Guelph Black Heritage Society
83 Essex Street N1H 3K9 Guelph, ON, Canada

#ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit Giveaway ONE! We are so excited to be able to host FOUR giveaways in the next few weeks to provide the opportunity for people to attend this years #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit! The Anti-Racism Summit is an inclusive event and ALL are welcome to attend. The first giveaway includes: ... ONE Full Pass for this years #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit! GBHS Tote Bag Heritage Hall Toque GBHS T-Shirt GBHS Mug #ChangeStartsNow Lanyard Read below for instructions on how to win: 1. Follow @guelphblackheritage! This will get you one entry!! 2. Like the giveaway post for an entry! 3. Tag your friends and community in the comments. Each tag is worth an additional entry! 4. Reposting the giveaway post to your story will also give you an additional entry! This giveaway will be open until Friday, April 16th at 1pm EST! Good luck to everyon and be sure to check back on Friday at 2pm EST for giveaway two! #GBHS #ARS #Giveaway #weekly #SupportLocal

Please Do Not Dump at Heritage Hall The Heritage Hall is not a community garbage dump. The garbage and recycling bins are for the exclusive use of the Guelph Black Heritage Society. Thanks for your Cooperation.... #gbhs #notacommunitydump #pleaseberespectful #ChangeStartsNow

Ignoring our nation’s brutal history of racism and colonial violence feeds into the false narrative that Canada’s past is tolerant, unproblematic and only crossed paths with slavery as a country that helped slaves escape via the Underground Railroad. But the reality is that Canada participated in the transatlantic slave trade and under the institution of chattel slavery, Black people were considered tradeable commodities and moveable property, free to be bought, sold and ...inherited. While we know minstrelsy, slavery and segregation existed here, so too does a lingering legacy of racist Black Canadiana and Americana memorabilia also known as contemptible collectibles. In last Friday’s post, we discussed Blackface as being a signature of minstrel performances but you can also find it in homes all over the world. These contemptible collectibles are dolls, ceramics, decorations and ornaments, etc. that perpetuate insidious and deeply-rooted anti-Black stereotypes. These objects often depict exaggerated caricatures of Black slaves that are subservient, docile and goofy and were very popular as toys or decorations for white people. The Mammy caricature is one of the most well-known anti-Black caricatures from this era; with exaggerated features in a maid gown and matching headscarf, depicted as being an obedient, jolly Black woman who is happy to be a slave. These physical pieces of anti-Black racism are being sold and collected all over the world, sometimes at exorbitant price points. And although they were popularized during the Jim Crow era, to this day you can still find evidence of racist memorabilia across Guelph, seen in Mammy kitchen items like jars and salt & pepper shakers, as well as lawn jockeys and other antique collectibles. In a constant, active effort to dismantle racism in our communities, we encourage you to take any opportunity you can to share stories like this and educate those around you. Visit WWW.CHANGESTARTSNOW.CA to register for the Change Starts Now Anti-Racism Summit, running April 29 - May 2, 2021. Connect Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow #Guelph #GBHS

The #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Summit is open to everyone who wants to learn, grow, and better understand how to address and dismantle racism in their lives and in their community. Every session and event is inclusive to all, except for the following TWO events: Black Community Town Hall Thursday, April 29 2021, 6pm-7:30pm. A Black-identifying space only, for attendees to feel safe, heard and seen. Improv with Velvet Duke Sunday, May 2 2021, 12pm-2pm. A space for BIPOC-...identifying youth only. Visit WWW.CHANGESTARTSNOW.CA to purchase tickets for the conference, running April 29 - May 2, 2021. Connect Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow #Guelph #GBHS

Co-Create 2021 is a 4-week residency from May 3 June 4, 2021 hosted by local Guelph organizations Bumaroo and Otherwise Studios. Co-Create is a collaboration residency program for emerging and established artists, musicians and creatives of all kinds in which residents are selectively paired with a creative in another field and are provided with the tools and resources to collaborate on a capstone project. Priority will be given to the Guelph-area community, as well as B...IPOC and LGBTQ2+ artists. Successful applicants will be notified and thoughtfully paired with a collaborator based on their artistic practices, interests, and goals for the program. Apply for Co-Create Residency 2021 before April 23 by submitting an application form online at https://cocreateresidency.com/apply-now/

The Black Town Hall planning committee, in partnership with the Region of Waterloo is hosting a Covid-19 Q&A session. During this session a panel of health care professionals will answer your questions from the community about the COVID-19 vaccines. They will be joined by health care professionals from the Black community to address your Covid-19 and vaccination questions. For more information about this event and to register visit: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/region-of-waterloo-black-town-h

