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Bromley L. Armstrong, social activist, founder of the Jamaican Canadian Association and the Ontario Black History Society, publishes his memoirs.
Kentucky and Toronto plan to honour Thornton Blackburn and Lucie Blackburn, runaway slaves who made their way to T.O. from the Bluegrass State to found the first taxicab company.
BEST CURATORIAL SURPRISE
The ROM announces a new exhibit dedicated to African-Canadian history, to be unveiled next year.
HEROES GET THEIR DUE
Millennium Minds, by Pat Hollis, about the lives of prominent African Canadians, hits the shelves.
Dr. Dan Hill, first director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for Human Rights from B’nai Brith Canada.
Herb Carnegie, a black 1940s hockey star, will be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.
ACADEMIC FORAYS
Families In The Caribbean course debuts at Ryerson.
U of T offers a new course on African cinema.
INSPIRATION 101
O’Neil Cross, a learning-disabled high-school student, spends his Saturday mornings at the Vaughan Road tutorial program, graduates from York Memorial Collegiate Institute and becomes a motivational speaker for other black kids.
WELCOME NEW ACTIVISTS
The National Black Health Network is founded.
BIGGEST CULTURAL BOOSTS
Tonya Lee Williams, of The Young And The Restless fame, launches the first annual ReelWorld Film Festival, dedicated to diversity in Canadian film.
FLOW 93.5 flips the switch
Djanet Sears, Governor General’s Award winner and playwright, becomes writer-in-residence at Toronto’s Factory Theatre.
RHYTHM BREAKTHROUGHS
Local hiphop artist Sean Oliver makes the FLOW playlist, scores a comeback and a new record deal.
Darrel Riley, Fin-S and Najua grab big attention though FLOW rotation, and IRS and Jelleestone snag record deals.
MOST EXCITING NEW MOMENTS
The Ontario Black History Association, marking the 150th anniversary of the First Convention of Coloured Freemen, where Toronto was declared the best place in the world for black immigration, will host an international gathering in September to discuss issues facing people of the African diaspora.
The UN will host the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, later this month.
Research assistance by A Different Booklist
Caribananewsinsight: Good reasons to jump up
