A minority community development group has congratulated Premier Kathleen Wynne and the government and parliament of Ontario for passing a new legislation to recognize February as Black History Month, making it just the third province in Canada to give Royal Assent to the increasingly popular tradition after British Columbia and Quebec.
In a Press and Community Release circulated by Kay Alabi, the Executive Director at the Oakville-based community development and media outfit, Visible Minority Radio & TV Network (VMRTN), Ontario authorities need to be commended for doing what he calls “walking the walk” rather than merely “talking the talk” of giving the teeming minorities of the most populous province in Canada a sense of belonging.
The statement especially congratulated Mr. Michael Coteau, the current Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for following up on such a history-making accomplishment and having his name recorded for posterity.
According to Mr. Alabi, the current reality of Canada being a fast-developing multicultural nation cannot be swept under the carpet, especially with the reality of Toronto being the 2nd most culturally diverse city in the world, (after Miami in the United States of America), and other Canadian cities swarming with new immigrants who have been hit by the “bug” of Canada's attractiveness as their new home of choice.
Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in Canada and other countries like the USA , and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people, accomplishments and events in the history of the African diaspora Black community. I t is celebrated annually in February in Canada and the USA, October in the UK.
The tradition to recognize February as Black History Month and honor Black Canadians started In 1995 after the House of Commons passed a motion by prominent politician and black activist, Ms. Jean Augustine, representing Ontario’s Etobicoke—Lakeshore riding. The Senate followed suit in 2008 for Canada’s official recognition after it unanimously passed a motion moved by Senator Donald Oliver.
Visible Minority Radio and TV Network (VMRTN) is a not-for-profit Corporation registered with Industry Canada with headquarters in the beautiful and fast-growing Town of Oakville and satellite locations and partnerships in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Its mandate is to serve and help to build the capacity of the minority population in the following areas of life: : Senior and Elderly services; Environmental Awareness; Newcomer Referral and Information; Supportive and Peer Counseling; Age/ Sex-appropriate social programs; Drugs/ HIV / AIDS programs; After-school program for kids; Crime Prevention; Single Mothers, etc.
Furthermore, the agency uses the tools of electronic media in addition to social media and direct community engagement in a holistic manner to reach out to its targets in a language-appropriate and ethnically conscious manner to accomplish its goals.On the aspect of partnership and affiliation, VMRTN belongs to the African Executive Directors Forum under the auspices of Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), the Oakville’s CORE group as well as the Trillium Chapter of the Society of Association Executives (CSAE).
Talks are ongoing for more collaboration, including with the Alternative Planning Group (APG), a City of Toronto - sponsored and funded collective of the most populous minority groups in Toronto whose membership comprise the Chinese Canadian National Council – Toronto Chapter (CCNC-TO), Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) and Hispanic Development Council (HDC), African Canadian Social Development Council (ACSDC).
