Black history organizations and educational resources

There are many organizations and educational resources across the country devoted to the promotion and awareness of Black Canadian history. Below you can find some organizations and insightful resources.

• Organizations
  • British Columbia
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
• Educational resources
• Special thanks

Organizations

British Columbia

• British Columbia Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS)
  The British Columbia Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS) celebrates the achievements of Black people in British Columbia by creating an awareness of the history of Blacks in B.C., stimulating interest in their stories, and celebrating historical and contemporary achievements and contributions. Their website offers a rich learning centre with resources, articles, reports, videos for everyone including educators, parents, students, families, and researchers.

New Brunswick

• New Brunswick Black History Society
  The New Brunswick Black History Society is dedicated to the research, analysis, documentation and preservation of New Brunswick's Black History. The NBBHS gathers information concerning New Brunswick's Black residents, past and present; promotes awareness of New Brunswick's Black history; encourages the Black community and the general public to work together; and works towards increasing the presence of Black History in New Brunswick's educational system.

Nova Scotia

• The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
  The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia is a museum and library resource centre that focuses on the history and culture of African Nova Scotians, striving to educate and inspire, and to protect, preserve, and promote Black culture in Nova Scotia.
• Black Loyalist Heritage Society
• The objectives of the Society are to:
  • develop, preserve, promote, protect and exhibit the history and heritage of the Black Loyalists and their descendants
  • promote universal recognition of the ancestry of the Black Loyalist Society as a nascent Canadian heritage community, having been among the original settlers of Canada, and having had no prior citizenship in any other country
  • cultivate and contribute to the economic prosperity of the Black Loyalist community through participation in community development initiatives
  • actively participate in Canadian multiculturalism campaigns, projects and other efforts toward social cohesion
• In 2015, the Black Loyalist Center was created to promote Black Loyalists as an integral part of Canada's heritage and to foster the economic prosperity of the Black Loyalist community.

Ontario

• Amherstburg Freedom Museum
  Previously known as 'the Black Museum', the Amherstburg Freedom Museum is a community-based, non-profit museum that tells the story of African-Canadians' journey and contributions, by preserving and presenting artifacts that educate and inspire.
• Black History Ottawa
  Black History Ottawa is a registered Canadian charity with a mandate to advance education by increasing the public's knowledge and appreciation of, and by carrying out research in, the history, culture, traditions, and achievements of Canadians of African descent.
• Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
  Founded on the original site of the Elgin Settlement that served as a terminus on the Underground Railroad for Black people fleeing oppression, Buxton National Historic Site & Museum's main purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret historical artifacts related to the Elgin Settlement.
• Ontario Black History Society
  The Ontario Black History Society is a non-profit registered Canadian charity dedicated to the study, preservation and promotion of Black history and heritage.
• Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site
  Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site sits on part of the original property purchased in 1841 by abolitionist Josiah Henson and his supporters to establish a refuge for the many fugitives from slavery in the United States.  It consists of an interpretive centre, three historic buildings, two cemeteries and numerous artifacts that were preserved as a legacy to these early pioneers.
• Slavery to Freedom
  Explore an important chapter of Ontario's history through visits to the many Black heritage sites and museums across the province.

Quebec

• Black History Month – Montréal
  The Round Table on Black History Month is a non-profit organization that promotes activities highlighting both the history and the contemporary situation of Black communities in Quebec.

Saskatchewan

• The Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum Inc. (SACHM)
  SACHM is a provincial organization whose primary purpose is to celebrate, explore, research, document and preserve the history, heritage and contributions of people of African ancestry.

Educational resources

• Anti-Slavery Movement in Canada – Library and Archives Canada
  In 2001, at the invitation of the J'Nikira Dinqinesh Education Centre, Library and Archives Canada commemorated the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada in 1851 with this exhibition.
• Black History Month in Canada's Digital Collections
  Canada's Digital Collections (CDC), produced in partnership with Industry Canada includes Black history related content.
• Black History Canada Portal
  An annotated guide to online resources on the history of Canada's Black community.
• Canadian Encyclopedia: Black History in Canada
  The Canadian Encyclopedia plays an essential role in providing Canadians and others with accurate, updated information about our people and country.
• Mary Ann Shadd Cary – Library and Archives of Canada
  Discover the records documenting Mary Ann Shadd Cary's abolitionist activities and personal life.
• Remember Africville – (National Film Board of Canada)
  This short film depicts Africville in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Former residents, their descendants and some of the decision makers speak out and, with the help of archival photographs and films, tell the story of that painful relocation.
• Remembering Black Loyalists, Black Communities in Nova Scotia
  This virtual exhibit is based on the physical exhibit of the same title produced by the History Section of the Nova Scotia Museum in 1999–2000. That exhibit was one of the products of the project Remembering Black Loyalists, Black Communities.
• Underground Railroad – Historica Foundation
  The acclaimed Historica Minutes (and specifically, the Underground Railroad) are one-minute movies that portray exciting and important stories from Canada's past.
• Virtual Museum of Canada – On the Road North – Black Canada and the Journey to Freedom
  The Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC) uncovers the history of Black Canadians and their contributions to the establishment of Canada. The project was completed in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and is available for display in your region.
• Digital Museums Canada – BC's Black Pioneers: Their Industry and Character Influenced the Vision of Canada
  In 1858, leaving behind an increasingly racist and divisive America, some 800 educated and skilled Black men and women came to the Colony of British Columbia, at the invitation of its Governor, Sir James Douglas. Discover the stories of determination, achievements and endurance of these intrepid pioneers, who helped lay the foundation of a newly colonized Vancouver Island, while also contributing to Canada's development and diversity.

Special thanks

We would like to give a special thanks to the following organizations for their valuable input and contributions:

• Amherstburg Freedom Museum
• Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
• Black History Ottawa
• The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre
• British Columbia Black History Awareness Society
• Buxton National Historic Site and Museum
• George Elliott Clarke
• Ontario Black History Society
• Round Table on Black History Month
• The Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum Inc. (SACHM)