Black Heritage Month 2022 kicks off in Guelph

There are several events and activities happening in Guelph through February — many of them being hosted by the Guelph Black Heritage Society.

With the calendar flipping into February, it marks the launch of Black Heritage Month in Guelph.

There are several events and activities happening in the city — many of them being hosted by the Guelph Black Heritage Society and many of them being virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since December 2020, the organization has referred to the annual observance as “Black Heritage Month” and not “Black History Month” as it’s commonly known.

President of the Guelph Black Heritage Society Denise Francis said in an interview on Monday that they made the switch because the term “history” focuses on the past and the narrative of slavery.

She explained that they want to look beyond that while still acknowledging the bravery of those who came before us.

“So we recognize the history and the experiences but we also call on our community to celebrate today, look towards the future and as well to honour the past,” Francis said. “So we feel ‘heritage’ more encompasses the past, the present and the future than the term Black History Month.”

Throughout the month, several buildings in downtown Guelph will also be lit red, gold and green representing the colours of the African Nova Scotian flag, which was first introduced in February 2021 and created by artist Wendie L. Wilson.

The flag, whose colours are used by people of African descent across the world, will be raised at city hall on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. to begin Black Heritage Month in Guelph.