02/11/2021
Black History is not always celebrated or highlighted in Canada, but here's a quick history on how it came to be.
In 1978, the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) was established. They presented a petition to the City of Toronto to have February formally proclaimed as Black History Month, and the first-ever Canadian proclamation was issued in 1979 by the City.
In 1993, the OBHS successfully petitioned the same to the province of Ontario. Rosemary Sadlier, president of the OBHS, then introduced the idea to establish this across the country to the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
In December 1995, following a motion introduced to the House of Commons by Dr. Augustine, February was recognized as Black History Month across the entire country.
Happy