Shiloh Assembly Apostolic Church celebrates Black History Month

On Saturday, a breakfast was hosted at Shiloh Assembly Apostolic Church to celebrate Black History Month. (Damian Smith / CTV News)

Mavis Ashbourne-Palmer remembers arriving in Regina in 1971 as one of very few Jamaicans in the city at the time.

After settling down in her new home, she remembers speaking to an immigration officer, giving her a suggestion, especially with her social nature.

“I remember him telling me in the 70s, ‘Mavis, you should go out there and form an organization because you love people and you care. And that’s the only way you’re going to come together,’” she recalled.

The Saskatchewan Jamaican Society (SJS) was formed in 1992 and has continued to grow.

During Black History Month, it’s a time for Caribbean and African people to come together. On Saturday, a breakfast was hosted at Shiloh Assembly Apostolic Church.

“This is an annual breakfast that we do every year, not only to celebrate Black History Month, but to celebrate our culture and to bring a little bit of Jamaican culture to the rest of Regina,” said Ziporah Edmund, who runs public relations for the SJS.

Of Jamaican descent, Edmund made the move to Saskatchewan from Toronto seven years ago.

“We’ve seen a progressive increase in the last few years. Right now, there’s various contributions that the Jamaican community has made to Regina, from engineers to barbers, we try to make a stamp,” she said. “One of the Jamaican slogans is “Wi Likkle But Wi Tallawaht,” which means ‘We are so small, but our presence is big.’”

Ashbourne reflected on her 54 years of being in Saskatchewan.

“Before coming to Canada, I had a different outlook on Canada. I thought the streets were paved with gold, but I didn’t know where I was leaving. But once I came, I didn’t want to go back. I love Saskatchewan. I have two homes, Jamaica first and Saskatchewan.”

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It’s easy to connect online in 2026 but Ashborne said it was a little bit harder in the 1970’s to connect with her culture.

“We met other Jamaicans and other Caribbean people, or Africans at the time,” she said. “When we came here, anybody that looked like me, we became one. We didn’t think about where anybody came from, we just wanted to form a community.”

Stepping foot into Canada, her first job was as a dishwasher.

“It wasn’t very easy, but you persevered because Jamaicans, or Black people are very strong people. It wasn’t always easy, but we made it. When I look back, I’m not sorry that I did come here,” she said.

A country of 14 parishes, Ashbourne comes from the parish of Saint Mary.

“Black History Month to us, it’s hope, it’s longevity, it’s joy,” she said. “Our ancestors had a hard time globally, not just here. So, for us to come together and be able to sit down in a free place called Canada where it is nice to live here and nobody’s going to kill you or anything like that, I am very proud to live here in Saskatchewan and especially in Regina. I think all the Black people will tell you the same thing,” she said.