Black History Month celebrated in Timmins

Black History Month celebrated in Timmins with 'Black Excellence' theme, as its African community continues to grow. Lydia Chubak reports.

February is Black History Month and in Timmins, the Black community continues to grow. People from Africa say they move to the city primarily for jobs and education.

Black History Month has been recognized in Canada for 30 years and in Timmins, the African Community in Timmins plans to celebrate the month with the theme ‘Black Excellence.’

“People have come ahead of us and they have, succeeded in achieving and, we also need to, make it better by achieving more, you know, impacting more in our kids, making our community better is not about the hurts of the past, but it’s about bridging that gap and making it better going forward,” said Babatunde Famogile, the community chair.

Famogile and other members of the group met with Mayor Michelle Boileau on Monday when she proclaimed the month as Black History Month in Timmins. Boileau said it’s a time to recognize the diversity people from Africa’s many countries.

“It’s important for the Black community to see themselves in their larger community and to see the recognition, for, you know, their ancestors, for the people that are making important contributions to our history and in present day,” she said.

A symposium will take place on Feb. 21 in the Collège Boréal Cafeteria with guest speaker will be Dr. Evelyn Kissi from the University of Ghana. Organizers said the forum will create space for sincere dialogue on racial equity, inclusion and social cohesion in Timmins.