Black History Month 2026
The Promise We Carry
“The Promise We Carry” calls us to walk the path our ancestors paved: honouring the sacrifices of those before us while protecting the futures of those yet to come. It reminds us that the work of justice is continuous and shared.
This Black History Month, we will look back at the gains made by freedom fighters, abolitionists and civil rights leaders and examine how their vision lives within us today. We will consider the promises we now carry—commitments to justice, equity, education, health and cultural pride—and how we must uphold them, especially in times of uncertainty.
“The Promise We Carry” is both a reflection and a charge. It speaks to Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and Kujichagulia (self-determination), and to the work we continue to do to resist erasure and boldly affirm the achievements of the Black diaspora everywhere. As we collaborate across communities, we acknowledge that the promise of liberation belongs to all of us. We are charged with carrying this promise forward, ensuring that future generations inherit justice, hope and the freedom to dream, build and thrive.
This Black History Month, we will look back at the gains made by freedom fighters, abolitionists and civil rights leaders and examine how their vision lives within us today. We will consider the promises we now carry—commitments to justice, equity, education, health and cultural pride—and how we must uphold them, especially in times of uncertainty.
“The Promise We Carry” is both a reflection and a charge. It speaks to Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and Kujichagulia (self-determination), and to the work we continue to do to resist erasure and boldly affirm the achievements of the Black diaspora everywhere. As we collaborate across communities, we acknowledge that the promise of liberation belongs to all of us. We are charged with carrying this promise forward, ensuring that future generations inherit justice, hope and the freedom to dream, build and thrive.
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Upcoming Events
Pan-African Flag Raising Ceremony
Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 l 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM l 395 Mulock Drive
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Join NACCA and the Town of Newmarket as we raise the Pan-African flag in honour of Black History Month. This annual tradition celebrates the strength and heritage of the African diaspora and the invaluable contributions of Black Canadians to our town’s social and cultural fabric. We reflect on the promise of freedom and our shared commitment to building a more just, inclusive future for all.
Register HERE
Register HERE
Black History Month Reception, Art Exhibition and Ujamaa Marketplace
Sunday, February 8, 2026 l 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM (program begins at 3:00PM) l Old Town Hall, 460 Botsford Street
Emcee - Sandra Whiting
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Sandra Whiting is a powerhouse and a true Renaissance woman. She has been at the epicentre of activity and change in Toronto’s African Canadian community for many years. Her list of credits is endless including conceiving and planning KUUMBA, the largest Black History event for Harbourfront Centre, a major cultural institution. She is currently the V.P of Culchahworks, a not-for-profit arts organization that “aims to celebrate and proliferate compelling stories, principally those of African Canadians.”
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Compelling Keynote Address by Sean Mauricette
Sean Mauricette has been an actor, musician, educator, and motivational speaker for more than a decade. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Sean has worked on various projects. Most notably, the Jane and Finch Centre for Green Change and as Head Architectural Designer for the Toronto Community Housing’s support centre for young fathers.
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Spoken Word by Ontario's First Poet Laureate, Randell Adjei
Randell Adjei is an entrepreneur, speaker and spoken word practitioner who uses his gifts to Empower the message of Alchemy. Randell is a decorated and well sought out speaker who has shared his message across many corners of the globe. In April of 2021, he was appointed Ontario's first Poet Laureate.
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Calabash Drum & Dance Performance by AFIWI Groove School
Afiwi Groove School is Durham Region’s Award Winning African Performing Arts School.
Established in 2013, in Ajax, Ontario, Afiwi Groove School empowers, educates and inspires communities through Arts and Culture of the African Diaspora. This year Afiwi celebrates 12 years building, healing and bringing the Black community together through African Caribbean Music and Dance. Continue Reading |
Support Local Black-Owned Businesses
Kingdom Kush Clothing
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Nile Valley Books
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AfroCrush
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The Black History Month Reception, Art Exhibition and Ujamaa Marketplace is an evening of celebration and reflection that embodies unity, pride and purpose.
Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully curated program featuring live performances, distinguished speakers and moments of recognition that honour the strength of the African diaspora. Guided by this year’s theme, “The Promise We Carry,” the evening invites us to celebrate how far we have come while reaffirming our shared commitment to justice, community and legacy.
The Ujamaa Marketplace celebrates cooperative economics and collective empowerment. Explore a showcase of Black-owned businesses, artisans and creators from across York Region. Each purchase supports not only an entrepreneur but the shared vision of a thriving, self-sustaining community, one that honours the promise of interdependence and shared success.
Register HERE
Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully curated program featuring live performances, distinguished speakers and moments of recognition that honour the strength of the African diaspora. Guided by this year’s theme, “The Promise We Carry,” the evening invites us to celebrate how far we have come while reaffirming our shared commitment to justice, community and legacy.
The Ujamaa Marketplace celebrates cooperative economics and collective empowerment. Explore a showcase of Black-owned businesses, artisans and creators from across York Region. Each purchase supports not only an entrepreneur but the shared vision of a thriving, self-sustaining community, one that honours the promise of interdependence and shared success.
Register HERE
Falls Illumination
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 l At Dusk
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Experience the breathtaking sight of the falls illuminated in the Pan-African colours of red, yellow and green, a symbolic representation of pride and collective strength. This illumination pays tribute to the ancestors whose light continues to guide us, reminding us of the power of community and the beauty of tomorrow.
