Black History Month

Each February, we are proud to recognize Black History Month by official proclamation.

Black History Month provides us with the opportunity to celebrate and learn about the many achievements, investments, and contributions of Vancouver’s Black and African diasporic communities, even while these communities have endured historical and continuing inequality, oppression, and erasure.

The City of Vancouver recognizes that it has played a role in perpetuating discrimination against Black and African diaspora communities and is committed to addressing anti-Black racism in all its forms. We must make a consistent effort to acknowledge, empower, and value the perspectives and experiences of all individuals in the Black community every day.

What's happeningBlack History Month 2024

Support Black-owned businesses

For this year's Black History Month, we are shining a spotlight on Black-owned businesses in Vancouver.

Watch our new video series highlighting Black entrepreneurs and spend with intention.

Illumination of City Hall and Burrard Bridge

On February 1, City Hall and Burrard Bridge will be illuminated black, red, green, and gold in honour of Black History Month.

Map of Black-owned businesses

The Black Business Association of BC maintains a database of Black-owned businesses. It showcases restaurants, stores, and a variety of different businesses all founded by Black entrepreneurs.

Find a Black-owned business in Vancouver

Anti-Black racism and cultural redress in Vancouver
We have several anti-Black racism and cultural redress initiatives underway.

Our priorities are:
- Economic wellbeing and prosperity: Partnering with Black and African diaspora community members, businesses, and social enterprises to address poverty, advance community economic development and prosperity in Black and African diaspora communities.
- Addressing systemic anti-Black racism: Working to eliminate systemic racism within the City of Vancouver as an employer and service provider, and taking action against anti-Black racism by advocating to other levels of government and non-governmental organizations.
- Improving our impact on Black communities: Working to provide appropriate resources to create ethically sound ways to better understand the experiences of Black community members in Vancouver to reveal:
  - How Black people are impacted by City-led programs and initiatives
  - How human resources practices impact Black staff and leadership diversity in the City
- Creating culturally relevant and safe planning processes: Working to integrate culturally relevant and safe planning processes for urban development, urban design, public space design, housing development, and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Black and African diasporic people.
Further engagement with the Black and African diaspora community is ongoing to finalize these priorities and develop an Anti-Black Racism Strategy and Action Plan.
- Watch our video on Addressing anti-Black racism: Priorities for the City of Vancouver
- Learn more about our anti-Black racism and cultural redress work

Black history in Vancouver

BC has a rich Black history dating back to Canada’s colonial origins. In 1858, nearly 800 free Black people left the oppressive racial conditions of San Francisco for a new life on Vancouver Island. These pioneers enriched the socio-economic life in their community, overcoming intense discrimination and adversity. From the 1920s to the 1960s, Vancouver’s Black Community clustered in the East End, with its nucleus at a site known as Hogan’s Alley, and became a thriving Black community and cultural hub.

In 1967, the decision to expand the highway system through Vancouver resulted in the expropriation of land and buildings in this area to make way for the construction of the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts, resulting in the loss of homes and businesses. The Black Community was uprooted from this area and an identifiable Black neighbourhood has not re-emerged in Vancouver.

Black History Month was recognized by the Government of Canada in the House of Commons in 1995. The motion was introduced by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to parliament. Vancouver City Council passed a motion in 2011, designating Black History Month one of its official celebrations. Every February, we celebrate the history, contributions, and culture of Black Canadians.

Honouring Black trailblazers from Vancouver

Anti-racism and cultural redress

Find out more about the steps we have taken and will be taking in advancing reconciliation, anti-racism, and equity.

Celebrating Vancouver's Hometown Heroes

We honor 10 Black BC residents and organizations shaping our communities through activism.

Northeast False Creek

Northeast False Creek is the last big piece of undeveloped waterfront land in downtown Vancouver.

Honoring Black history in parks

How we honor Black history in Vancouver parks today, from a namesake park to a sculpture memorializing the Black experience.

Learn more

Canada Post stamps

Issue date: January 29, 2024

This year, Canada Post’s 2024 Black History Month stamp commemorates the achievements and legacy of educator, lawyer, and abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd.

As the founder of The Provincial Freeman newspaper, Mary Ann Shadd (1823 to 1893) was the first Black woman to edit and publish a newspaper in North America.

Canada Post's article about Mary Ann Shadd
Canada Post's tribute video to Mary Ann Shadd