Born and raised in Ghana, Edmund’s connection to its history runs deep. His maternal hometown, Elmina, is home to Elmina Castle (Fort St George’s)—one of the most significant landmarks of the transatlantic slave trade. Built by the Portuguese in 1482, the castle evolved from a gold trading post into a major center for the enslavement of Africans. 

“In the late seventies, a few hundred years after the castle was built, an extension of it was turned into a community secondary school,” Edmund recalls. “There was enough space for classrooms, a library, a canteen, administrative offices, staff common room, and even an assembly area. I was among the fourth batch of students to attend that school in the eighties.” 

Walking through the very corridors where enslaved Africans were once held left an indelible mark on Edmund’s understanding of history. To Edmund, the relived Castle experience represents the height of man’s inhumanity.  

You see the dungeons where captured slaves were kept, the governor’s balcony overlooking the courtyard where female slaves were held and occasionally selected and sent to the governor’s quarters. A chapel, paradoxically, also served as a slave market where people were traded and branded for shipment. Then there was the dreaded ‘door of no return,’ where slaves were lowered into canoes and sent out to ships bound for the Americas.

In 2013, Edmund moved to Canada, bringing with him a unique perspective on Black history and identity. While he acknowledges the need for Western countries to address historical injustices, he also sees the opportunities Black people receive in Canada. 

Canada is a multicultural country that offers opportunities for people from different backgrounds to succeed. So, despite my issues with the history of the slave trade, I think Black people here could have the opportunity to better their circumstances. 

He reflects on his daughter’s journey in Canada as an example of this possibility. From being a reserved student in Ghana to becoming the President of the Faculty of Arts Student Body Council at the University of Manitoba, she found an opportunity to lead and be an advocate for others. “I asked her if she could have done the same in Ghana, and she said, ‘I don’t think so. Because I found the space here, and I moved to occupy it.’” 

For Edmund, Black History Month is more than just a time to reflect on the past—it’s an opportunity to highlight Black achievements and contributions worldwide.

The late Jamaican reggae musician Peter Tosh said, ‘No matter where you come from, as long as you are a black man, you are from Africa.’ Black History Month naturally emphasizes the struggles, but it also showcases our ability to break glass ceilings across the world as Black people.

While Canada has made strides in embracing Black culture and history, Edmund believes it is ultimately up to Black communities to claim their space. “It’s not necessarily Canada’s responsibility to define our presence. The country has shown openness; now it’s on us to share our stories and push forward.”

Stories like Edmund’s remind us of the importance of honouring the past while forging a path toward a brighter, more inclusive future. 

UM Today asked several members of the UM community for their thoughts on the significance of this month. Hear what they said and read on to learn about UM’s commitment to Black flourishing and anti-racism, including planned BHM events.

Reflecting on BHM: In their own words

Ghislaine Alleyne, a change and improvement specialist at UM, thinks of Black History Month as “our time to share, celebrate and understand Black histories and our current reality.”

She adds, “It is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements and influence on culture. It is also an opportunity to teach and learn about the impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and chattel slavery—the roots of anti-Black racism—on our communities. This year, in particular, as we see a rise in racism and anti-immigrant sentiment in Canada and the U.S. (and in many other countries), we must reflect on what that means and how we can work to oppose it in all forms.”

Alleyne cites this quote from the late, renowned Black American author and activist James Baldwin, “To accept one’s past—one’s history—is not the same thing as drowning in it; it is learning how to use it.” The quote is from Baldwin’s book of essays, The Fire Next Time, which explores the roots of racism and the possibility of change, delving into religion, justice, and the Black experience in America.

For Afua Mante, assistant professor of soil science, celebrating Black history month is “our opportunity as Canadians to: reflect and confront our past on our active participation in enslaving black people, including children, from the sub-Saharan Africa during the trans-Atlantic slave trade; create the ethical space for black people to share their truth; confront anti-black racism; acknowledge the immense contribution of black people throughout the life of Canada; and carry out our ethical and constitutional responsibility in recognizing each other as equal and work together to protect, celebrate, and navigate our multiculturalism, which is the hallmark of our Canadian heritage and identity.”

Mante is a presenter at a Black History Month panel organized by Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences on the topic, “Canadians and Black history: Navigating our multiculturalism to strengthen our True North.” The event takes place Feb. 4 (more information below).

