Wednesday 12 February 2025
Ottawa YMCA hosts 2025 Black History Month event
by Godwin Ifedi, Editor
Over a hundred guests were on hand to participate in the 2025 YMCA Black History Month celebration. With a theme of “Black Resistance”, and located at the YMCA headquarters, the event was an eclectic mix of guest speakers, music, fashion show, cultural story-telling, dance and a sumptuous and delicious meal from the organizers. Black Ottawa Scene was there to bring readers a report of a most entertaining evening.
After welcome remarks by NIC Director Sana Belhadad, the evening kicked off with a keynote speech by Godwin Ifedi, Black History Ottawa Board member and former president of the heritage organization. In his speech, he traced the presence of people of African descent to the 1600’s, with the arrival of Black slaves shipped from Africa during the Trans Atlantic slave trade. By 1759, when British forces conquered New France, over 1,000 enslaved people of African origin had been brought to what is now Canada. Following the American Revolution (1775–83), white Loyalists fled the United States and settled in the Atlantic provinces and what would become Lower Canada [ Quebec] and Upper Canada [Ontario]. They had brought about 2,000 enslaved Black people with them. At the same time, approximately 3,500 free Black persons emigrated from the US and settled in what became Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They had won their freedom due to their support for Britain during the American Revolution. He pointed out that today the roles that Canadians of African descent are playing in preset day Canadian life; as lawyers, engineers, plumbers, members of parliament, janitors, doctors, nurses, businessmen and women and more, each contributing in their own way to this great country. he also summarized his own personal contribution as a community volunteer and social justice advocate.
Entertaining performances followed by the following: Haitian cultural dance; song performance by Moise Ishimwe; immigrant storytelling video by John and Chris Nyce; Kahoot quiz with prizes; fashion show by Olayinka Elutilo; story-telling by Jacqui du Toit; and song performance by Gildas Kauakam.
For more information about the National Capital Region YMCA, visit: Home Page | YMCA of the National Capital Region
