Black History Month is celebrated every February in Canada. This month's theme is "February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day."

Since 1926, North Americans have been celebrating the contributions and achievements of Black peoples in some form. American historian Carter G. Woodson began this tradition with a week-long commemoration that eventually made its way to Canada and, in 1976, was extended to a month. It was officially recognized by the Canadian House of Commons in 1995 due to a motion put forth by the first black female member of parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine.

Today, the IRCC along with the Government of Canada continues to uphold the celebration of the Canadian Black Community and all that they have done, historically and presently, to build our nation. With the continued injustices experienced by people of colour both in Canada and across the border, the Government strives to acknowledge and combat systemic inequalities and barriers.

With this in mind, the theme for Black History Month 2022 is “February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day”. There will be a virtual celebration hosted by the Government of Canada on February 17, 2022 at 7 pm ET. The link to the event is available on the Government of Canada Black History Month webpage. Also included are digital tools such as downloadable backgrounds and images to post on social media accounts. You can also find resources on the history of Black History Month, notable Black Canadians, and important historical events.

Source: Canada.ca