Black History Month for Melissa Gayle is “a time of reflection, pride, and celebration, a moment to honour the excellence and resilience of Black individuals who have shaped history and left a lasting impact on the world. It is an opportunity to acknowledge their achievements, celebrate their contributions, and reflect on the work still needed to ensure Black people are fully recognized as equals in society,” she says.

“It is also a time to recommit to creating spaces where Black communities are supported and empowered to thrive,” she adds. Gayle is program coordinator and assistant to the director at the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, Asper School of Business.

Read on for BHM events taking place over the next month.

UM BHM events

Many interesting events take place during Black History Month—a sampling of 2025 events is listed below.

Also check out the 2025 UM Promoting Black Flourishing Fund projects and events, many of them student events. This annual fund provides one-time funding to support initiatives by Black members of the UM Community and Black UM-affiliated groups and organizations.

UM KEYNOTE EVENT

Anti-racism and the ‘fierce urgency of now’: Courage, mutuality and accountability

Dr. Malinda S. Smith, Associate Vice-President (Research-EDI), political science professor, University of Calgary. Weaving together legacies of Canadian hidden figures in the academy, such as Violet King, Sophia B. Jones, Ivy Lawrence Maynier, Frank Wright and Kenneth Melville, this keynote highlights principles of mutuality and accountability and our shared responsibility to combat racisms.

Date: Friday, Feb. 14
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Theatre B, Basic Medical Sciences Building (hybrid event)
 

OTHER UM BHM EVENTS

Race, resistance and freedom: Black feminist thought on settler colonialism
The Distinguished Visitors Lecture Series presents: Dr. Sarah Riley Case, McGill University
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 28
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Room 204 Robson Hall

Movie screening: Bob Marley: One Love
Includes a panel discussion and guest speaker Nadine Powell
Date: January 29
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Landmark Cinemas, Grant Park
 

Changing the Narrative Bookclub, organized by ACMP and curated in support of Black Student Collective, meets to discuss chapter 8 of A Certain Amount of Madness: The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara (reading materials at link).

Date: Friday, Jan. 31
Time: 6 to 7:15 p.m.
Location: Rm 409 of the Tier Building
 

Celebrating Black excellence in health care

Hosted by the Black and Racialized Student Support Group in collaboration with the College of Nursing’s Anti-Racism Committee. Featuring cultural dance, a vibrant fashion show, spoken word performance and keynote address by the Hon. Uzoma Asagwara, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care.

Date: Monday, Feb. 3
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Helen Glass Atrium (Nursing), Fort Garry campus
 

Canadians and Black history: Navigating our multiculturalism to strengthen our True North

Panel discussion organized by Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 4
Time: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Carolyn Sifton Lecture Theatre, 130 Agriculture Building, 66 Dafoe Road

3rd annual anti-Black racism as a mental health concern

Working in solidarity: Confronting Structural Discrimination and Mental Health Inequities.

Organized by Dr. Warren Clarke, UM professor of anthropology, with guest speaker Dr. Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey (McGill University), and several panelists including these from UM: Dr. Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity); Dr. Heidi Marx, dean, Faculty of Arts: and Dr. Peter Donahue, dean, Faculty of Social Work. Free. In-person and online.

Date: Friday, Feb. 7
Time: 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Round House Auditorium, 319 Elgin, Red River College, and ZOOM
 

Panel: Why anti-racism matters to data / Why data matters to anti-racism

This panel will explore data collection, governance and analysis in the context of social practices, knowledge frameworks, and power relations. (Office of Equity Transformation Data Justice Series)

Date: Thursday, Feb. 13
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Concourse Lounge, University College, Fort Garry campus
 

Black History Month celebration: Empowering voices: Amplifying Black narratives in leadership

Organized by the Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP), this event features keynote address by the Hon. Uzoma Asagwara, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care, and catering by D&M Flava.

Date: Friday, Feb. 28
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Location: Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, 319 Elgin, Red River College, and ZOOM

For more events, also see the Black History Manitoba February 2025 events calendar

BHM stories and resources

Stories

Dr. June Marion James reflects on Black History Month: The acclaimed Black physician and previous UM Distinguished Service Alumni Award recipient on the challenges and successes throughout her life and medical career.

