THUNDER BAY – Canada may be a diverse country, but all too often people aren’t aware of the struggles other cultures have gone through to make a life here.
It’s why celebrating Black History Month in every city and town from coast to coast, including Thunder Bay, is so important, said Colleen Peters and Adetunde Ogunberu, who will help to bring the eighth annual Black History Month Dinner to Thunder Bay on March 2 at the Italian Cultural Centre.
Peters, who was born in Thunder Bay, said the history of her people isn’t well known enough in Canada, and that’s something she’d like to see change.
“It’s not often taught mainstream unless there are higher populations of black people, yet all of our histories are so important,” Peters said on Wednesday at city hall, launching ticket sales for the upcoming dinner and gala.
“I think celebrating and recognizing Canadian history really speaks to the different issues that are impacting the country. Once we build that understanding of what really makes up the Canadian mosaic, who Canadians are, how Canadians came to Canada is all really important.”
Peters said while the country has an image around the world of being peacekeepers and a diverse home to millions, not many understand how bad it was for blacks in Canada until relatively recently, unlike the United States, where it’s relationship with race has been well documented over the centuries.
“We do have to recognize there were 200 years of slavery here and we did have segregation. In Ontario alone, the last segregated school for black people and white people closed in 1965 and the last segregated school in Canada closed in 1982, which is not that far from today,” Peters said.
“We often miss that or aren’t taught that, and it’s really important to recognize that although a lot of slaves did flee to Canada, we did still have Jim Crow laws here and we did violate human rights.”
However, the country has made plenty of progress with its policies of multiculturalism, she added.
“There were ways that Canada tried to make equal rights for black people and new immigrants to the country.”
Ogunberu, who arrived in Canada from Nigeria, via three years Finland, said he’s found the country and Thunder Bay welcoming places.
After moving here with friends, he’s the only one who remains in the city.
“They keep asking me why Thunder Bay and I say because I feel like Thunder Bay is not just my second home, it’s my main home. When I travel back home, it still feels like home, but when I travel back here, it still feels like home too.”
Both Peters and Ogunberu will be front and centre on March 2, where a fusion of African and Caribbean cultures will be on display, including jerk chicken and Haitian bean soup on the menu, as well as the musical offerings of Ghana’s Evans (Coffieman) Coffie and Rockalypso, with Glen Williams.
“We’ve got exciting new and dynamic performances. Our menu is new, but still authentic,” Peters said.
The night will also see the Carribean African Multicultural Association Thunder Bay hand out its annual scholarship bursary and there will be a WestJet draw.
Tickets are $25 for children 12 and younger, $35 for students and $50 for adults.
Visit www.camatnetwork.com for more information.
