Black History Month marks 35th edition in Montreal

Organizers of Black History Month gathered Thursday morning at Place des Arts to launch the 35th edition of the annual celebration, held this year under the theme Together, Let’s Raise Our Voices.

Black-led organizations the Round Table on Black History Month and Fondation Dynastie are marking two milestones this year: 35 years of advocacy, education and celebration for the Round Table, and 10 years of impact for the Gala Dynastie, which recognizes Black excellence in Quebec’s cultural landscape.

“The Black Winter Fest is basically one month of winter activities,” said Jamillah Jean, founder of Roots to Routes Academy. “It is an initiative and a movement where we’re taking up space in winter sports. And we’re really dismantling the sense of inclusion and who belongs in winter spaces. It’s one month, one festival, six winter adventures and it runs the entire month.”

During the press conference, the Round Table unveiled the reflections guiding this anniversary edition, announced this year’s laureates and outlined highlights of the upcoming program. Speakers also addressed systemic racism in Quebec and emphasized the importance of community-driven initiatives.

“You don’t need to code switch, you don’t need to conform, you don’t need to silence yourself as the theme is for this year,” said Jean. “Together, we let us raise our voices, and that’s really what we’re about.”

The designer of this year’s poster, Williamson Dulcé, created work that celebrates diversity and unity. It features silhouettes gathered around a fire, symbolizing solidarity, and voices that rise together in a single chorus, spreading out in every direction.

Officials say the piece is illustrated in an abstract style, paying homage to the historical and cultural richness of Black communities, while inviting reflection on resistance and impact.

The conference also highlighted Héma-Québec’s upcoming blood drive on Feb. 14, aimed at supporting Black communities affected by sickle cell anemia.

“One of the events that I think is closest to my heart because I have a cousin who deals with sickle cell anemia, I see how it has drained her,” said Tamara Angeline, a spokesperson for the conference. “It has impacted her livelihood, her ability to interact, to hold a job, and all that type of stuff. So the blood drive on Feb. 14 is very important. I think our community doesn’t realize that our community are impacted by sickle cell the most. It’s a disease that impacts a lot of your physical functioning, and you often need a lot of blood transfusions. And as it was mentioned, it needs to come from someone with the same genetic background, so a Black person to another Black person.

“So I really want a lot of people to just understand that importance, that we are a collective and we need to move as one.”

Fondation Dynastie also presented details of the 10th edition of the Gala Dynastie, themed The End of an Era.

The anniversary gala will mark a turning point for the event, serving as a moment of recognition and gratitude for the teams, artists, volunteers and partners who helped build it over the past decade.

“This edition is intended to be both an anchor and a passage. A time to celebrate what has been built together. And a moment to live, collectively, to witness the closure of an important chapter,” said Tracy Paulotte, the head of programs and outreach at Fondation Dynastie.

The gala will take place April 11 at Théâtre Maisonneuve.

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