Reflecting B(l)ack and moving forward: A legacy of a life well lived

‘It’s not just a moment’: Professor Warren Clarke on the mental health effects of anti-Black racism

UM endorses the Scarborough Charter to address anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion

Resources

• The UM Black Alliance, or UMBA officially formed in 2019 and addresses challenges and honours the important history, people and experiences of UM’s Black communities.
• The Racial Equity and Inclusion Alliance (REIA): A student-led organization under the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) which aims to empower racialized identities on campus
• UM Black Student Union: A community organization strengthening and supporting the Black community at UM.
• Black Students Community at UM: An UMSU community group for Black Students at the University of Manitoba.
• Changing the Narrative Bookclub (Black Students Collective)

Education and awareness

• Canadian Black history(BHMWinnipeg)
• Black history and human rights(Canadian Human Rights Museum)
• Being Black in the Prairies(CBC Interactives / Omayra Issa & Ify Chiwetelu)
• Being Black in Canada(CBC)
• Black History Month(Government of Canada)

Anti-racism at UM

UM is committed to being a community where anti-racism is embraced. This momentum is endorsed in UM’s latest strategic plan, MomentUM: Leading Change Together, in fostering a vibrant community. It’s propelled by the equity and anti-oppression work by UM community members and the Office of Equity Transformation, and through UM’s Anti-Racism Task Force, formed in February 2022. Read more on UM’s Anti-Racism website and learn about the steps we’re taking to ensure UM is a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

In 2022, UM announced it signed the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black racism and Black Inclusion, a historic document that commits UM to combat anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in higher education and communities, based on four principles: Black flourishing, inclusive excellence, mutuality, and accountability. 

In August 2020, UM’s Rady Faculty of Health Sciences passed the first anti-racism policy of any faculty or post-secondary institution in Canada, developed with the faculty’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion anti-racism working group. Read the UM learning module for the Disruption of all forms of racism policy.

Clarke has been organizing similar events since 2018 and they’ve been held across Canada and even in Barbados, he said. 

Some previous barbershop talks focused on sexuality and sexual health, well-being and relationship building within peer groups, he said. 

“It’s been a very important conversation for many Black men and boys,” he said. 

To read the entire article, please follow the link to CBC Manitoba.

The annual fund is an initiative of the Office of Equity Transformation. Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity) says, “We are happy to once again support a variety of community-led initiatives that further Black flourishing and contribute to fostering a vibrant UM community. I want to thank the students, faculty, and staff for their efforts in showing us what Black flourishing means to them.”

Created in 2021 to reflect UM’s commitment to anti-racism and the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black racism and Black Inclusion, the fund embraces the diversity and complexity of Black peoples through supporting and affirming Black voices and investing in Black initiatives at UM.

Fund applications were due in October, with successful applications receiving funding for projects that must take place by March 31, 2025.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Note: Some projects are also funded through other sources.

Changing the Narrative book club

• Date and time: Friday, January 31 from 6 to 7:15 p.m.
• Location: 409 Tier Building (Fort Garry campus)
• The book club, organized by the Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) in support of the Black Student Collective, creates space for centering Black stories and literature. This reading and discussion will focus on the book, “A Certain Amount of Madness: The Life, Politics and Legacies of Thomas Sankara”.
• Instagram: @changingthenarrative.um
• Email: changingthenarrative.um@gmail.com

Finding Your Voice: Black Health Symposium

• Date and time: Saturday, February 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Location: Joe Doupe Concourse, Basic Medical Sciences Building (Bannatyne campus)
• The UM Black Medical Students Association (BMSA) is hosting a symposium for black undergraduate and high school students with an interest in pursuing healthcare as a profession. The full-day event will consist of panel talks, keynote speakers, and educational workshops to address systemic barriers and unique challenges faced by black learners and to help instill confidence to thrive in the medical fields.
• Register here.

Working in Solidarity: Confronting Structural Discrimination and Mental Health Inequities

• Date and time: February 7, 2025 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
• Location: Round House Auditorium, 319 Elgin Avenue. Red River College, Exchange District Campus and online (zoom)
• The Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) in collaboration with UM’s Department of Anthropology and Red River College is hosting the 3^rd annual mental health event.
• The event, featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey from McGill University, will explore how the intersections of race, social class, immigration status, sexuality, and gender shape distinct mental health challenges among Black Canadians. Other panelists include:
  • Heidi Marx (Dean, UM Faculty of Arts)
  • Sana Maboob (Prairies Can, Senior Administrator to the Assistant Deputy Minister)
  • Jamie Moses (Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources of Manitoba)
  • Nina Condo (Community activist)
  • Peter Donahue (Dean, UM Faculty of Social Work)
  • Tina Chen (UM Vice-Provost, Equity)
  • Shreeraj Patel (Vice-President, Royal Bank of Canada)
• Register here.