Paint & Sip: Art as Reflection with Chika Oh
Sunday, February 22, 2026 l 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM l Newmarket Public Library
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Unleash your creativity in this guided art session inspired by The Promise We Carry. Participants will explore themes of self-determination, heritage and legacy while creating a personal work of art. Led by a professional artist, this event offers space for self-expression, conversation and connection, a joyful reminder that creativity is an act of community care.
Register HERE
Register HERE
Art Gallery Exhibition: The Promise We Carry
Old Town Hall (460 Botsford Street) l February 1 - 28
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Step into a visual journey of legacy, heritage and hope. This curated gallery exhibition explores The Promise We Carry through the lens of Black artists and storytellers, connecting ancestral memory to contemporary voices. The exhibition invites reflection on how collective strength and shared purpose continue to shape our communities today.
Museum Exhibition: Heritage and Pride
Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South) l February 1 - 28
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This Black History Month exhibit invites us to journey back to pre-colonial Africa where thriving civilizations, trade networks and cultural innovation flourished long before colonization. By beginning here, we reclaim a history too often told through the lens of oppression and instead affirm the brilliance, creativity and triumph of African peoples and their descendants.
Through artifacts, stories and community contributions, the exhibit traces the continuum of Black history from the ancestral homelands of Africa to the shaping of Black communities in Canada. Guided by the principle of Sankofa, which means: “go back and fetch it”, we remember that to build a just and liberated future, we must first honour the strength, knowledge and wisdom that have always defined who we are.
Through artifacts, stories and community contributions, the exhibit traces the continuum of Black history from the ancestral homelands of Africa to the shaping of Black communities in Canada. Guided by the principle of Sankofa, which means: “go back and fetch it”, we remember that to build a just and liberated future, we must first honour the strength, knowledge and wisdom that have always defined who we are.
Other Opportunities to Participate
New this year, the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA) is partnering with the Town of Newmarket to provide the following opportunities for high school classes and students to participate in February’s Black History Month. There are 4 ways to participate:
Book a Guided Tour
This Black History Month 2026 we welcome student groups and classes to take a guided tour of our history exhibit at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South), our art exhibit at Newmarket Old Town Hall (460 Botsford Street) and the Iris Malcolm Library at NACCA (449 Eagle Street). All three buildings are within walking distance with each tour taking approximately 45-60 minutes. If you are interested in arranging a free tour for your class or school group during February 2026, please email:
Newmarket Contact:
Lateshia Izzard-Brookes
Community Engagement Coordinator, NACCA
[email protected]
Submit a Video for the Museum History Challenge
This year we are excited to invite Newmarket and Aurora high school students to participate in our Black History Month Video Challenge at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South)!
Inspired by the powerful Sankofa message, “go back and fetch it”, this challenge encourages students to look to the past to inform and inspire the present. We’re calling on students to visit the Black History Month exhibit at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (displaying in February 2026) and afterwards, create a one-minute video highlighting a significant historical figure or story featured in the exhibit and how it relates to current life.
Submissions may be created by individuals or groups of up to three, and participants must be enrolled in a high school in either Newmarket or Aurora. Videos will be juried by members from the Elman W. Campbell Museum and NACCA. The winning submission will receive a $50 gift card and a chance to be featured on the Black History Month 2026 website.
We can’t wait to see your creativity, storytelling, and reflection come to life. For questions or to submit your mp4 file video, email: Nadine Joinville, Cultural Programmer, History and Heritage, Town of Newmarket, [email protected]
Video submissions will be accepted from February 7 to March 14, 2026.
Book a Guided Tour
This Black History Month 2026 we welcome student groups and classes to take a guided tour of our history exhibit at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South), our art exhibit at Newmarket Old Town Hall (460 Botsford Street) and the Iris Malcolm Library at NACCA (449 Eagle Street). All three buildings are within walking distance with each tour taking approximately 45-60 minutes. If you are interested in arranging a free tour for your class or school group during February 2026, please email:
Newmarket Contact:
Lateshia Izzard-Brookes
Community Engagement Coordinator, NACCA
[email protected]
Submit a Video for the Museum History Challenge
This year we are excited to invite Newmarket and Aurora high school students to participate in our Black History Month Video Challenge at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South)!
Inspired by the powerful Sankofa message, “go back and fetch it”, this challenge encourages students to look to the past to inform and inspire the present. We’re calling on students to visit the Black History Month exhibit at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (displaying in February 2026) and afterwards, create a one-minute video highlighting a significant historical figure or story featured in the exhibit and how it relates to current life.
Submissions may be created by individuals or groups of up to three, and participants must be enrolled in a high school in either Newmarket or Aurora. Videos will be juried by members from the Elman W. Campbell Museum and NACCA. The winning submission will receive a $50 gift card and a chance to be featured on the Black History Month 2026 website.
We can’t wait to see your creativity, storytelling, and reflection come to life. For questions or to submit your mp4 file video, email: Nadine Joinville, Cultural Programmer, History and Heritage, Town of Newmarket, [email protected]
Video submissions will be accepted from February 7 to March 14, 2026.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Community Partners
Presenting Sponsor
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Community Partner
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Community Partner
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