Every February, communities across Canada come together to celebrate the legacy and contributions of Black Canadians. Black History Month, recognized nationally since 1995 thanks to the advocacy of Dr. Jean Augustine - the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons - offers an important opportunity to honor these often-overlooked stories and achievements.
At YMCA Calgary, we are committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing that the celebration of Black history must extend beyond February. This month, we invite you to join us in amplifying the voices, stories, and cultures that shape Canada's rich history through educational initiatives and cultural events.
Attend an event at a YMCA Calgary branch this February:
- Black Ballerina, presented by YMCA Arts and Springboard Performance
- February 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM at Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton
- February 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge
- Syreeta Hector's Black Ballerina focuses on the dualities within one's identity, along with her own blackness and indigeneity in relationship to classical ballet. After gaining recognition at the SummerWorks Festival in 2019 and winning the Stratford Festival Lab Award for Research and Creation, Black Ballerina will hit the YMCA stages while on its international tour.
- Reclaiming the Narrative: Artist Talk at the Residence Inn by Marriott in the Harvest Cafe Space
- February 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
- Reclaiming the Narrative is an Artist Talk hosted in Downtown Calgary that will expand on Syreeta's performance of Black Ballerina. This performance focuses on the dualities within one's identity, along with her own blackness and indigeneity in relationship to classical ballet. Wakefield Brewster and Sabrina Naz will accompany Syreeta for the Artist Talk, connecting to their own experience living and practicing in Calgary as Black Artists.
- Live Painting with Syd the Artiste
- February 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM at Shawnessy YMCA
- February 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM at Melcor YMCA at Crowfoot
- Experience a masterpiece come to life right before your eyes. Calgary artist, Sydonne Warren, will be joining us at Melcor YMCA at Crowfoot and Shawnessy YMCA to create an original painting in celebration of Black History Month.
- Cardio Dance Classes
- February 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM at Saddletowne YMCA
- February 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM at Saddletowne YMCA
- We will be celebrating Black History Month at Saddletowne YMCA's Cardio Dance classes, led by our very own Caprice White. This fun and energetic fitness class will have you dancing like nobody's watching with popular moves from different Black cultural dance styles like soca, afro jazz, afro beats, hip hop, pop, dance hall and maybe a little bit of Caribbean folk dance! This class features high and low impact movement that may be modified to suite a variety of fitness levels.
- Hip Hop Dance Classes
- February 7, 2025 at 4:30 PM at Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton
- February 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Shawnessy YMCA
- February 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge
- Get ready to pop, lock and dance in this fun aerobic workout! Christopher is a founding member of one of Canada’s oldest, active break crews, the Original Rudes. He has 18 years of dance experience and teaches hip-hop dance throughout schools in Alberta and local outreach organizations, such as Refreshed and the Boys and Girls Club.
- AfroJazz Dance Classes
- February 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Remington YMCA in Quarry Park
- February 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM at Melcor YMCA at Crowfoot
- Join AfroJazz instructor Chelsea for a class that combines the modern form of dance with its original African ethnic roots. The dance focuses more on rhythm and improvisation, keeping it simple and cultural.
- Pink Shirt Day / Black History Month Celebration at the Genesis Centre
- February 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM at Saddletowne YMCA (Genesis Centre Common Area)
- The annual Pink Shirt Day celebration will take place in the Genesis Centre common area on February 26. Along with activities and exhibitors, this year's event will also incorporate performances from Black artists to celebrate Black History Month.
- Saddletowne Community & Staff Events
- February 12, 2025 Art & Creative Night at 6:00 PM
- February 14, 2025 Movie Night at 5:00 PM
- February 21, 2025 Basketball Game (staff vs. youth) at 3:00 PM
- From a staff vs. youth basketball game to movie and arts nights, Saddletowne YMCA has a full list of activities for their community members in celebration of Black History Month.
Attend a Black History Month community event in Calgary or online:
- Black History Month - Panel webinar hosted by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI)
- February 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM Eastern
- This webinar delves into the distinction between commemoration and memorialization of Black History Month. We’ll explore how Black history is not just a past to be remembered, but a presence that shapes culture, activism, and legacy. This session invites you to engage with leaders in the field, reflecting on how we can honor Black history every day, beyond February.
- Annual Black History Month Dinner hosted by the Calgary Black Chambers and Heritage Park
- February 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
- Enjoy your evening while celebrating Black excellence, showcasing Black talent in music, dance and art, fundraising through phenomenal live auction items, great food, with great people. Tickets include a 3 course meal, welcome appetizers, 2 complimentary drink tickets, a chance to win a door prize including a Heritage Park and Calgary Black Chambers experience and an evening filled with fun!
- Black History Month Storytime with Cheryl Foggo and Miranda Martini at the Calgary Public Library (Nose Hill)
- February 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM
- Join us for a special Black History Month Storytime for a reading of Howdy, I’m John Ware and other stories, songs, and finger plays the whole family can enjoy. Enjoy a Q and A about John Ware with Cheryl Foggo and a musical performance by Miranda Martini.
- Black History Month Storytime with Wakefield Brewster at the Calgary Public Library (Central Library)
- February 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
- Join us for a special Black History Month Storytime with Calgary's 2022-24 Poet Laureate, Wakefield Brewster. Enjoy familiar stories followed by a performance of Wakefield's spoken word poetry that will inspire and motivate all ages.
- Ethnik Festival of Arts & Culture
- February 21-22, 2025
- The Ethnik Festival of Arts & Culture is a dynamic platform where art, history, and culture come together to celebrate Black heritage and the contributions of the Black diaspora to Canadian society. Expect an immersive experience that highlights local and international artists, performers, and thought leaders who bring the essence of Black culture to life.
- Mobilizing For Change: Addressing Anti-Black Racism Conference at the University of Calgary
- February 27-28, 2025
- This hybrid conference will serve as a dynamic platform to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration aimed at eradicating anti-Black racism. Highlights of the event include:
Read books by Black authors
- Black History Month
- Children’s Books for Black History Month
- Black History Month for School-Aged Kids
- Birth to 5 – Books for Black History Month
Watch or screen films by Black Canadian filmmakers
Expand your knowledge
- Black on the Prairies | CBC
- Black History in Canada | The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Black History Is About More Than Oppression | LaGarrett J. King
- Black Studies programs you should know about | Toronto Star
- Why the Black struggle in Canada has all but been erased. Two historians explain our blind spot. | Toronto Star