See Yourself Here

• Date and time: Wednesday, February 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Location: Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Road
• Hosted by the Black Law Students’ Association in partnership with the Manitoba Indigenous Law Students Association, the event will include a panel discussion and opportunities for networking among BIPOC students, faculty, and legal practitioners. 
• Register here.

Empowering Voices: Amplifying Black Narratives in Leadership

• Date and time: February 28, 2025 from 5 to 9 p.m.
• Location: Manitou a bi Bii daziigae, 319 Elgin Avenue. Red River College, Exchange District Campus, and online (zoom)
• This Black History Month event is presented by the Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP), UM Faculty of Arts, UM Black Alliance (UMBA), Red River College, and University of Winnipeg. It will feature a keynote address from the Honourable Uzoma Asagwara (MLA for the Manitoba legislature).
• Register here.

The Black Experience podcast

• The soon-to-launched podcast, created by four University of Manitoba students, explores the challenges, triumphs, and everyday realities of Black students on campus, including topics like mental health, academics, and community life.
• Instagram: @theblackexperiencepod
• Email: contact@tbepod.com

See more Black History Month events

I established the Dr. Lawrence F. Douglas Fellowship to pay tribute to my father’s legacy and to acknowledge his simultaneously unique and familiar biography which is linked to the Caribbean’s history of colonialism, village life, and the complex journeying that defines Black life in the diaspora.  This fellowship will be awarded for the first time during the upcoming 2024-25 academic year.

Great expectations

Lawrence Fitzroy Douglas, self-portrait, 1970s

My father was born on January 17, 1927, in Mount St. George, Tobago, one of two Caribbean islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, located in the south-eastern area of the Caribbean. He died on April 14, 2017, aged 90, at his home in Winnipeg, MB.

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was a former British colony that achieved Independence in 1962.

Our family name, Douglas, is Scottish. It is the name of a plantation owner.

 The oldest of Eldred Douglas and Malvina (Lawrence) Douglas’s four children, heis named for both the Lawrence and Douglas families.

My father was the first in the family to receive a scholarship to attend high school. At that time there was no automatic transition from elementary to high school. Elementary school went to age 15 or16, and you either won a scholarship or your family could afford to pay for you to attend. My father won a scholarship and that’s how he was able to continue his education. He attended Hope Anglican Elementary School and Bishop’s High School in Tobago. While at Bishop’s, he sat for the Cambridge School Certificate Examination, becoming the second recipient of Bishop’s ‘House Scholarship’ in 1942. His childhood and lifelong friend Raymond Robinson, former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, was the first.

At that time there was no university in the Caribbean; the only available universities were far away, and people who managed to make it went through “tremendous hardship,” my father said.  

Graduating from high school he went on to work in the Education Department of Trinidad and Tobago.

For a few years, he danced professionally, performing at major arts events throughout the Caribbean, including the Festival of Arts in Puerto Rico in 1952 and Jamaica’s tercentenary celebration in 1955.

Lawrence Fitzroy Douglas

In 1956 he joined his younger brother, Eustace, already attending the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He knew nothing about Vancouver. Upon arrival he loved the city, mostly because of the mountains and the sea; “that was like Tobago to me when I was growing up. The hills and the sea, so that made me feel at home.”

It was hard to make money as students. He danced in dives and with his brother tried various grueling jobs like picking strawberries and working in a popsicle factory. Surviving, he said, was “touch and go” but they kept up their spirits and curiosity, even learning German in their free time.

His first academic job was in the department of anthropology and sociology at what is now  Western Washington University (WWU). After teaching , he left for the United Kingdom where he earned a PhD in sociology at the London School of Economics & Political Science in 1964.

I was born in the UK.

He then returned to teach at WWU, however he did not want to remain in Bellingham, because he never felt comfortable in the US.

Welcome to Winnipeg…

My father was recognized as an independent thinker, a mentor to young faculty, and a loyal friend who did not suffer fools.

