This February, the City of Brampton, Black Empowerment Unit invites residents to honour Black History Month by participating in a wide range of events and programs that celebrate the achievements, contributions and legacy of Black Canadians.
All month long, the City‘s Black Empowerment Unit will lead and support educational programming, performances and activities that highlight the significant impact of the Black community in shaping Brampton as a compassionate, diverse and prosperous city.
Join us in celebrating Black History Month this February and the contributions of the Black community to Brampton’s rich cultural fabric.
Black History Month events and programming
Clock Tower Lighting
Date: February 1
Location: Brampton City Hall, 2 Wellington St. W.
The Brampton City Hall Clock Tower will be lit red, yellow and green to mark the beginning of Black History Month.
Launch Event: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants – Black Youth Making History
Date: February 2
Time: 4 to 9:30 pm
Location: The Rose Brampton, 1 Theatre Ln.
This event, an initiative of the City’s Black Empowerment Unit, will feature remarks from dignitaries, youth performances, 100 Youth Leadership awards and engaging discussions, including a fireside chat with actor and activist Danny Glover. Moderated by Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Gwyneth Chapman, Supervisor, Black Empowerment Unit, the event will also honour trailblazer Zanana Akande, the first Black female Cabinet Minister, with a VIP reception preceding the program.
Ticket information
A limited number of tickets are available for purchase, with a limit of two tickets per transaction:
- Upper Level: $10 and $20 tickets
- Lower Level: $100 tickets, which include access to an exclusive pre-event reception with Danny Glover at 3:30 pm.
Tickets can be purchased online at Brampton On Stage or visit the Rose Box Office.
The City thanks its generous sponsors, Algoma University, Sheridan College, Skills College Canada and Toronto Pearson.
Black History Month Celebration: The Story of Gloria Baylis Brought to Life
Date: February 7
Time: 7 to 9 pm
Location: Cyril Clark Lecture Theatre, 20 Loafers Lake Ln.
Join Enroute 2 Success for an evening honouring Gloria Baylis, a Barbadian-Canadian pioneer in workplace equity. The event features a dramatic play about her life, performed by the talented students from Mayfield Secondary School, followed by a panel discussion with members of her family. Register for this free event on Eventbrite.
Drums et Al: Tales by Moonlight
Date: February 8
Time: 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Location: Mount Pleasant Village Library, 100 Commuter Dr.
Join award-winning African Storyteller and Musician Babarinde Williams for an interactive hand drumming dance as we recreate the ancient African tradition of gathering children for storytelling and riddles under the moonlight. Learn more about this free event here.
Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC): Brampton Ignite Networking Group Event
Date: February 12
Time: 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Location: Brampton Entrepreneur Centre, 41 George St. S.
Hear stories of the passion, drive, and resilience of local Brampton business owners. For Black History Month, the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre is featuring a husband-and-wife duo (Marlon and Celina), owners of TMBUK2 Education, and their journey into the world of entrepreneurship. Free tickets available on Eventbrite.
For a complete list of events, visit brampton.ca/bhm.
About Brampton’s Black Empowerment Unit
The City’s Black Economic, Social, Cultural, Youth & Civic Development Unit (Black Empowerment Unit) is dedicated to eradicating systemic anti-Black racism within the City of Brampton and beyond. Led by Supervisor, Gwyneth Chapman, the Unit is developing a Black Empowerment Action Plan and will be holding community consultations later this year. Guided by local community stakeholders, work will be centered on uplifting the social, cultural and economic position of Brampton’s Black community. Learn about the Black Empowerment Unit here.
Additional Quotes
“Black History Month is a time to celebrate the rich contributions of Black Canadians to our city and our country. In Brampton, we are proud to honour Black excellence through diverse events and programming that educate, inspire and bring our community together. I encourage everyone to take part in the celebrations this February as we continue to build a more inclusive and equitable city.” – Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of BramptonGallery