AFTERSHOCK: BIPOC ARTISTS We ARE our ancestors’ wildest dreams and we want to help you, creatives, with your dreams. Art allows us to communicate ensuring that we are heard visually, vocally, and spiritually. To give you a boost in your artistic journeys and careers the Cultural Diversity Office, Guelph Black Heritage Society, and Guelph Black Students’ Association would like to present your art in an installment of AFTERSHOCK. The installment will be available on an onlin...e platform throughout the month of February 2021. Those participating in the art show will receive a $100 honourarium for their contribution. We are looking for digital art submissions - this includes photography, short films, animation, digital painting, vector drawing, photo painting and any other type of artistic media created on a computer. The show will also welcome non-digital art pieces presented in a digital format (for example, a photograph of a painting). Let the art ignite the change you wish to see in the world. For more information: https://www.guelphblackheritage.ca/events/ Application Deadline Extended: January 14th, 2021 at 11:59pm #GBHS #BLM #Aftershock #DigitalArt #SupportLocal #community #diversity #UofG See more

Guelph Museums Ring in the new year Listening and Learning! As we start the year in lockdown, we are taking advantage of quiet moments to listen and learn from those working to make Guelph the best it can be. #HistoryHelps #CultureCares Guelph Black Heritage Society... We were inspired by the thousands of people who marched in downtown Guelph last June in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We are grateful to the Guelph Black Heritage Society for the work they do to preserve and share Black history and to celebrate Black culture in Guelph. As we strive for racial equity and social justice, we encourage you to visit guelphblackheritage.ca and follow Guelph Black Heritage Society. The Black Past In Guelph: Remembered and Reclaimed and #ChangeStartsNow are excellent resources.

Black Heritage Month The Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) has announced it will recognize February 2021 as Black Heritage Month. GBHS President, Denise Francis, proposed the change to Black Heritage Month. ... "We must empower our community by allowing them to see their history as magnificent." This month will commemorate past and present accomplishments within the Black community and set sights on our bright future ahead. The GBHS calls on the community to honour our past, celebrate today, and look forward to the future. Do you want to see change? #GBHS #BHM #BlackHeritageMonth #February #celebrate #blackhistorymonth #namechange #ChangeStartsNow #guelphcommunity See more

HAPPY KWANZAA In 1966, Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Black Studies at California State University, created Kwanzaa. Following the Watts riots and in response to the racial tensions across America, Dr. Karenga researched ways to unify the Black community around specific principles to forward Black progress. ... His research focused on the African harvest celebrations or traditions called first fruit. Dr. Karenga integrated and combined several different African first fruit harvest traditions to form the celebration we know as Kwanzaa. The seven principles (nguzo saba) of Kwanzaa utilize Kiswahili words: Unity (umoja), Self-determination (kujichagulia), Collective work and responsibility (ujima), Cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), Creativity (kuumba) Faith (imani). Each of the seven candles signify the principles. #guelphblackheritagesoceity #gbhs #happykwanzaa #kwanzaa #blackandproud #blackstories #blackhistory #ChangeStartsNow See more

MERRY CHRISTMAS - HAPPY HOLIDAYS Happy Holidays to You. From all of us at the Guelph Black Heritage Society - we thank you for such a powerful year and for everything our community has done for us. We are forever grateful for the love, the support and the memories we have created this year.... #gbhs #ThankYou #volunteers #community #Guelph #Ontario #MerryChristmas #HappyHolidays #NewYear #2021goals See more

A COMMUNITY PARTNER and FRIEND Royal City Brewing Company We are so thankful for community partners like Royal City Brewing. For years, Royal City has been a great partner, supporting the GBHS in events, donations and overall kindness. ... We are so happy to call this business our friends! We truly are so grateful for each of you. You can still place your orders with them during this time. They have local delivery or pick up for Guelph! #guelphblackheritagesoceity #royalcitybrew #royalcitybrewing #happyholidays #thankful #communitysupport #guelphcares See more

We Are PINING for Some Time Off GBHS HOLDIAY CLOSURE Just a heads up for all our volunteers, supporters and followers. ... We will be closed from December 21st, 2020 to January 5th, 2021 We will open January 6th, 2021 Time to rest, celebrate and catch up on all 2020 had to offer. #gbhs #holidayclosure #holidayseason #timeforabreak #2021calendar See more

Top 100 Educational Resources. The GBHS is building the resources to empower our community to connect to our Black history, present & future. This is a list of GBHS-recommended resources (books, movies, videos, etc.) for those seeking factual, curated information on Black history and issues. To donate directly to the #ChangeStartsNow Education Initiative, please visit https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/19922... Connect. Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow. #GBHS #BLM #ChangeStartsNow #Support #Local #Thankful #DonateNow #Top100 #Resources #Education See more

