Jan. 28, 2025 – The City of St. Catharines invites residents to celebrate the start of
Black History Month with a special launch event and the unveiling of an art exhibit at
City Hall.
The City will host the launch event on Feb. 3, at 11:30 a.m. in Council Chambers,
located on the third floor of City Hall. The event will include remarks from Mayor Mat
Siscoe as well as performances from acclaimed jazz, soul and pop artist Juliet Dunn,
and a poetry reading from Elzhraa Akasha. Following the program, a flag-raising
ceremony will take place on the front lawn of City Hall.
“The City is honoured to collaborate with local partners to celebrate Black History Month
in a meaningful way,” said Shannon McHugh, Manager of Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion. “The launch event and art exhibit offer opportunities for education, reflection,
and celebration as we highlight the contributions and stories of Black Canadians.”
Following the flag-raising ceremony, residents are invited back inside City Hall to the
second floor for the unveiling of the art exhibit–Reclaiming Narratives: A Black
Resistance, presented in partnership with Future Black Female, Blackowned 905, the
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines Public Library, and the St.
Catharines Downtown Association. This exhibition shares stories as a mode of
resistance against the erasure, silencing, and marginalizing of the Black experience.
The featured artworks challenge dominant perspectives and bring forward stories that
have been marginalized or erased.
The exhibit will remain on display on the second floor of City Hall from Feb. 3 to April 1
and can be viewed during normal business hours, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. An extension of the exhibit will also be on view at the FirstOntario Performing
Arts Centre in the Joy Williams Lobby.
“When we reflect on the importance and relevance of Black History Month to all
communities across Canada, we see why we need diverse representations of the
histories and stories of Black people,” said Dr. Tapo Chimbganda, founder and
executive director of Future Black Female. “What better way than through art, a medium
that appeals to all of us.”
A variety of other events and programs are also taking place in St. Catharines to mark
Black History Month.
Variety Show (Feb. 8, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Future Black Female, Blackowned 905, the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre and the
St. Catharines Downtown Association are hosting a free, family-friendly variety show at
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre – 250 St. Paul Street. The event will celebrate the
talents of Niagara’s Black and Afro-Caribbean communities in a fun and varied
presentation. Vendors will be on-site in Algoma Lobby in the afternoon.
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre has several programs and
offerings that highlight Black History in our community.
On the Liberty Line: Early Black History and the Underground Railroad in St.
Catharines. Book 90-minute tours for grades six to 10 where students will trace the
journey to freedom through a history of slavery and emancipation, racism and prejudice
while exploring the lives of St. Catharines’ first African Canadian settlers in this
interactive program. More at stcatharines.ca/MuseumPrograms.
Pop-Up Exhibit Rentals: Rent a pop-up exhibit on the Last Stop: The Underground
Railroad in St. Catharines for your classroom, library, or common learning space for
$29.95. Appropriate for grades four to 12. Meet significant individuals with local
connections to the story of the Underground Railroad, including Frederick Douglass,
Mary-Ann Shadd, Anthony Burns, and Harriet Tubman. Visit
stcatharines.ca/MuseumPrograms for more information.
Museum Blog Series: The museum will offer a new blog series in February related to
the experience of freedom seekers in St. Catharines during the Underground Railroad
period. Find the series at stcatharinesmuseumblog.com.
St. Catharines Public Library
Discovering Niagara’s Freedom Trail (Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.): This presentation
by historian Rochelle Bush will explore the network of sites and notable figures
connected to the Underground Railroad in Niagara. The event will take place in the
program room, at the Dr. Huq Family Library Branch. Register at
stcatharines.ca/LibraryFreedomTrail.
Art Exhibition (on view Feb. 3 to 28): Visit the central branch of St. Catharines Public
Library at 54 Church Street and celebrate art created by kindergarten students from
across Niagara. The art exhibit, coordinated by Future Black Female, can be found in
the atrium display. While visiting the Central Library, be sure to check out the Norval
Johnson Heritage Centre collection which includes several books, vertical files, and
other resources that document primarily local, Canadian, and U.S. Black History.
For more information about Black History Month events visit the Downtown
Association’s website at stcatharines.ca/BlackHistory.