In the 1970s, on one shopping trip to Eaton’s department store in downtown Winnipeg, he was the only Black person among a group of white men. The salesclerk, a young white woman, went to all of the white male shoppers to ask if she could help them, but she did not ask him. He said that he pretended not to notice what was going on but wrote it up as one of the assignments he gave his social psychology class to analyze. Laughing, he said “of course” the students started making excuses for the clerk’s prejudice.

The widow of a former student, who also hailed from the Caribbean, spoke of how her husband had been absolutely thrilled to have someone from Trinidad and Tobago as his professor. She said that he inspired her husband to work really work hard.

 “[H]is life has enriched so many others…and it has propelled us forward, to make life not only better for ourselves, but for those with whom we come into contact. Because we believe most strongly [that] we have to pay it forward – his work and his actions would go forward to making all of us better, to making a future better.”

In the words of another former student:

“You meet a few people in your life who forever change you. Douglas was one… He was a remarkable lecturer. He inspired us to open our minds, to think outside the boxes our culture and conditioning had created. He had high expectations-wanted original thinking, deep inquiry, and wanted us to articulate our thoughts in papers. He challenged students and his pet peeve, which I learned later, was being asked, ‘Will this be on the exam?’”

A man of many interests and talents (he had a lifelong love of photography he had a dark room built following his retirement). His friendships cross the globe. My father made and followed his own path and kept his own counsel. I marvel at his resolve, his fierce determination and though he would not use the word, courage, I marvel at his willingness to pursue routes less traveled. He did not know where his journey would lead when he left Tobago.

When the opportunity arose, my father was committed to raising me as a single parent, a father raising a daughter at a time when this was an unusual occurrence.

My father was my only parent. He has been the most influential person in my life.

My father’s intellect, uncompromising principles, and values have had, and continue to have, a profound influence on my life. In addition to teaching me the importance of critical thinking, he also imparted the importance of integrity. As he once said to me: without your integrity what do you have?

I grew up in a house where music boomed until the early hours of the morning. I fell asleep listening to the drama of Mahler and Bach, the brilliance of Billie Holiday, the ferocity of Nina Simone, and the poignancy of Roberta Flack.

I learned from the example that he lived. Just as my father’s family experiences drove him to sociology, I too became a sociologist.

I am indebted to my father teaching me to read at an early age, however, I was less enthusiastic of him doing my hair, along with his editing of my high school papers for English class, because according to my father, they were not teaching me to write.

This Fellowship is a way for me to honour my father, and it is also an opportunity to pay it forward, to offer dedicated support, in perpetuity, to Black graduate students in their academic journey.

Delia D. Douglas, PhD,
Director, Office of Anti-Racism
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

The Dr. Lawrence F. Douglas Fellowship will be awarded for the first time in the Department of Sociology and Criminology during the upcoming 2024-25 academic year.

Those who would like to make a donation to the scholarship can do so by visiting this website.

1. Can you share a pivotal moment in your journey in science so far that fueled your passion for biochemistry?

I think a moment that was quite significant for me was during an organic chemistry lab where we were required to make up our own experiment to form soap! I had never made my own experiment but after some research and planning, I had come up with a procedure. To my surprise, I successfully made soap in that lab experiment and that just showed me that I had creative potential and willingness to learn more and do more in biochemistry.

2. How has working in Sabin Kuss’s lab influenced your understanding of biochemistry? Are there projects you have been working on that excite you?

Working in Sabine Kuss’s lab gave me good work experience that one would normally not see in a classroom lab setting. Working with electrodes and whole grain toxins was really interesting as well as conducting the experiments. I mastered analytical techniques in electrochemistry during my term under her guidance that I know will be beneficial in the future for my prospective field in science. Currently, I am working on an exciting project that involves the effects of shift work (overnight working) on cardiovascular health during pregnancy and the effects it has on fetus development at the St Boniface research centre.

3. In your journey so far, have you experienced any unique challenges in the Faculty of Science? How have you navigated those challenges?

From experience, my specific focus, biochemistry, went through some course schedule changes in the semester that I declared it as my major. Some of the courses I had done were not considered prerequisites anymore and credit hours had been added to my list. I spoke to the science advisor about the situation, and she assured me that the extra credit hours could be fulfilled by any electives I wanted to take. She also encouraged me to always audit my degree every semester to make sure I stay on top of all requirements.

4. What can the department, faculty or university do to remove barriers that cause those challenges or support students in those areas?