The Guelph Black Heritage Society would like to show the community that matters are bigger than just us. In this watershed moment that will forever change the course of Black history, the GBHS has launched its educational campaign, Change Starts Now". GBHS is building the resources to empower our community to connect to our Black history, present & future. #ChangeStartsNow will provide educational programming on Black history and culture as well as relevant resources... on diversity, discrimination and anti-racism. At this historical crossroads, people are eager to learn, and we are up to the challenge with your help! @wisdommarva @kween.of.kweenz @ward1studios Connect. Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow https://youtu.be/bbd2GPowDSA

Thank you @maddysmom_4u for this beautiful contribution to GBHS. These are 3 portraits she made of local Black Leaders that now have a new home at Guelph Black Heritage Hall. Portraits of: Lincoln Alexander, Norma Bowen & Addie Aylestock... #guelphblackheritagesoceity #guelphlocal #guelphartists #donations #blackleaders #blackguelph #history #education See more

We would like to take the time to thank each person who donated to the Guelph Black Heritage Society for Giving Tuesday last week. Your support has meant so much to us and continues to make a difference within our space. Together we will continue to fight for justice and do the right thing. These donations will go directly to our #ChangeStartsNow Education Initiative. Together we will build resources to empower our community to connect to our Black history, present and fu...ture. Connect. Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow. #GBHS #BLM #ChangeStartsNow #Support #Local #Thankful #DonateNow See more

Helping all Canadians learn Black history is important. Black History Month in Canada has been celebrated since 1995 and does not have a Canadian anthem or a Canadian video. Canadians now have their very own made-in-Canada video with highlights of Canadian history which showcases glimpses of the integral, extensive influence and part that Black Canadians have played in the building of our country. In 2019, a group of volunteers, working with the Peterson family and Son...y Music, created a new arrangement of Hymn to Freedom, a Canadian anthem by jazz icon, Oscar Peterson. This video will be the first to feature only Canadian Black History. To view the video, visit https://youtu.be/FVBXk2r1Rro and for more information visit www.hymntofreedom.ca #GBHS #HymnToFreedom #KW #Guelph #ChangeStartsNow #BLM See more

S O L D O U T!! We want to thank you so much for your support with this event! This has gone above and beyond our expectations! Thank you! Annual Caribbean Christmas Dinner & Dance moves to ‘home edition’ with takeout! The annual Caribbean Christmas Dinner & Dance is taking a very 2020 approach this time around, featuring take-out style meals. The event features meals from Big Jerk Caribbean Catering and Laza Food & Beverage.... Event proceeds will go towards the #ChangeStartsNow education initiative which provides programming on Black history and culture, as well as resources on diversity, discrimination and anti-racism. For more details and information, please head to www.guelphblackheritage.ca #GBHS #BLM #ChangeStartsNow #Connect #Learn #Grow #christmas #caribbean See more

A group of local artists are stepping up to support the GBHS with the release of a new compilation album. The digital album, called Guelph Tomorrow, was released on November 1 and features music from 14 electronic artists. All proceeds from the purchase of Guelph Tomorrow will go towards the #ChangeStartsNow Education Initiative. The album is available on the music platform Bandcamp. To learn more about the album, click here: https://blunderspublik.bandcamp.com/album/guel...ph-tomorrow! #GBHS #Guelph #Ontario #guelphtomorrow #ChangeStartsNow #album #supportlocal See more

Annual Caribbean Christmas Dinner & Dance moves to ‘home edition’ with takeout! The annual Caribbean Christmas Dinner & Dance is taking a very 2020 approach this time around, featuring take-out style meals. The event features meals from Big Jerk Caribbean Catering and Laza Food & Beverage. We have VERY limited supply left!! We suggest getting your order in ASAP. Event proceeds will go towards the #ChangeStartsNow education initiative which provides programming on Blac...k history and culture, as well as resources on diversity, discrimination and anti-racism. For more details and information, please head to www.guelphblackheritage.ca #GBHS #BLM #ChangeStartsNow #Connect #Learn #Grow #christmas #caribbean GuelphToday.com https://www.guelphtoday.com//annual-caribbean-christmas-di

GBHS Pre-Order Details: Christmas Dinner and Swag PICK UP. This Saturday, December 12th, 2020, from 3-5PM, we will be at Heritage Hall for those of you who have ordered swag or Christmas Dinners! Please have confirmation of your order ready, arrive during the time slot above and do not forget your masks! We look forward to seeing you and celebrating the holiday season with you from afar. *COVID protocol will be in place* please dress warmly and according to weather as you may need to wait outside!! #GBHS #BLM #ChristmasDinner #Swag #SupportLocal #HomeEdition #Guelph

Thank you to everyone who was a part of this beautiful evening. The event was successful and exceeded our expectations. These amazing photos by Karlo King capture the essence of our #SayTheirNames Candlelight Vigil. The Guelph Black Heritage Society is proud to have hosted a virtual candlelight vigil to honour and remember the BIPOC lives we have lost in Canada. ... We are thankful for the wonderful participants, performers and volunteers who made this event possible.

