BHM2026
Black History Month 2026 : Out of Many Cultures, One People
Aligning with culture, one of CCAH’s four pillars, the Black History Month 2026 theme, Out of Many Cultures, One People, highlights the incredible diversity of Black people around the world. This year, we will intentionally honour the many cultures that make up the African Diaspora. From the Caribbean to the African continent, from North or South America to Europe, and beyond, we all come from various backgrounds, traditions, and histories. However, we all make up the same rich identity that we proudly celebrate this month, united by a powerful legacy and an unbreakable bond.
Black History Month Launch Concert
Join us on Monday, February 2 from 5:45-8:00 pm at The Oakville Centre for Performing Arts (130 Navy Street, Oakville).
Get your tickets here: Black History Month Launch Concert Tickets
Get ready to kick off Black History Month 2026 with the following:
- Emcee Ann-Marie Green.
- Lively musical performances by West-Indian cross-over band The Band Destiny.
- Keynote speech by actor, musician, and educator Sean Mauricette, who will weave history, poetry, and live sound to reflect on what the world has gained through Black existence, from the Moors of Africa to present-day global culture.
- CCAH Parang Ensemble performance.
- Royal Conservatory trained pianist Daniel Fernandez to perform ambient music prior to the show.
- Messages from community partners reflecting on our 2026 theme.
Join us in celebrating and uplifting Black excellence.
Your sponsorship helps us preserve history, uplift voices, and create opportunities that inspire learning, pride, and progress across Halton.
Support meaningful Black History Month learning with accessible, age-appropriate resources that centre Black history, excellence, and lived experience in Canada.
Our Flag & Logo
In 2020, our Black History Month logo was designed by Charlene Pura, a Sheridan College student at the time as part of a CCAH-sponsored initiative with Sheridan College. We then had it developed into a flag that was present at event venues and schools. Since 2020, The Oakville Town Hall and Halton Regional Police Service have flown the flag throughout February. We look forward to raising the flag for 2026.
BHM 2026 Program Outline
Art Exhibit
February 1-February 28: Out of Many Cultures, One People: An Afro-Caribbean Collective | Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) Main Gallery | Holcim Gallery | The FirstOntario Arts Centre | Curator: Francesca Durham
Out of Many Cultures, One People: An Afro-Caribbean Collective, is a curated exhibition celebrating the richness and diversity of Black cultural expression while affirming a shared sense of identity and belonging. Participating artists reflect on heritage, memory, migration, and resilience, revealing how distinct cultural traditions converge into a collective Black experience. This exhibition honours difference without division, presenting art as a unifying force that amplifies many stories into one people, one rhythm, and one enduring cultural voice. Join us in honoring the past and shaping a harmonious future where every voice is valued. Holcim Gallery and QEPCCC exhibits are self-guided, but private tours can be requested via info@ccah.ca.
Art Gallery Hours:
QEPCCC Main Gallery:
Monday-Friday: 12-7pm | Saturday-Sunday: 12-5pm
Holcim Gallery:
Monday: 11am-5pm | Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-8pm | Friday: 11am-5pm | Saturday: 9am-4pm | Sunday: Closed
February 1 @ 2:00pm: Out of Many Cultures, One People: An Afro-Caribbean Collective, Opening Reception | At Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) Main Gallery | Register Here: Opening Reception Registration
Join us as we open a month-long celebration of art and culture. The opening reception for Out of Many Cultures, One People: An Afro-Caribbean Collective will bring together community, creativity, and sound in an evening that honours shared identity across diverse cultural roots. The event will feature a live harp performance by Pearl Schachter, inspired by the legacy of H.T. Burleigh, whose work bridged ancestral traditions and classical music on a global stage. Guests will have the opportunity to experience the artwork up close and connect with some of the participating artists while celebrating the unifying power of art.
February 21 @ 2:00pm: Out of Many Cultures, One People: An Afro-Caribbean Collective, Artist Reception | At Holcim Gallery, The FirstOntario Arts Centre | Register Here: Artist Reception Registration
Join us for a second art exhibit reception to continue celebrating art and culture. This reception invites visitors to connect more deeply with the exhibition through conversation, community, and shared reflection.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet several of the featured artists and learn more about their creative practices, inspirations, and the cultural stories reflected in their work.
Underground Railroad Museum Exhibit
February 1-February 28: The Underground Railroad: Next Stop, Freedom & Legacy Voices | At Oakville Museum | 8 Navy St, Oakville | Contact preeya.nayee@oakville.ca with questions
Through virtual tours, digitized artifacts, hands-on activities, stories, and a live interactive video presentation, this inquiry-based education program helps students immerse themselves into historical experiences that offer unique opportunities to experience our shared living heritage. Students will explore Oakville’s relationship with the United States in the context of the Underground Railroad. They will learn about how Oakville Harbour played a significant role in the journey to Canada for many freedom seekers. Key figures in the Oakville Underground Railroad story are introduced through the exhibition Freedom, Opportunity and Family: Oakville’s Black History, and excerpts from the multimedia presentation The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom as well as more contemporary stories from the CCAH documentaries Legacy Voices and Legacy Voices 2.
February 3 @ 1:00 – 2:00pm: Oakville Museum Walking Tours: Oakville and the Underground Railroad | Iroquois Ridge Community Centre (IRCC) | Oakville Museum
Attend a special Black History Talk at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre for seniors 50+ from 1pm-2pm. Information available at the IRCC Customer Service Counter.
February 7 @ 1:00 & 3:00pm: Museum Walking Tour: Oakville and the Underground Railroad | Oakville Museum | 8 Navy Street | Ages 13 and older | Registration here.
