Golden book signing, City Hall honours the laureates of Black History Month

Montreal is shining the spotlight on 12 impactful laureates, as part of the 2024 Round Table on Black History Month.

Honourees H. Nigel Thomas, Papa Amadou Touré, Kathy Roach, Joseph Sarenhes, Frédéricka Petit-Homme, Cyrille Ekwala, Samantha Nyinawumuntu, Fimo Mitchell, Arcelle Appolon, Vovo Saramanda, Ibrahima Gassama, and Stephane Moraille, were celebrated at City Hall on Monday evening, each signing Montreal’s golden book for future generations to read.

“I’m really speechless because when I was in the community, I was not there to be really recognized. I was there with a vision to make people understand that they’re just wonderful, they’re unique. They can do anything they want to do,” said laureate and community worker, Kathy Roach.

“I remember being in class, when I used to talk, talk, talk. Then they want to silence you, so I decided that wherever I was going to go, I was going to really try to empower people,” she added.

Alongside the 12 laureates from across the sciences, medicine, media and the arts was mayor Valerie Plante, expressing gratitude on behalf of all citizens.

“Black excellence, black pioneers and black laureates in this case totally deserve to have this recognition to be known by all Quebecers, all Canadians,” said Michael Farkas, president of the Round Table on Black History Month.

Nadia Rousseau, executive director of the Round Table added, “many times we talk about things that are more gloomy, but Black History Month is really the time to celebrate. And this is the accent we want. We want to be able to rejoice in the achievements we have, more than in the gloominess of certain dark pages that everybody lives through during the rest of the year.”