2023 Programming
Hosted or Supported by the City of Barrie
Flag Raising
12pm | City Hall Courtyard, 70 Collier StreetRaising of the Pan-African Flag at City Hall and Proclamation of Black History Month in the City of Barrie.
Family Day: Celebration of Diversity
12–3:30pm | Shak’s World Community Centre, 59 Maple AvenueJoin us for a fun Family Day at Shak's World Community Centre! Led by regional artist Shanique Brown, families will be engaged in a creative painting and embroidery project, followed by musical entertainment. Free to attend, all are welcome. This event is hosted by the MacLaren Art Centre in partnership with Shak's World and sponsored by the City of Barrie.
View the event listing in our community events calendar!
A Tribute to Bob Marley and the Wailers
7:30pm | Five Points Theatre, 1 Dunlop Street WestThe Afro-Caribbean Multi-Cultural Association presents A Tribute to Bob Marley and the Wailers. This event is sponsored by the City of Barrie.
View the event listing in our community events calendar!
Queering Black History Month – Introduction to KiKi Ballroom
1–5pm | UPlift Black Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, 12 Dunlop Street EastThis event was postponed from March 4 to March 18.
Ballroom culture, which originated during the Harlem Renaissance as far back as the 1920s, allows Queer people to express their authentic selves through pageantry and performance that’s glamourous, fun, engaging, and affirming. Today, the Kiki community takes the magic and impact of ballroom and brings it to our community. As well, to honour its roots, Kiki is as diverse as our community is: Black and white, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, Brown and Latinx, citizens and newcomers, cisgender and transgender, queer and questioning, binary and non-binary, young and old all make up the fabric of our community.
Join UPlift Black, Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance and Freedom School for a fun afternoon learning history, and engaging in workshops on voguing, realness and runway. Limited space available. This event is sponsored by the City of Barrie.
View the event listing in our community events calendar!
Hosted by Barrie Public Library
Resources, readings, interviews and presentations are available online all year-round.
Thursday Night at the Movies – Respect
6–8:35pm | Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch, 60 Worsley StreetFollowing the rise of Aretha Franklin's career, from a child singing in her father's church choir to her international superstardom, it's the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice.
In Focus: Black History Month – Cultures Left Behind
10–10:30am | OnlineJoin every week for a new film selection, and honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present. Library card required.
Storytime: Celebrating Black History Month
10–10:30am | Barrie Public Library Painswick Branch, 48 Dean AvenueA long time ago, African people told a lot of stories that later became their culture. Join Modupe as she shares some of those stories.
In Focus: Black History Month – The Black American Fight for Freedom
10–10:30am | OnlineJoin every week for a new film selection, and honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present. Library card required.
Thursday Night at the Movies – Harriett
6–8:35pm | Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch, 60 Worsley StreetFrom her escape from slavery through the dangerous missions she led to liberate hundreds of slaves through the Underground Railroad, the story of heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman is told.
In Focus: Black History Month – John Ware Reclaimed
10–10:30am | OnlineJoin every week for a new film selection, and honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present. Library card required.
Hosted by the MacLaren Art Centre
Lunch and Learn: Starting the Conversation (If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes)
12–1pm | MacLaren Art Centre, 37 Mulcaster StreetIn partnership with Making Change, Debbie Opoku-Mulder will focus her talk around diversity and inclusion. Through sharing her lived experiences as Black woman, Opoku-Mulder brings a conversation about how building inclusion is a lifelong journey. She will discuss Black Lives Matter and reflect on why Making Change was launched and detail their community work.
Black Mosaic: The Afro-Caribbean Canadian Experience
2–4pm | MacLaren Art Centre, 37 Mulcaster StreetRegistration for this event is now full. Join us for an engaging presentation on Canadian Black history, Afro-Canadian Caribbean culture and diversity changes happening in Simcoe County. A steel pan performance will follow, with an opportunity for young audiences to try the steel pan for themselves, as well as make a working version in a fun hands-on workshop. This event is meant to give background on the beginnings of Caribbean culture to Ontario, provide a sense of the struggles and show how we can all be allies in welcoming diverse cultures in our communities. Organized by Making Change and sponsored by MacLaren Art Centre.
Family Sunday: Caribbean Paper Masks
1–2pm & 2:30–3:30pm | MacLaren Art Centre, 37 Mulcaster Street$5/Child or Free for MacLaren Members
Led by regional artist Angela Francis, families will learn more about Caribbean carnival culture and the artistry and purpose of mask-making as a part of masquerade performance. Using the art of collage and a variety of coloured and textured papers, participants will create their own vibrant mask.
National Film Board Short Films
Available online throughout the month.
Additional Programming
Yao
8pm | Lion’s Gate Banquet Centre, 386 Blake StreetPresented by La Clé.
Poetic, Groovy, Funk at times and Soul as a whole, Yao, with his deep voice, manages to charm with the warm universe of his sweet poetry and his artistic audacity. His pictorial writing – imbued with great sensitivity – reminds us of the textual richness of the French rap of MC Solaar, Abdel Malik or Oxmo Puccino, with an eclectic pop side – where the musical universes follow one another and intertwine. through the escapades of this poet. Purchase tickets online.
Word Up! Black History Month Panel
7–9pm | Barrie Public Library Downtown Branch, 60 Worsley StreetJoin this writers panel to discover the perspectives of Barrie’s young, local poets on their heritage and experiences as black youth in our society, and what Black History Month means to them. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions when the floor is opened. Stick around for Open Mic, where we get to see their talents bloom, and you get to share your work. Featuring Tru AKA RoyalTee the Eccentric 1, Oliver Joseph, and Barrie’s new Poet Laureate, Tyneisha Ternent. More information available via Word Up.
BLACK FUTURES - BHM 2023 Leadership Series
The Afro Caribbean Business Network (ACBN) and the Social Economy for Social Inclusion (SETSI) leadership series takes place throughout the month. The program is more than 20 virtual panel discussions, starting February 1 and ending February 28, 2023. The series will take the form of panel discussions, with influential thought leaders and practitioners across Canada engaging in impactful and educational discussions geared to unpack and build on the intersectionality of their collective work and impact. Get more information on the panel topics and dates.
In February the City of Barrie celebrates Black History Month with events that bring awareness to the significant contributions that Black Canadians have and continue to make to the cultural landscape of our country and our community.
The City of Barrie is proud to promote and support Black History Month programming and initiatives taking place in the community. If you have programming that you would like added to this list, please email Amanda.Dyke@barrie.ca to have it added.