Godwin Ifedi, Editor
Photo by Darren Goldstein/DSG Photo.

Good morning folks

Happy Canada Day! Wishing all our readers the very best as we enjoy this beautiful country that we call home.

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Who speaks for Ottawa’s Black community?

The occupation of the city of Ottawa by trucker protesters in February 2022 will be remembered by generations to come as the watershed that defined Canada as a country. The subsequent departure of Peter Sloly as Chief of the Ottawa Police Service alarmed the Black community which felt that the first and only Black Ottawa Police chief had been thrown under the bus by political leaders.

Back in 2016, the death of Abdul Abdirrahman after an encounter with Ottawa Police caused outrage within the Black community. The 2020 killing of George Floyd by a white US police officer, galvanised the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, Canada, and the rest of the world, with widespread demonstrations by Black community organizations. The media coverage of these events was extensive and comprehensive, with a number of community leaders voicing their concerns about Canada’s own homegrown anti-Black racism.

Fast forward to recent events in which people purporting to represent Ottawa’s Black community have commented on everything that directly or indirectly affects the city’s Black population. A good example is the fractured relationship with the Ottawa Police following the Chief Sloly debacle, which has led to calls from some quarters to defund the police, among other demands. But how realistic is this? What city can exist without a vibrant police service committed to the safety and security of its residents? Is that really the view held by the majority of Black people in the national capital? Surely all we want is a police service that treats every resident with respect, dignity, and fairness, regardless of their skin pigmentation.

The common thread to all these events is the apparent assumption by the mainstream media that the voices they hear and report, represent the views of the larger Black community. But the truth is very different from the media representation. Ottawa is home to people of colour ranging from descendants of those escaping the slave trade, via the Underground Railroad, to immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. They speak a multitude of languages, including those inherited from former enslavers: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, and arrive in Canada with diverse cultures and traditions. Apart from the colour of their skin, the one thing they have in common is the need to be accorded the same fair and equitable treatment as other Canadians. What they do not want is a special treatment based on their skin pigmentation.

With over 40 Black-led community organizations in the city, it is no wonder that the media is challenged to find someone who can validly be considered to speak for Ottawa’s Black community. Their approach appears to be one of engaging those individuals with the loudest voices. There is a real danger in the impression that any one individual represents the voice of the Black population.

How then should the mainstream media gauge the views of the Black population in Ottawa? A good starting point is the popular media platform, Black Ottawa 411, an online portal that lists all the Black community organizations, businesses, faith groups, embassies, and more in the national capital region. Respected Black community leaders like Rev Anthony Bailey of the Parkdale United Church; former diplomat and publisher Ewart Walters, and John Adeyefa, President of the African Association of Ottawa, are excellent resources for gauging the pulse of the city’s Black population. But the responsibility for speaking out and voicing their views also lies with the larger Black population. Letters to the editors of mainstream newspapers, phone calls, and emails to city councillors, members of provincial parliament, and members of the federal parliament, are ways to express our outrage when we or our families and friends experience overt or clandestine anti-Black racism.

With our relationship with the Ottawa Police Service at an all-time low, following the ignominious exit of former chief Peter Sloly, we have an opportunity to have our say in the hiring of his successor, by participating in the survey currently being carried out by Hefid Solutions. (See this survey in the “New This Month” section of this edition). Take it one more step further and get into politics and run for elected office: municipal councillor, provincial parliament or federal parliament. Or join the board of directors of charitable and not-for-profit organisations such as hospitals, museums, school boards and so on. If you want to see change, you would need to get involved. We cannot just leave it to our community leaders to be our voices.

We are also deeply concerned by the manner in which Black people are depicted in the media. Reporting on the recent outbreak of the monkey-pox virus, Canadian media has largely used images of Black people to depict this disease, a chilling example of the subtle media-focussed anti-Black racism.

Engaging with a variety of Black community leaders, enables the mainstream media to present a more balanced view of who we are and what we stand for. Be that as it may, all the Black population wants is to be treated fairly like everybody else.

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In this edition

Yvette Ashiri is our Top Story as she launches her campaign to become only the second person of African descent in the Ottawa City council and the very first Black woman to do so. Black Ottawa Scene solidly backs her candidacy, as she has a proven track record as a community leader, stakeholder, and advocate.

In other news, we bring you a report on the appointment of Brampton Centre MPP Charmaine Williams as Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity in the newly-sworn cabinet of Ontario Premier Doug Ford. While we congratulate the two-term legislator on her promotion, we cannot but ask why the only African-Canadian cabinet member merits Associate Minister status, while noting that Doug Ford’s nephew, rookie MPP Michael Ford is given full ministerial appointment, as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Small wonder people in some quarters have dubbed him “Minister of Nepotism”.

This month’s Interview features health entrepreneur Chi Igboanusi who describes her innovative health initiative around holistic health for persons of all ages. Our columnist Donielle Ramon brings us a report on the sizzling performance of Cuban funk artist CimaFunk on his very first visit to the national capital. We also bring you news of the appointment of Dr Ruby Edet as Executive Director of Capital Heritage Connexion and that of Dr Nduka Otiono as Director of the Institute of African Affairs, Carleton University.

All these and more in the July edition of your favourite local news magazine.

Here is the result of the June 2022 poll: Were you affected by the recent electric power blackout in Ottawa and other parts of Ontario and Quebec? Yes, 80% No 20%. Thank you to all who voted. Do remember to vote in the July 2022 poll: Do you believe the war in Ukraine will be over by the end of the year?

Please donate to Black Ottawa Scene Finally, a plea to our readers to support Black Ottawa Scene by making a donation to support your favourite newspaper. Your donation will go a long way in sustaining the cost of production, website maintenance, travel costs, and more. Consider giving $20, $30, or $50, whatever you can afford. You may donate by e-transfer to: [email protected], or by clicking on the DONATE button at the top of the page.

Wishing you and your loved ones the very best of the summer season.

Godwin Ifedi Editor