On Saturday, February 27th, 2021, the Afro Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) and the Nigerian Canadian Association (NCA), Montreal, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, will host its third annual, one-day, (online) Black History Month event. The evening’s festivities will celebrate Afro-Caribbean Black Canadian communities’, by paying homage to our history and celebrating the great accomplishments of Afro-Caribbean Black (ACB) people in our present times.

Last year our event attracted 750 people, who were fed amazing Caribbean food and deserts. Also, we had great keynote addresses, live painting, a youth fashion show, an insightful panel discussion, and a raffle giveaway for a pair of the Black History Month Nike Air Force Ones, Special edition! Although it was a time to remember, the ACMP looks forward to doing it big this year through an online experience.

Taking into consideration our current COVID-19 reality, we are encouraging audience members to stay in the comfort of their homes. We want people to dance, sing and contribute to thought provoking panel discussions which will empower our ACB community members while striving to liberate our brothers and sisters.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many businesses, especially in the ACB community, our focus is to work in solidarity with Black businesses to remind our community to support Black-owned businesses during the pandemic. In doing so, this event will intentionally be broadcasting commercials slots in between the events of the program. This is our way to ensure our audience members recognize the amazing Black Canadian businesses, and they have the opportunity to support them through these economically challenging times. We must be vigilant to recognize that Black-owned businesses are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and anti-Black racism when compared to any other groups of people during our new reality.

This is going to be a night to remember! The event will be co-hosted by the founder of the ACMP, Warren Clarke and Tanya Vanloo from the Nigerian Canadian Association.