MONTREAL, January 31, 2005 --The Honourable Raymond Chan, Minister of State (Multiculturalism), invites all Canadians to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Black History Month."This February, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada. The celebration of Black history and culture in this country has grown from a modest community-level grassroots movement to full recognition by Parliament in 1995," said Minister of State Chan at a ceremony to launch Black History Month in Montréal. "Now, every February, Canadians from all across the country can participate in a wide range of events that salute the history and achievements of Black Canadians."To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Black History Month, the Government of Canada will tour the Black Ink/Encre Noir exhibition in four cities across Canada. The exhibition, which celebrates Canadian and international Black writers, will appear in Moncton, New Brunswick from February 1 to February 4; in Windsor, Ontario from February 7 to 11; in Prince George, British Columbia from February 14 to 20; and in Gatineau, Quebec from February 22 to 28.The Government of Canada also supports Black History Month with the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge, a competition held in honour of the first Black person to come to Canada. The annual challenge invites students aged 9 to 18 from across the country to submit an essay, a short story, a poem, or a piece of artwork that celebrates the contributions of Aboriginal people and Canadians of diverse racial and ethnic origins to Canada's development. More than 10 children from across Canada will be recognized at a ceremony in Gatineau on February 24, 2005.In addition to these events, communities and municipalities across Canada will host roundtables, forums, exhibitions, performances, and dinners, all to celebrate the contribution of Black Canadians to our society. "I invite all Canadians to join in these activities," said Minister of State Chan. "We all benefit when we learn something about one another's history and culture."Canada's Multiculturalism Policy promotes full and equitable participation in Canadian society for people of all origins and encourages interaction between communities of different ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. It also encourages public institutions to be respectful and inclusive of Canada's multicultural character.For a list of Black History Month activities going on across Canada, please visit our Web site at http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/multi/black-noir/index_e.cfmInformation:Roy BornmannOffice of the Minister of State(Multiculturalism)(819) 997-9900Myriam BrochuChief, Media RelationsCanadian Heritage(819) 997-9314
