Together we are stronger: Defence Team Black History Month event 2026
February 20 2026 - Defence Stories
Estimated read time: 1:52
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Black History Month Event 2026 Speakers.
From left to right: Colonel Bishop, Andrew Au, Rear-Admiral Olivier, Rosemary Sadlier, Charlene Engmann and Major Carter.
On February 5, the Defence Team gathered for an impactful Black History Month event marking the 30th year that Black History has been recognized in Canada. Organized by the Defence Team Champions for Racialized Persons and supported by a team comprised of the Defence Team Racialized Persons Advisory Group (DRPAG) and the Defence Team Black Employees Network (DTBEN), among others, the event was attended by over 1,800 people, both in person and online.
The event was moderated by Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Olivier, Defence Team Co-Champion for Racialized Persons, who briefly explored the major milestones in the evolution of Black History Month across North America, Canada, and within the Defence Team.
Co-Chairs from DRPAG and DTBEN both spoke about their organization's important roles in the Defence Team, the impact of events like Black History Month, and the importance of representation of Black people at all levels of the Defence Team.
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Vocal performer Fabierre Bonaparte.
In a moving vocal performance, Fabierre Bonaparte, wowed the audience with a powerful and uplifting version of Destiny’s Child “Stand Up for Love”. Her voice reminded us that even in difficult times, we are not powerless.
RAdm Olivier then introduced keynote speaker Rosemary Sadlier, a nationally recognized historian, educator, and social justice leader who was instrumental in both the official recognition of February as Black History Month across Canada, and the formal establishment of Emancipation Day on August 1. Ms. Sadlier spoke about her family’s connection to the No. 2 Construction Battalion, which she didn’t learn about until well into her adulthood. She highlighted that despite facing significant barriers and periods of limited recognition, Black Canadian Armed Forces members have built a powerful legacy of courage, resilience, and excellence in service to Canada. She also reminded attendees that while positive and lasting progress is being made within the Defence Team to remove historic institutional barriers, “Black contributions to Canada’s defence are not optional. They are essential.”
During the question-and-answer session, Ms. Sadlier offered reflections on her experiences and provided insight into how each member of the Defence Team can contribute to lasting change, creating a stronger, more inclusive Defence Team.
In his closing remarks, RAdm Olivier underscored that together, we are strengthening a Defence Team that reflects the values of the country we serve, one grounded in dignity, respect, fairness, and shared purpose.
If you missed this year’s event, you can view auto-generated video recordings (accessible only on the National Defence internal network).
- Live sound (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
- English Only (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
- French Only (Accessible only on the National Defence network)
Resources
- Canadian Armed Forces Apology for Racial Discrimination and Racial Harassment
- Employee Assistance Program (24/7)
- Military Mental Health Services
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
- Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace
- Learning Resources: Combatting systemic racism and racial discrimination in the Defence Team