Celebrating Black History Month at Sherbourne and Across Toronto

Did you know? Toronto was the first municipality in Canada to claim Black History Month in February, in order to honour the cultural heritages, realities, and histories of Black communities. Since then, Black communities have shared so much to educate, celebrate and inspire people across the city.

We encourage everyone in our Sherbourne community to take a moment to learn about Black histories in Canada and Toronto. Whether it’s art installations, teach-ins or other celebrations, there are many opportunities to learn more.

Here are a number of events and resources to help you mark this important month.

Sherbourne Health programming and resources

• Supporting Our Youth (SOY): The SOY program runs Black Queer Youth, a weekly drop-in group that celebrates Black queer and trans people’s experiences and accomplishments. SOY programming has also included Limin, an intergenerational virtual cooking program for Black and 2SLGBTQ community members. The group’s recipe zine can be read here.
• SOY has a full calendar focusing their regular drop-in programs throughout Black History Month along the theme of Healing Histories, Thriving Futures. Events will focus on aspects of health and Black resilience including physical health, mental health, social determinants of health and food as health. SOY is also running a community dinner on February 24 open to all 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Visit SOY’s Instagram page for more information and find registration info here.
• Rainbow Health Ontario: Health in Focus: Racialized 2SLGBTQ Health
• Newcomer Health: The Welcome Package helps new clients receive important information that may be helpful in their resettlement process. The package is available in eight languages.
• WINK, Hep C and Trans and Non-Binary programs will also be running programming through Black History Month.

Events

• City of Toronto Events Calendar –a wide ranging list from all across the city
• Toronto’s largest and longest running Black Futures month festival: Kuumba: The Harbourfront Centre’s Black Futures Month Festival
• Black History Month events at Toronto Public Library
• 13^th Annual Black Film Festival runs from February 12-17.
• Saturday, February 22 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.: TAIBU Community Health Centre’s Black History Month Celebration

Community Groups and Resources

Year-round, Sherbourne Health and other organizations are committed to Black health and wellness. Check out a few groups making a difference in our neighbourhoods:

• Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention
• Africans in Partnership Against AIDS
• Maggie’s Toronto – Ballroom Program
• Black Health Alliance
• Black Healthcare Professionals Network Directory

thanks to @Lakia Sage for the illustration