Offered by the Oakville Museum, this unique indoor/outdoor tour offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Underground Railroad in Oakville. First, see the exhibit “Freedom, Opportunity, and Family: Oakville’s Black History.” Then, watch the exciting multimedia presentation “The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom,” which tells a true story about escaping from slavery. The tour ends with an outdoor walk highlighting the local history of Oakville and the Underground Railroad. Please dress appropriately for the outdoor walk. Our first floor is accessible, and we offer a video tour of the second floor.
Flag Raising
February 2 @ 10:00am: Black History Month Flag Raising | At Halton Regional Police Services Headquarters | By invitation
The Halton Regional Police Service will raise the flag alongside Black-led community organizations.
Community & Harmony Classrooms
February 2-February 27: Community and Harmony CCAH Steel Band | Halton Catholic District School Board and Halton District School Board
As part of Oakville Community Foundation’s Community Classroom initiative and the generous support of the Burlington Community Foundation, the CCAH Steel Band will be performing at participating Oakville elementary schools and Burlington all grades schools as part of the Black History Month and the 2026 school term. Community and Harmony Classrooms will continue until June for schools not able to participate during Black History Month.
Milton Reading Corner
February 14 @ 11:00am: CCAH Reading Corner | In Partnership with Milton Public Library | At Holcim Gallery, The FirstOntario Arts Centre | Registration Here: CCAH Reading Corner with Nadia Hohn
Join the CCAH and MPL as we celebrate children’s books written by Black authors that have been featured as part of our partnership Reading Corner program with MPL since 2021. This year, we will feature Nadia Hohn in the Holcim Gallery where you can expect an interactive and lively workshop featuring storytelling and music based on Nadia’s book, Malaika’s Costume. Listeners will be taken on an exploration of Caribbean songs, rhymes and games that Malaika learns and plays in her schoolyard. This parented family-friendly program is geared towards children aged 4-9 years old, but all are welcome.
CCAH Steel Band & Burlington Concert Band Concert
February 15 @ 2:00pm: Roots, Rhythm and Resilience: A Tribute to Black Music | In Partnership with the Burlington Concert Band | At The Holiday Inn Burlington. Get Your Tickets Here: Roots, Rhythm, and Resilience: A Tribute to Black Music Tickets
The CCAH Steelpan and Parang bands will be performing as special guests at Burlington Concert Band’s upcoming concert celebrating Black History Month with music composed by and performed by Black Musicians. Join the BCB and CCAH for an exciting musical evening as we recognize the rich history and talent that Black musicians have brought to the world.
Oakville Reading Corner
February 16 @ 10:00am: CCAH Reading Corner: Discovering Art Through Storytelling | In Partnership with the Town of Oakville | At Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) Main Gallery | Drop-in Event
Join us on Family Day in the Out of Many Cultures, One People: An Afro-Caribbean Collective Art Exhibit for a family-friendly, drop-in event to explore creativity and expression through storytelling and art. Throughout the day, participants will engage with authors, poets, spoken word artists, and visual artists, discovering various new ways to express themselves creatively. The activities will be interactive, featuring readings, presentations, and hands-on workshops. A self-guided art gallery activity will also be available to participants for some casual discovery and fun!
Film Screening
February 18 @ 7:30pm:
Brother Film Screening | In Partnership with OFFA & Film.ca | At Film.ca Cinemas |
Get Your Tickets Here: Brother Film Screening Tickets
Join us at Film.ca Cinemas in Oakville for a special screening of Brother, directed by Clement Virgo. Presented in partnership with the Oakville Festivals of Film & Art and Film.ca Cinemas, this powerful film aligns with our Black History Month programming.
The screening will be followed by a live Zoom Q&A with David Chariandy, whose award winning novel Brother received the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, and the Toronto Book Award.
Watch the trailer for Brother here.
Memorial Event
February 21 @1PM | Burnet Park Memorial Unveiling – 76 Burnet Street, Oakville | Town of Oakville | Free
Join the Town of Oakville on Saturday, February 21 at 1 p.m. at Burnet Park, 76 Burent Street (between Kerr and Wilson streets), for the unveiling of a new commemorative sculpture. The installation serves as a tribute to Samuel and Martha (Hill) Adams, free people of colour from Maryland, as well as their son Jeremiah, their families, and the contributions Oakville’s Black community have made to the growth and prosperity of this area.
Virtual Seminar
February 25 @ 7:00pm:
Exploring Black History in our Backyard | In Partnership with Oakville Public Library | At OPL Virtual Branch | Ages 13 and older Register Here: Exploring Black History in our Backyard Registration
Discover the rich stories, voices and heritage of Black communities in Oakville and area. Join Oakville Public Library and the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton for an engaging virtual session that brings local Black history to life. Together, we’ll explore community perspectives and lived experiences that highlight the longstanding presence, contributions and resilience of Black residents.
This online format allows us to dive deeper than a traditional walking or cycling tour, offering a welcoming space for learning, reflection, and connection from wherever you are. Ideal for high school students and adults!
Georgetown Reading Corner
February 28 @ 10:00 AM: CCAH Reading Corner | In partnership with Halton Hills Public Library | Georgetown Branch | Free
Join the CCAH and HHPL as we celebrate children’s books written by Black authors that have been featured as part of our partnership Reading Corner program since 2021. This year, we will feature Newton Vanriel, author of award-winning children’s book series, Soul Sistas. Engage with the author and participate in craft activities, quizzes, giveaways. This family-friendly program is geared towards children under 10 years old.
Halton Region School Resources
To help students and staff celebrate Black History Month, CCAH Black History Month Educational Resource features a variety of accessible, age-appropriate resources that can be done in the classroom, self-directed or at home. We encourage people to share their activities on social media and use the hashtag #CCAHBHM2026