Events

Code Black- March 13-17, 2023

The Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) continues its #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Education Initiative with the Dream Makers Youth Program.  The GBHS […]

Fourth Friday at the Guelph Museum- Friday, February 24, 2023

GBHS collaborated with Guelph Museums to present a concert featuring a musical performance by Shane Philips on February 24, 2023.

Non-Profit Appreciation Week- February, 2023

Held on the third week of February every year, Nonprofit Appreciation Week recognizes the dedication, passion, and ingenuity of nonprofit […]

Canvas n’ Cocktails- Thursday, February 16, 2023

Attendees created a free-flowing art piece using positive affirmations for the first part of the evening led by Alana Decker […]

“Songs of Sunya”Table Read- Thursday, February 09, 2023

Guests were treated to an immersive theatre experience as community members performed scenes from Adam Myrie’s “Songs of Sunya” on […]

Centennial CVI First Black Heritage Month event- Wednesday, February 08, 2023

Centennial CVI hosted their first Black Heritage Month event on 8 February 2023.  This event was organized by student Ife […]

Our Stories. Our History. Our Heritage. Exhibit Opening – Wellington County Museum Exhibit Opening- Saturday, February 04, 2023

The exhibit highlighted the story of the Guelph Black Heritage Society on February 04, 2023. Visitors learned about the founders of […]

Flag Raising & Open House- Wednesday, February 01, 2023

GBHS Volunteers raised the African Nova Scotia flag at Heritage Hall to celebrate Black Heritage Month.  After the flag raising […]

Liftoff Launchers Event- Friday, March 24, 2023

GBHS volunteer Denise Francis was the keynote speaker at the LiftOff Launchers events on March 24, 2023.  To learn more […]

Guelph Film Fest- Thursday, November 10, 2022

In collaboration with the Guelph Film Festival, the GBHS presented a screening of the movie “Dear Jackie” at the Heritage […]

Paint Night- Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Alana Decker led a paint night for GBHS members and youth in the community on October 12, 2022.

“It Was Dark There All the Time – Sophia Burthen and the Legacy of Slavery in Canada” Book Reading and Talkback-Thursday, September 15, 2022

 The Guelph Black Heritage Society presented “It Was Dark There All the Time – Sophia Burthen and the Legacy of […]

A Guelph Tribute to the Music of Motown- Saturday, June 25, 2022

On Saturday June 25, 2022, Guelph Black Heritage Society presented “A Guelph Tribute to the Music of MOTOWN at Royal […]

Spirit of Harriet Tubman- Saturday, June 18, 2022

The Guelph Black Heritage Society continued its #ChangeStartsNow Anti-Racism Education initiative with the annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 18, 2022 […]

Fourth Friday at the Guelph Museum– Friday, February 25, 2022

In collaboration with Guelph Museums, GBHS presented a musical performance by Verese Vassell-Bowen on February 25, 2022. Verse is a […]

Illuminate Guelph – February 2022

Lighting up for Black Heritage Month with llluminate Downtown Guelph.  In partnership with the Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS), the […]

Indigenous Peoples Day Event- Wednesday, June 01, 2022

The Guelph Black Heritage Society celebrated Indigenous History Month with a screening of Layla Staats “Blood & Water” on June […]

Caribbean Christmas Dinner- Saturday, December 4, 2021

On Saturday December 4, 2021, the Guelph Black Heritage Society invited the community to come out and enjoy the tastes […]

Flag Raising- Monday, February 01, 2021

GBHS volunteers Denise and Kween raised the Pan-African Flag at Guelph City Hall on February 01, 2021.

GBHS Protest and Vigil- Sunday, June 06, 2021

Igniting Change: A Protest and Vigil for Hope and Transformation. Witness this powerful moment from the 2021 protest and vigil organized […]

Emancipation Day Jamboree- Saturday, August 01, 2020

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the GBHS hosted a socially-distanced celebration in Exhibition Park on August 01, 2020. Attendees […]

Lantern Ale Re-IGNITED at Royal City Brewing Company- Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Attendees listened to the music of DJ Emmitt and enjoyed some food with a drink of Lantern Ale – a […]

Caribbean Christmas Dinner & Dance- Saturday, December 7, 2019

On Saturday, December 7, 2019, attendees enjoyed the tastes and sounds of the Caribbean and danced the night away! The […]

Freedom Project Groundbreaking Photos by Sylma Fletcher – 2019

Guelph Black Heritage Society welcomed members of the public to the Heritage Hall to celebrate the groundbreaking of the “Freedom […]

Emancipation Day- Saturday, August 01, 2019

GBHS volunteers Denise Francis, Velma Francis and John Leacock celebrated Emancipation Day Queen’s Park on August 17, 2019. MPP Mike […]

Things My Fore Sisters Saw- Saturday, June 29, 2019

The GBHS hosted a performance of Leslie McCurdy’s one-woman play “Things My ForesistersSaw” on June 29, 2019. In this play […]

Ontario Trillium Foundation Announcement- Friday, March 22, 2019

The GBHS celebrated receiving funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation CommunityBuilding Fund – Capital Stream on March 22, 2019. The […]