I think the department can make the students aware of any major course changes concerning their prospective degrees well in advance before entering that specific faculty. This helps the student to better plan their courses and class schedules hopefully for future semesters.

5. Being part of the scientific community, how do you actively contribute to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion within the Faculty of Science?

I’m always looking out for opportunities in information sessions, skills workshops, poster competitions grants and awards to understand more about the options available to international students in science. Knowing all this I can help the next person in need of academic assistance or at the very least refer them to the right resources in making their decisions. At the end of the day, they deserve the correct information and the right guidance for their journey in university.

After moving to Canada in 1960, James graduated from the Faculty of Science in 1967 pursuing medicine with residency in paediatrics. She was the first woman of colour to be admitted to the UM’s Faculty of Medicine, where she was the innovator in asthma and allergies, developing Manitoba’s first ever Family Asthma Program.  

Her list of personal and career accomplishments is long, and she has been recognized with many accolades including a Manitoba Women Trailblazer Award, Order of Manitoba, and the Queen Elizabeth  50th  Jubilee Medal, among others.   

We asked Dr. James what Black History Month means to her.  

In our conversation, she noted that the month celebrates historical and ongoing challenges, triumphs, barriers, and experiences of Black people, including showcasing the importance of diversity for future generations. 

“It allows us to showcase who we are and what we’ve done,” she said. “Many people have realized that Black people can do many things for years. They have become top professionals, professional sports athletes, and accomplished things in various areas.” 

No matter where Dr. James was, she exercised her expertise and experience. Whether it was in hospitals, at board meetings, or as the CEO of an organizations, James leveraged this challenge of being seen as ‘different’ to be heard at the table.     

“Being a Black woman isn’t easy, and you get looked down on a lot,” she said. “However, when I was in the hospitals, I made sure to let everyone know I was the one in charge; people had to follow my lead and listen to me.”     

James found her community in her work, which provided her an intrinsic reward. She is former president of multiple organizations, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, Winnipeg Clinic, Manitoba Museum and Manitoba Museum Foundation, and the Congress of Black Women of Manitoba. She also served with other organization over the years, including the Citizenship Council of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the United Way Board of Directors and the “Improving a neighbourhood for a neighbour,” program with the Winnipeg Foundation. She established the June Marion James bursary at The Winnipeg Foundation, an annual bursary that goes to an international student at St John’s College at the University of Manitoba.      

“The most rewarding thing was working in communities,” she said. “I took much of what I learned regarding life lessons from my family and took them throughout my career.”    

Dr. June James continues to be involved in her community and was recently recognized for her accomplishments on featured on the Government of Canada Black History Month website about her work.  

Read more about Dr. June Marion James on the Doctor’s Manitoba website. 

These are just a few of the events and projects to look forward to this year as supported by the 2023-24 Promoting Black Flourishing Fund. (Note: Some projects are also funded through other sources.)

The annual fund is an initiative of the Office of Equity Transformation, which is overseen by Vice-Provost (Equity) Tina Chen. She says, “We’re excited to support these creative and diverse projects and events that further Black flourishing at UM and help to shape and redefine our community. This year’s community-led initiatives are very innovative, and include many student-led projects. I want to thank the students, faculty and staff for their vision and dedication to organising events, and for showing us what Black flourishing means to them.”

Created in late 2021, the fund reflects UM’s commitment as a signatory to the Scarborough Charter on anti-Black racism and Black Inclusion, and recognizing the diversity and complexity of Black peoples; supporting and affirming Black voices; and investing in Black initiatives at UM.

Fund applications are due each December, with successful applications receiving funding for projects that must take place early in the following year.

Read on for more details on this year’s funded projects! Note: Some event dates are TBC and a few have already passed; previous events were promoted via social media and in our Black History Month anchor story.

Learn more about the Promoting Black Flourishing Fund

See more Black History Month events

UMBA event

Supporting the Winnipeg Black Collective Event: Action Vision & Change dinner, symposium and keynote

Organized by UM Black Alliance (UMBA) & Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP)
Feb. 16
Fort Richmond Collegiate, 99 Killarney Ave.
https://weareacmp.com/third-annual-black-history-month-fort-richmond-collegiate-february-16-2024-5pm/
5:00 P.M. Black Business Showcase
6:15 P.M. Dinner by Winnipeg’s own D & M Caribbean Flava
7:30 P.M. Program

Keynote: Canada’s Black justice strategy co-author Zilla Jones, BMA, JD

The Afro Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) and the UM Black Alliance (UMBA) will host its third annual, one-day (in-person & online) Black History Month event. The evening’s festivities will celebrate Afro-Caribbean Black Canadian communities’ by paying homage to our history and celebrating Afro-Caribbean Black people’s great accomplishments in our present times. The evening’s social gathering will encourage audience members to dance, sing and contribute to a thought-provoking panel discussion on the Black experiences in Winnipeg, empowering our Black community members, and supporting local Black businesses and initiatives. Supported by the Promoting Black Flourishing Fund.

