Honouring the achievements, culture and legacy of the Black community through events, performances and educational programming throughout February.
BRAMPTON, ON (January 27, 2025) – 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.
Celebrate Black History Month in Brampton and enjoy events, performances and educational programming in February. Credit: City of Brampton.
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 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.
The City thanks its generous sponsors, Algoma University, Sheridan College, Skills Council of 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.
AI Made Easy: Bias in AI
Date: February 13
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Location: Chinguacousy Library (Chinguacousy Park Ski Chalet) 9050 Bramalea Rd.
Join Edwina McKennon from FuturIQ Inc. for a workshop that demystifies artificial intelligence and may revolutionize your work and everyday life. Suitable for beginners and those curious about practical AI applications. Registration required. Learn more and register
here.
The Black Actors Film Guild Canada’s Annual Convention and the Canadian Black Screen Awards
Date: February 15
Time: 3 to 9:30 pm
Location: Brampton City Hall Conservatory, 2 Wellington St. W.
The Black Actors and Film Guild Canada is holding their Annual Convention during Black History Month to bring together stakeholders, industry leaders and creatives to foster collaboration, mentorship and growth. There will be guest speakers, insightful panel discussions and networking opportunities. The evening will close with the distribution of the Canadian Black Screen Awards. The Awards celebrate and recognize Black excellence in the arts, culture, and community service and are given to outstanding individuals categories, including filmmakers, actors, musicians and performing artists. Get your free tickets to this event
here.
BEC: Brampton Startup Youth Huddle
Date: February 18
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Location: Brampton Four Corners Library, 65 Queen St. E.
Join the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre to connect with like-minded individuals, gain insights from successful startup founders and elevate your business. In celebration of Black History Month, we are proud to feature two distinguished entrepreneurs from the Black community: Marc Goode, a Technical Project Manager and Agile Business Coach and Christine Diaz, a seasoned technology and business professional with an MBA in Business and Entrepreneurship. Free tickets available on
Eventbrite.
Brampton Tech Talks: Highlighting Black Entrepreneurs
Date: February 20
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Location: Springdale Library, 10705 Bramalea Rd.
The Economic Development Office will host a discussion spotlighting success stories from Black-owned businesses in Brampton. Panelists will share their journeys, the challenges they’ve faced and the support systems that have helped drive their success.
Pan-African Flag Raising
Date: February 21
Time: 12 to 1 pm
Location: Ken Whillans Square, 41 Main St. S.
Soulful Creations – A Celebration of Black Art and Cuisine
Date: February 21
Time: 5 to 8 pm
Location: Susan Fennell Sportsplex Youth Hub, 500 Ray Lawson Blvd.
Youth are invited to celebrate Black culture through an immersive experience of art and cuisine in this engaging community event. Savour authentic meals inspired by Black cuisine and create unique artwork inspired by renowned Black artists. All materials will be provided –
registration is required and will open one week before the event.
Black History Month Career Expo
Date: February 25
Time: 3 to 7 pm
Location: Century Gardens Recreation Centre, 340 Vodden St. E.
Explore career opportunities with City staff and community partners of the Black community, showcasing pathways for success.
Tales Woven in Hair: A Braiding Workshop
Date: February 25
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Location: Gore Meadows Library, 10150 The Gore Rd.
Dive into the use of braids as a means of resistance with Lishaina Leach. Attendees will learn about historical braiding styles and have a chance to create their own braid art at the event. Registration required. Learn more and register
here.
Black Empowerment Unit School Event
Date: February 27
Time: 9 am to 2 pm
Location: The Rose Brampton, 1 Theatre Ln.
Brampton’s Black youth will come together for an inspiring day emphasizing achievements of Black Canadians and creating pathways for the next generation.
Celebrate Black History Month with Brampton On Stage
Throughout February, Brampton On Stage will host exciting performances at The Rose, including HYPE curated by Jemane Kent on February 6, and Jully Black on February 14. Visit
Brampton On Stage’s website for more information.
Brampton Fire and Emergency Services
For the third year in a row, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services (BFES) willTo honour the many achievements and contributions of the Black community. BFES will have a dedicated fire truck showcasing the contributions from the Black community that helped shape the international fire service, serving as a learning and education opportunity for the Brampton community.
Brampton Library
Black History Month at Brampton Library features reading recommendations, a reading challenge and programs and events for all ages. Discover recommended books and other resources to learn about Black history anytime at
bramptonlibrary.ca.
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. Lead 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.
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 Brampton
“At the City of Brampton, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion. Black History Month offers us an opportunity to recognize the achievements of Black Canadians and reflect on the important work needed to address systemic barriers. Together, we can build a future where everyone feels empowered and supported.” - Marlon Kallideen, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton
“Black History Month is not just a celebration of history but also a call to action for equity, empowerment and education. We honour the past, celebrate the present and work towards a future where the contributions of the Black community in Brampton are fully recognized and valued. I am proud to help lead initiatives that amplify Black voices, Unite and Build our community to unleash the untapped potential within our community and create lasting impact in our city and throughout the country.” - Gwyneth Chapman, Supervisor, Black Economic, Social, Cultural, Youth & Civic Development Unit
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As one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, Brampton is home to nearly 800,000 people and more than 100,000 businesses. People are at the heart of everything we do. We are energized by our diverse communities, we attract investment and we are embarking on a journey to lead technological and environmental innovation. We partner for progress to build a healthy city that is safe, sustainable and successful. Connect with us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Learn more at brampton.ca
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