Crossings Project- Sunday, May 26, 2019

The Crossings Project was a collaborative project with the GBHS, Art Gallery of Guelph, Silence and International Institute for Critical […]

Emancipation Day Jamboree- Saturday, July 28, 2018

The GBHS celebrates Emancipation Day, to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people of African descent.  The event featured Afro-Tribal as they […]

Meeting with MPP Mike Schreiner- Friday, July 27, 2018

GBHS volunteers met with MPP Mike Schreiner at the Heritage Hall on July 27, 2018 to discuss issues of importance […]

JOSIAH Movie Screening- Saturday, July 07, 2018

The GBHS hosted a screening of the film JOSIAH and a talkback with filmmaker Jared Brock on July 07, 2018.  […]

Paint Party- Thursday, April 26, 2018

Artist Nicole Alexander instructed attendees on how to paint a picture called “Dancing Dragonflies” on April 26, 2018.

Alfred M. Lafferty Tribute- Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute renamed its auditorium in honour of Alfred Lafferty on February 27, 2018.  Alfred Lafferty was born […]

Project Serve- Saturday, September 16, 2017

Project Serve on September 16th, students from the University of Guelph visited Heritage Hall for a day of engaged learning […]

Emancipation Day- Saturday, July 29, 2017

The GBHS presented an afternoon of activities to celebrate Emancipation Day on July 29, 2017. Guests learned about learned about […]

Movie Night at the Heritage Hall- Saturday, February 13, 2016 

The evening of February 13, 2016 featured a screening of the National Film Board’s “In the Key of Oscar” and […]

Black History Month Kick-Off “Built For Bob”- Saturday, February 06, 2016 

 A Celebration of the Music of Bob Marley featuring spoken word, DJ, live music, and cultural foods on February 06, […]

Guelph Market- February, 2016

GBHS volunteers promoted the upcoming Black History Month events at the Guelph Market.

3rd Annual Music Love & Family- Saturday, February 20, 2016   

A Celebration of African Canadian culture featured a performance by Oshungo Drum and Dance, DJ, and cultural foods on February […]

Mayor’s Award- Thursday, June 23, 2016

On June 23, 2016, Denise Francis was a recipient of the City of Guelph Mayor’s Award. The Mayor’s Awards honour […]

Emancipation Day- Saturday, August 8, 2015

The GBHS held its 3rd Annual Emancipation Day Celebration on August 8, 2015. Guests enjoyed a bbq lunch and were […]

Vigil- Saturday, June 20, 2015

The GBHS held a vigil in memory of the victims of the mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina on June […]

Fundraising Gala- Thursday, June 04, 2015

GBHS hosted a gala fundraising event at the Delta Hotel & Conference Centre on June 4, 2015. The keynote speaker […]

Family Drumming Workshop- Saturday, February 28, 2015

Feel the rhythm! The Heritage Hall was packed as Jamie Andrews and the Funga Drummers led a workshop focused on […]

2nd Annual Music, Love & Family- Saturday, February 21, 2015 

This event featured  Music, Love and Family featuring spoken word and a reggae band paying tribute to Bob Marley in […]

Bracelet Making- “Bracelets of Soul”- Saturday, February 14, 2015

Volunteers came together to make beaded African bracelets at Old Quebec Street Shoppes on February 14, 2015. The completed Bracelets […]

Jennifer Harris Talk- “From Paupers to Authors”- Saturday, November 15, 2014

Professor Jennifer Harris, an associate Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Waterloo presented a talk, “From […]

Spirit Walk- Saturday, August 09, 2014

Attendees took an  “Underground Railroad” walking tour at Woodlawn Memorial Park on August 09, 2014.  Attendees learned about members of […]

Dance Off- Saturday, July 12, 2014

A huge dance party with a ‘soul train’ took over the Old Quebec Street Mall. Dance Off! A Celebration of […]

4th Friday- Friday, February 28, 2014 

 A screening of the film “A Linc In Time – the Lincoln Alexander Story” was presented at the Guelph Civic […]

Heritage Plaque Designation- 2014

Mayor Karen Farbridge presented the Guelph Black Heritage Society volunteers with the heritage designation plaque.  The City of Guelph has […]

Family Day- Saturday, February 22, 2014

The community gathered at the Heritage Hall to enjoy a family day celebration.

Emancipation Day Celebration- Saturday, August 10, 2013 

The Emancipation Day Celebration on August 10, 2013, featured cultural foods, steel pan, african drumming, storytelling, and music.

Family Open House- Saturday, February 23, 2013  

The event featured African storying telling, Underground Railroad crafts and African drumming on February 23, 2013.

First event- Friday, February 15, 2013

The GBHS hosted their first ever event on February 15, 2013.  The event featured a dedication and blessing by Rev […]

GBHS Volunteers at Heritage Hall- February, 2013

GBHS volunteers gathered to get the Heritage Hall ready in time for our first events.

Doors Open- Saturday, April 28, 2012

Doors Open is an annual event where the doors to some of Guelph’s most architecturally, historically, and culturally significant sites […]