Nepean MP Chandra Arya centre standing, with his guests at Black History Month dinner Photo copyright Black Ottawa Scene

Sunday 23 February 2020

Nepean MP Chandra Arya hosted a delightful dinner for some 40 African diaspora community leaders at the East India Company restaurant in Bells Corners at Ottawa’s west end. The renowned Member of Parliament was there in person to receive the guests and make them feel at home to celebrate the 2020 Black History Month. Hon Arya spoke eloquently about the government of Canada’s diverse initiatives to engage the African Union and increase commercial and economic collaboration between the member countries and Canada. Several guests spoke of their own vision of collaboration between the government of Canada and their governments in continental Africa as well as suggestions on how to engage African Canadians in Canada to overcome systemic barriers such as anti-Black racism, high rates of incarceration of Black youth and other issues within Canada itself. Guests represented a diverse cross section of African communities in Ottawa: Nigeria, Burundi, Congo DR, Senegal, Cameroon, Rwanda, Ghana, South Sudan and more.

All photos copyright Black Ottawa Scene