Celebrating diversity: February is Black History Month

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10 February 2015

From Through a Lens Darkly, airing at Vancouver’s Vancity Theatre on Feb. 16.

In 1858, 800 black pioneers escaping racial persecution in San Francisco came to British Columbia in search of work and a safe place to raise their families. Now, more than 33,200 British Columbians trace their ancestry from Africa, contributing to B.C.’s culture of diversity. February is Black History Month proclaimed by the B.C. government. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the historical and cultural contributions of black British Columbians. Many of these early pioneers enriched the foundation of B.C. and played significant roles in politics, business, sports and the arts, including:

Sir James Douglas, first governor of the Colony of British Columbia
Rosemary Brown, first Black woman elected to a Canadian provincial legislature
Harry Jerome, Olympic track athlete and recipient of the Order of Canada.
Selwyn Romilly, B.C. Supreme Court judge.
Joe Fortes, Vancouver’s first official lifeguard and respected public figure.

It’s also Black History Month in Vancouver – check out how you can celebrate. United Way’s vision is a healthy, caring, inclusive community. Celebrating our diversity is one way we build stronger communities for all.

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