Celebrating Black History Month

This February, the City of Belleville is celebrating Black History Month with a number of events and activities.

Belleville Public Library will host guest speaker Nikki Clarke on Feb. 28 from 2 to 3 p.m., who will speak about the stories of early Black settlers, family legacies, and the region’s connections to freedom-seeking routes and community building, during her special presentation, Black Roots in Belleville and the Quinte Region: Why Black History Is Canadian History. This is a free event with no registration required.

A pop-up exhibit titled Portraits of Black History in Belleville will be featured at various locations across the city throughout the month. Portraits of Black History in Belleville explores the stories of Black individuals who were enslaved and brought to the area in the late 1700s by United Empire Loyalists, to those who chose to migrate to Belleville and establish roots starting in the 1800s. The exhibit also highlights vignettes of Black community members in Belleville over the past 250 years. These stories, mostly shaped by colonial perspectives, come from local historic records, newspaper articles and archival sources. Research and education are ongoing to uncover and share more of this important history with the community.

Portraits of Black History was developed by Glanmore National Historic Site in partnership with the Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County and the City of Belleville’s Economic and Strategic Initiatives Department. You can find the Portraits of Black History in Belleville pop-up exhibit at the following locations:

• Feb. 2-8 – City Hall (169 Front St.)
• Feb. 9-15 – Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre (265 Cannifton Rd.)
• Feb. 17-22 – Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County (254 Pinnacle St.)
• Feb. 24-Feb 26 – Glanmore National Historic Site (257 Bridge St. East)
• Feb. 27-March 1 – Belleville Public Library (254 Pinnacle St.)

“Black History Month is an opportunity to learn, reflect and recognize the lasting contributions of Black Canadians, including those whose stories are rooted right here in Belleville,” said Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Councillor Sean Kelly. “Through local exhibits and community programming, residents are invited to engage with our shared history and take part in meaningful conversations throughout the month.”

Belleville City Council will officially proclaim February as Black History Month during the Feb. 9 council meeting. For more resources and information on Black History Month in Canada, visit: Canada.ca/BlackHistoryMonth.