This event is partnered with the Royal Bank of Canada, Red River College and the Pembina Trails School Division to host this community-engaged event, with additional monetary sponsorship from the following UM faculties and departments: Faculty of Science; Faculty of Arts; Faculty of Social Work; Faculty of Kinesiology; UM IST; UM Libraries; Faculty of Graduate Studies; Asper School of Business James W. Burns Leadership Institute; Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Student events

Black Students Community Entrepreneurship Symposium

Feb. 8, 5 to 7 P.M.

Room 115 Drake Center, 181 Freedman Crescent.

This event will inspire innovative thinking, fostering a collaborative environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can network and learn from seasoned professionals. Snacks provided. More info at the Black Students Community Instagram.

Black Business Market

Feb. 9, 10 A.M. (9 A.M. for vendors)

Multi-Purpose Room (MPR), UMSU University Centre

Book a table, or come to browse the selection. More info at the Black Students Community Instagram.

Black Soul & Poetry Night

Black Students Union & UMSU

Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 to 9 P.M.
IQ’s Café & Billiards, 3rd floor UMSU University Centre

Join the Black Students Union & UMSU for an inspirational evening of powerful and passionate poetry at IQs Café & Billiards, with appetizers provided by Nyumbani African Delicacies. Students are invited to sign up and read or perform! 
Register and see more info at the Black students Union Instagram.

All are welcome at this free event!

The Black Café

Saturday, Feb. 24, 1-4 P.M.
543-544 University Centre (5th floor)

This will be the second annual event of The Black Student Empowerment Society [BSES)

A networking event that connects students with a mentor in a field of their interest and allow Black students to develop beneficial social networks. This event will gather mentors and interested students to discuss personal experiences, learn about potential career opportunities and inspire the Black student body to pursue their academic interests and aspirations.

Register and see more information on the BSES Instagram page @theblacksociety.um.

Black Traditions Gala Celebration

Saturday, Feb. 24, Time TBD

Multipurpose Room (MPR), 2nd Floor, University Centre

Black Students’ Union (IG)

This Black Students’ Union event features with traditional cultural attire and food, art, music and dance from across the spectrum of Black communities to show multicultural diversity.

The Black traditions social event provides a forum for students to connect with others within their cultural or academic community, improve their networking skills, and grow their student networks. There will be a runway session for different students, nationalities, and cultural groups and associations to display their best cultural wear, with the attendees selecting the best dressed from the entire showcase. Gift basket prizes will be created from donations from black-owned businesses to advertise their products to students looking to support black-owned businesses in Winnipeg. Performers will include a drum group and dance troupe, with dancing into the rest of the evening when all the presentations are done.

Nigerian Student Youth Gala

March 10-16 (TBC)

The UM Nigerian Student Association (IG) in partnership with the Nigerian Association of MB Inc (NAMI)

This networking and cultural celebration event features award presentations, a cultural fashion show, Nigerian food and Nigerian fuji music/Highlife music, and other genres of music by Nigerians in Winnipeg. An appreciation of resilient and innovative Nigerian youth and talents in Winnipeg and their achievements.

The event will embrace and enable meaningful and continuous improvement of the Nigerian community. The commitment and dedication taken by young and resilient Nigerian youths in fostering the development of the community by making services available for other students, engaging in community-based projects, and developing pathways for collaboration. Nigerian students who have created small businesses in Winnipeg to aid other Nigerians and students who volunteer for the growth of the community will be celebrated. The initiative will help to build students’ academic and professional networks as well as provide students with a holistic academic experience.

