~from the TDSB web

Black people in Canada have diverse backgrounds and experiences – while some can trace their roots in Canada for many generations, others have immigrated in recent decades.

Black Canadians are connected by a common African history and ancestry. The African-Canadian population is made up of individuals from a range of places across the globe including, but not limited to, the United States, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Canada.

There were almost 1.2 million Black people living in Canada in 2016. The Black population is diverse and has a long and rich history in Canada.

Among the Black population born outside of Canada, the source countries of immigration have changed over time. More than half of this population who immigrated before 1981 were born in Jamaica and Haiti. Black newcomers now come from about 125 different countries, mainly from Africa.

The African Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee continues to name, notice, and disrupt anti-Black racism through their organized initiatives shared throughout the TDSB and commitment to hold space for Black students, staff, parents, families, and elders to heal, to celebrate and to thrive. We are excited to share more information about African Heritage Month.

Calendar of Events:

African Heritage Month Celebration Launch

Monday, February 1, 1 p.m.

Black Student Alliance Webinar: How to Start a Black Student Alliance

Wednesday, February 10, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Stronger than Hate (link to come)

Thursday, February 25, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Know Your Worth Conference

Saturday, February 27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Know Your Worth Conference for Educators

Saturday, May 29, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Toronto District School Board is proud to recognize Chinese Heritage Month (CHM) during the month of February 2021. This year is the Year of the Ox: Loyal, Honest, Responsible, Hard-Working and Logical. Many Chinese Canadians will celebrate Lunar New Year on Friday, February 12. Lunar New Year is also known as the spring festival and begins with the first moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar 15 days later. Though celebrations will be altered this year because of the pandemic, the spirit and joyfulness will remain the same through virtual events and in-home family-based festivities.

Copies of the winning posters from our poster challenge with students from all grade levels across the Toronto District School Board will be posted soon.

Live, Virtual Program

A presentation by the Toronto District School Board’s African Heritage Committee, Jewish Heritage Committee, Liberation75, USC Shoah Foundation, and Peel District School Board.

SAVE THE DATE

February 25th, 2021, 1-2 pm

(link to be provided at a later date)

Surprise Guest Host/Student Panel

Moderator

Dr. Stephen D. Smith

Executive Director Chair, USC Shoah Foundation

Special Guest

Max Eisen

Toronto-based Holocaust Survivor, author of the award-winning “By Chance Alone”

Special Guest

Joe Wilson Jr

Author of “The 761st “Black Panther” Tank Battalion in World War II, Son of Joe Wilson Sr, a member of the 761st Tank Battalion

Special Guest

John L. Withers II

Author of “Balm in Gilead”, former UN Ambassador to Albania and

Son of Lieutenant John L. Withers, a WWII soldier who befriended and saved two Jewish Holocaust Survivors

Student participants in this program (Grades 6-12) will explore how stories create the possibility to learn about ourselves and others, and how we can affect change right now.

The 761st Tank Battalion was the first all African-American Tank Battalion in World War II. They were instrumental in helping defeat the Nazis as well as liberating several concentration camps. Holocaust survivor Max Eisen was in one of the camps they liberated.

Our world has seen an increase in Anti-Black racism and Antisemitism. This conversation will help us consider what we have learned from history and witnesses to genocide, and reflect on how that knowledge can help us take action to counteract hate.

For teacher resources:

https://sites.google.com/tdsb.on.ca/the761stbattalion/the-black-messiah

For more information – shari.schwartz-maltz@tdsb.on.ca; 416-518-5551