The Royal BC Museum together with the BC Black History Awareness Society are inviting the public to learn more about BC Black History and Heritage Day on Feb. 12 from noon to 4 pm, with a dynamic display of booths from local organizations. BC Black History and Heritage Day is an opportunity to meet and talk with direct descendants about their stories and family history.
“At BC Black History and Heritage Day, you will meet descendants of Black settlers that arrived in BC in 1858, learn about the experiences of travellers on the Underground Railroad arriving in Ontario, and view Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum , the first Black history museum exhibition in BC, conceived, curated and written by Black voices; and there will be live music,” says Fran Morrison, of the BC Black History Awareness Society. “This day is about recognition, connection, and celebration.”
The display booths will include images, artifacts and archival documents, and will take place around the Hope Meets Action: Echoes Through the Black Continuum exhibition in the museum’s Clifford Carl Hall, admission is free.
Participating organizations include: the Underground Railroad, presenter Ron Nicholson is a twenty-year member of the BC Black History Awareness Society and a fourth generation Canadian, whose great-grandfather was an actual traveler of the Underground Railroad. The Alexander Family and Saanich Pioneers, Karen Hoshal and Barbra Hudlin are direct descendants of Charles and Nancy Alexander who were part of the 1858 migration of the Black Pioneers to B.C. from San Francisco. The Alexander’s settled in Saanich and were instrumental in building and establishing the Black Community, the Shady Creek Church and schools. The Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria is dedicated to researching, preserving and encouraging the appreciation of Victoria’s heritage cemeteries. Every year, for more than a decade, Old Cemeteries Society has conducted an annual cemetery tour of some of the Black Pioneer grave sites at Ross Bay Cemetery; their display at this Heritage Day event will highlight information about some of these pioneers.
For more information about the event visit: BC Black History and Heritage Day
For information about visiting the Royal BC Museum and current COVID protocols visit: Plan Your Visit
— 30 —
About the Royal BC Museum: The Royal BC Museum explores the province’s human history and natural history, advances new knowledge and understanding of BC, and provides a dynamic forum for discussion and a place for reflection. The museum and archives celebrate culture and history, telling the stories of BC in ways that enlighten, stimulate and inspire. Located in Victoria on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations), we are a hub of community connections in BC–onsite, offsite and online–taking pride in our collective histories.
Media contact:
Sam Rich
Corporate Communications Manager
250-208-9148
srich@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
