Confederation of Canadian Unions Celebrates Black History Month 2025

During Black History Month, we honour and amplify the voices of Black Canadians while celebrating their many achievements and contributions. The efforts of Black Canadians and their communities throughout history have greatly enriched Canada’s cultural diversity, compassion and prosperity.

The 2025 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.” This theme acknowledges the diversity of Black Canadians, the importance of Black leadership and the legacy being built for future generations. Black communities are diverse at many levels. Those with a long history in this country have established a legacy for the newer communities. The theme underscores that Black Canadians have a rightful place in the nation’s narrative, with over 400 years of historical presence on these Indigenous lands, deserving acknowledgment and celebration.

We invite all Canadians to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to help shape Canada.

Black History in Canada

Black Canadians and their communities have been a part of shaping Canada’s heritage and identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator and interpreter whose presence in Canada dates back to the early 1600s.

The role of Black people and their communities in Canada has largely been ignored as a key part of Canada’s history. There is little mention that some of the Loyalists who came here after the American Revolution and settled in the Maritimes were people of African descent, nor the fact that many soldiers of African descent made many sacrifices in wartime as far back as the War of 1812.

Few people in Canada are aware of the fact that African people were once enslaved in the territory that is now known as Canada, or of how those who fought enslavement helped to lay the foundation of Canada’s diverse and inclusive society.

Black History Month is a time to learn more about these Canadian stories and the many other important contributions that Black Canadians and their communities have made to the history and continued growth of this country.

Addressing Anti-Black racism

For too many communities in Canada, anti-Black racism is a daily reality. Now, and not just during Black History Month, we need to raise awareness of the challenges faced by these communities and to confront and denounce all forms of anti-Black racism and discrimination.

Black Racism Definition

Anti-Black racism includes prejudice, attitudes, beliefs, stereotyping and discrimination that is directed at people of African descent and is rooted in their unique history and experience of enslavement. Anti-Black racism is deeply entrenched in Canadian institutions, policies and practices, such that anti-Black racism is either functionally normalized or rendered invisible to the larger white society. Anti-Black racism is manifested in the legacy of the current social, economic and political marginalization of Black people in Canada in society such as the lack of opportunities, lower socio-economic status, higher unemployment, signiﬁcant poverty rates and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system.

How we Can Fight Anti-Black Racism

Racism, in any form, is unacceptable and has no place in Canada. It runs counter to the values and spirit of the diverse and inclusive society that we strive to build. It is our collective responsibility to step up, be allies and stand together against xenophobia, hate fueled by misinformation and all forms of racism including anti-Black racism.

Here are some ways we can all contribute to tackling anti-Black racism and building an even better and consciously more inclusive society where everyone is able to participate fully:

Learn about Black diversity and the unique histories and cultures within the Black communities in Canada
Challenge stereotypes and acknowledge how they are rooted in the history of racism
Show solidarity with Black communities in Canada, that is by supporting local Black and black-owned businesses and organizations
Be an ally by calling out acts of racism, discrimination and micro aggression and actively supporting those victimized by racism
Challenge unconscious biases and consider how they can affect your behavior and decision-making