline about Black History in BC

(top row, title collage)

1. Marie-Joseph Angelique, slave in 18th century Québec who came to symbolize Black resistance
2. Martin Luther King Jr., political leader, U.S. civil rights activist
3. Harriet Tubman, former slave, leader of the Underground Railroad
4. Joe Fortes, citizen of Vancouver, lifeguard, swimming instructor (see also WestCoast Living article)

(middle row)

1. Dr. Eugenia Duodu, chemist, CEO of Visions of Science, educational charity
2. Lincoln Alexander, lawyer, first black MP, former Lieutenant Governor General, Ontario
3. Rosemary Brown, politician
4. Malcolm X, political leader, activist
5. Janaya Khan, storyteller, organizer, futurist, cofounder of  Black Lives Matter Canada

(bottom row)

1. Esi Edugoyan, novelist
2. Perdita Felicien, track and field hurdler, Olympian, world champion
3. Donovan Bailey, track and field sprinter, Olympian, world champion, entrepreneur, philanthropist
4. Afua Cooper, poet, author, historian, curator, performer, cultural worker and recording artist
5. P. K. Subban, hockey player philanthropist, entrepreneur, executive producer and fashion enthusiast

Find out more about these and other important people in the history of Blacks in Canada and around the world:

Canadian Black History Project: People You Should Know

Historica Canada: Black History Canada

HERstory in Black | CBC Multimedia Feature

Find out more about Black History Month.  Check out the displays in the school library and in this online collection.

This 10 minute clip from the NFB classic Journey to Justice introduces the history of blacks in Canada. It begins with a profile of Judge Stanley G. Grizzle and the second segment describes Viola Desmond‘s case in Nova Scotia.