Canada & Black History Month
Black History Month History
Did you know that in 1995, Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to Parliament, introduced the motion to officially recognize February as Black History Month in Canada? This February 2026, we are proudly celebrating 30 years of this important tradition.
This year’s theme is:
“30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations, From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”
It celebrates three decades of recognizing the incredible contributions Black Canadians have made over the years, from the nation builders of the past to the visionaries shaping our future. These 30 years mark a significant moment in honoring Black excellence, empowerment, and unity. They build on generations of self-determination and a rich history.
Black culture, influenced by various aspects of the African diaspora, has greatly impacted Canadian and global society. This influence includes literature, music, science, cuisine, fashion, technology, engineering, the arts, and much more. These contributions continue to inspire and enrich communities across Canada and around the world.
This month, Canada Post featured Maestro Fresh Wes on its stamp.
Maestro Fresh Wes
He and I have something in common. We both grew up in Scarborough.
The first Canadian MC to achieve mainstream success was Maestro Fresh Wes, who released his 1989 debut album Symphony in Effect. The album’s monster hit single (buy the Let Your Backbone Slide / I’m Showin’ You 7-Inch vinyl at this store in Vancouver), “Let Your Backbone Slide,” became the first Canadian rap song to achieve gold status, while the album itself reached platinum.
In 1991, the JUNO Awards introduced a new category for Best Rap Recording, which Symphony in Effect won. Over the course of his career, Maestro released nine studio albums and also worked as an author, actor, and motivational speaker.
In 2024, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
A Canadian hip hop anthem since the late 1980s.