Eco-Empower Symposium: Inspiring Black Student Leaders for a Greener World

March 30

Sustainability For ME; Impact Leaders Connect

The 4-hour Eco-Empower Symposium kicks off with a reception, followed by keynote speeches on Empowering Black Student Leadership in Sustainability to set the tone for the day and a 40-minute panel discussion on “Leading sustainable changes in our personal lives, communities and globally.” A 30-minute networking workshop by Leadership Coach Natalie Bell will foster collaboration among participants during and after the Eco-Empower Symposium.

After a rejuvenating lunch break, the symposium will invite students to pitch their community engagement and development ideas, underscoring the symposium’s commitment to recognizing and supporting Black, Black Canadian, African, Afro-Caribbean, or Caribbean innovators. The event will conclude with a 30-minute networking session to strengthen connections and foster a sense of community and collaboration beyond the Eco-Empower Symposium.

Black High School STEM symposium

May, dates TBD

Black Volunteer Collective’s Let’s Talk Science organization

The Black High School STEM symposium  welcomes students from grades 8-12 in a two-day event where they connected with Black leaders in STEM via presentations and hands-on STEM activities. The symposium will opportunities for these youths to explore their curiosity in STEM and inspire them to pursue STEM thanks to the representation, they got to experience. This day-long event will be held in person.

1. Can you share a key moment from your journey in genetics and what sparked your interest in this field? Were there any specific experiences or classes that shaped your passion for genetics?

My interest in science was sparked from a very young age. I am a very curious person and I loved hands-on learning experiences such as science experiments. When I took my first genetics class at university, I discovered an interest in the intricacies of what sets us apart from each other. The Introduction to Human Genetics course not only deepened my understanding but also further shaped my passion for genetic diseases and exploring potential their treatments.

2. Have you faced any obstacles or unique experiences as an undergraduate student in this field? How have you navigated them?

Like many others, I faced challenges attending university online. Commencing my undergraduate journey virtually proved to be especially difficult, as I struggled to adjust to the new experience without the resources that would’ve been readily available in person. Upon transitioning back to in-person classes, I felt behind in both knowledge and experience. Fortunately, relying on my close circle for support proved helpful in navigating the new spaces. I highly recommend seeking guidance from professors or advisors, as I found their support to be incredibly beneficial.

3. How do you think the department, faculty or university could help remove these barriers and provide support?

The university has a lot of great resources; however, it may be challenging to navigate, especially for new students. I believe it would’ve helped me a lot if key resources were pointed out to me when I first started. It was always great to see them highlighted on UM Learn or incorporated into lecture slides. Additionally, I think it would be nice if your department or faculty suggested some student groups or other relevant student accounts you should stay up to date with. This could alleviate feelings of isolation and foster connections with other students in your program.

4. You are the VP for social media and marketing for the UMSU Women’s Centre and on the social media team for Black Student Empowerment Society. How do you actively contribute to fostering equity, diversity and inclusion within these roles?

In my role as UMSU Women’s Rep, I advocate and promote gender equity and inclusivity on campus through various initiatives. The Women’s Centre plan and host events that celebrate women’s achievements and contributions. We often collaborate with other student groups to create intersectional events that address the diverse experiences of women. We raise awareness about gendered based issues through campaigns and discussion sessions. On the black empowerment society, the social media team aims to use our platforms to highlight the diverse narratives of our community. We share resources and events that promote understanding and appreciation of diverse Black cultures.

5. How do your studies intersect with and complement your advocacy and leadership roles?

While advancing in my studies, I’ve noticed that there’s a lack of representation of Black Women within the field of genetics. Promoting diversity and inclusion goes beyond my official roles, my passion for advocacy extends into the science community as well. I believe that representation of individuals from diverse backgrounds in both health care and research ensures that studies do not overlook marginalized communities.

“I am honestly so grateful that I get to play at this level. I feel like it would be a disservice if I didn’t play with emotion or the passion that I do because I would just be disrespecting the game and the opportunity that I’ve been given. I enjoy every single moment of it.”

In the classroom, he’s in his third year in civil engineering. He loves “the physics and the math and bringing an idea to life.”

Aside from that, Obasoto is a leader in every sense of the word.

“As a black athlete, you can do a lot more things that just be good at your sport. The biggest part is learning how to inspire people and give people a better sense of oh, I can do that just based off your actions and the way you carry yourself. You have to think bigger than basketball. It’s so much bigger than basketball,” he says.  
 

Read the full story on Go Bisons website.

Catch Tito and the Bisons basketball team February 21-25 at the Canada West Men’s Basketball Championship Playoff Tournament.