News Release - City of Barrie
February is Black History Month, and the City of Barrie is proud to promote events and programming that bring awareness to the significant contributions that Black Canadians have made and continue to make to the cultural landscape of our country and our community. The City of Barrie encourages the community to recognize Black History Month as an opportunity to embrace diversity and foster a sense of belonging and inclusion.
Programming hosted or supported by the City of Barrie:
- January & February – Photography Exhibit – Wildlife of the World by Jason George; First Floor Gallery, City Hall (70 Collier Street), Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday, February 1 – Flag Raising; 10 a.m. at the City Hall courtyard (70 Collier Street). Raising of the Pan-African Flag at City Hall and Proclamation of Black History Month in the City of Barrie.
- Saturday, February 10 – Brownman’s TRUMPET MASTERS: A Black History Month Celebration Concert; Five Points Theatre, 1 Dunlop Street West, 8 p.m. Barrie's Afro-Caribbean Multi-Cultural Association will mount its annual tribute to Black Excellence by importing multi-award-winning trumpet player and Brooklyn, NY based jazz iconoclast BROWNMAN ALI to present his TRUMPET MASTERS show – a deep dive into all of jazz history's most impactful trumpet players.
- Saturday, February 17 – Black-Owned Vendor Market, hosted by Parents Against Racism Simcoe County: Visit the Sandbox for a market made up entirely of Black-owned businesses. The event will feature over 20 vendors, live performances by Tkaia Green, Bureh Bollo Kamara, and Laura Tanifum, children’s entertainment, a s'mores-making station and light refreshments. The event is sponsored by the Small Business Centre.
The MacLaren Art Centre is hosting a variety of Black History Month programming including Black Canadian Poetry with Ty The Poetess, Canvas For Change: Black Youth Art Celebration, Musical Performance with Freez’Careeb and a Lunch and Learn with Janie Cooper-Wilson.
The Barrie Public Library, in collaboration with UPlift Black, hosts Black History 365, which provides resources, readings, interviews and presentations that allow users to learn about Black history all year long. The library will also host a special Storytime – Celebrating Black History Month.
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