6 Months - June 6th, 2020 ---- WORDS FROM KWEEN ---- Today marks 6 months since the protest on June 6th 2020. This was a historical moment for all of Guelph. But this is a reminder of how far we still need to go. ... The protest was just one moment of the hard work and advocacy that gets tirelessly put into grassroots organizations. From educating to fighting racism on social media to every day life, eliminating systemic racism is a constant struggle. Today I remind you "do not get complacent". We must fight for a better tomorrow, where all are free of the white violence and white supremacy that has engulfed our society. Its time to dismantle these systems and look towards a new lens. A lens that abolishes the powers that be and allows for a new tomorrow to begin. #guelphblackheritagesoceity #GBHS #ChangeStartsNow #donotgetCOMPLACENT #share #repost #follow #blacklivesmatter #indigenouslivesmatter #ACAB #saytheirname #nojusticenopeace #keepfighting #racismincanada #BLMprotest See more

The GBHS is beyond thankful for the community we are surrounded by. We have been ever so lucky to receive a donation from 100 Women Who Care Guelph!! To say we are thankful for this generous donation would be an understatement. We appreciate the community coming together during a time of need. This donation will be used to support the #ChangeStartsNow Education Initiative and to replace the front doors of the Heritage Hall. Together we will build resources to empower our... community to connect to our Black history, present and future. Connect. Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow. #GBHS #ChangeStartsNow #DonateNow #Education #Thankful #BLM See more

Black Lives Matter. A Guelph Protest. 6 June 2020. Take a look back on a day that was a change for history but we still have so far to go. The change starts NOW and that means working on changing policy, education, policing and all of the systematic oppression BIPOC bodies face and creating opportunities for our voices to be heard. GBHS is continuing to build the resources to empower our community to connect to our Black history, present & future. #ChangeStartsNow... will provide educational programming on Black history and culture as well as relevant resources on diversity, discrimination and anti-racism. Connect. Learn. Grow. #ChangeStartsNow. : Ward 1 Studios #GBHS #BLM #Protest #dotherightthing #standup #standout

We need your VOTE Guelph Black Heritage Society is a finalist for The Oak Tree Project. This is a competitive funding opportunity to secure up to $7,500. With this money we hope to continue educational programming, engage in social justice initiatives and launch a youth council for BIPOC bodies. ... Please visit www.oaktreeguelph.ca to VOTE before Monday at 5pm and SHARE this post with your friends so they can do the same! One VOTE per EMAIL. A huge thank you to the Oak Tree Project, the Mactaggart/Hearn Family, the ICON program and the University of Guelph for this opportunity. "This opportunity will grant us freedom - freedom to dream the impossible and make it possible" #votenow #sharecontent #guelphblackheritagesoceity #GBHS #oaktreeproject #community #help #guelphBlackyouth #supportus #guelphlove #guelphcares #universityofguelph #uofguelph #iconprogram See more

Enslaved is a six-part documentary series that sheds new light on 400 years of human trafficking from Africa to the New World, led by Hollywood icon and human rights activist, Samuel L. Jackson. Based on a DNA test identifying his ancestral tribe, the series traces Jackson’s personal journey from the U.S. to Gabon for his induction into the Benga tribe, with rare and unprecedented access to secret ceremonies and local customs. Enslaved also celebrates stories of resistanc...e, accomplishment and hope; the cultures left behind and the culture that we live in presently...a culture that, in many ways, was born in the bowels of those sunken slave ships. Enslaved is a Canada/UK co-production between Toronto-based Associated Producers and London-based Cornelia Street Productions produced in association with CBC, Canada’s public broadcaster, and documentary Channel in Canada. For more information and to watch the series, visit: https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/enslaved #GBHS #BLM #CBCDocs #CBC #Guelph #Ontario #Canada #watchnow #Enslaved See more

GBHS is launching our LIMITED EDITION swag - #SayTheirNames Black, racialized and non-racialized members of our community are grieving. The lives that have been lost, reported and not, have carried with them the weight of their injuries. This is to honour the lives we have lost and to acknowledge the BIPOC bodies that we have lost to police violence, mass incarceration and systemic oppression. ... T-Shirts: $25 Totes: $15 Mugs: $10 Buy All Three: $40 https://my-site-gbhs.square.site/ ##GBHS #BLM #SayTheirNames #CandlelightVigil #Support #Guelph #Ontario See more