UMUCCA Newsletter
Black History Month 2023
The 2023 theme for Black History Month: “Ours To Tell”
1978 – The Ontario Black History Society was established. Its founders, including Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks, presented a petition to the City of Toronto to have February formally proclaimed as Black
History Month.
1979 – The first-ever Canadian proclamation was issued by Toronto.
1988 – The first Black History Month was observed in Nova Scotia.
1993 – The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) successfully filed a petition in Ontario to proclaim February as Black History Month.
Following that success, Rosemary Sadlier (president of the OBHS) introduced the idea of having Black History Month recognized across Canada to the Honorable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
December 1995 – The House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by Dr. Augustine. The House of Commons carried the motion unanimously.