I’m back for part two of miscellaneous Black history in Canada. As we get ready for Black History Month at VPL, I’m returning to little-known and often overlooked figures in our nation’s past, as well as its present. If you stick around till the end of the blog post, I’ll be sharing upcoming library program details for the month of February as well. We have some exciting and intriguing sessions on offer this year. So, stay tuned. Of course, as us library folk are wont to do, we’ve prepared recommended reads lists in the spirit of the month too (did that rhyme?). They’ll be at the end of the post also. I hope, amongst our many offerings, you find a book, film, or resource that aids in critical learning or discovery of Black authors and stories. I truly believe that Black history is moving into the spotlight of historical discourse, but it has spent far too long out of that light. If we all continue to learn and to seek out knowledge and stories with which we’re unfamiliar — a vital part of being an anti-racist ally — we can change that. One historical figure I had not heard about before doing research for this post was civil rights activist Hugh Burnett. In a small town southwest of London, Ontario called Dresden, Burnett and other activists relentlessly targeted restaurant owners who were refusing to serve Black people in the area. As a leader in the National Unity Association (NUA), his efforts and those of others in the association directly influenced key pieces of provincial civil rights legislation. Appealing to the town’s council and — when that failed — the provincial government, they steadfastly lobbied for things to change. And they did. Starting with the Fair Employment Practices Act (1951), and then the Fair Accommodation Practices Act (1954). These were significant provincial laws that protected Ontario citizens from discrimination based on ‘race, creed, colour, nationality, ancestry or place of origin.’ I think there remains a misconception that civil rights were enshrined in law much earlier and much more peacefully here than they were in the US. Advances in equality were similarly hard won in Canada by brave leaders of the movement. Bromley Armstrong is another such brave leader. After the passage of the Fair Accommodation Practices Act (1954), restaurants were still denying service to Black people in Dresden. Along with Ruth Lor Malloy (Chinese Canadian student at U of T and influential activist in her own right), Armstrong caught the owner of the local Kay’s Café refusing to serve them. The two were recruited to the operation because they were out-of-towners — unfamiliar to eatery proprietors who would close up shop as soon as they spotted local activists. Not so coincidentally, Toronto press were in the cafe. The story blew up. Finally, the Ontario government prosecuted the cafe owner. As monumental as that moment was, the owner Morley McKay would appeal a guilty verdict and win. It would take another such case before the guilty decision would stick and McKay would have to pay the associated fine.
Artist: Hans Poppe
It’s a shame that we’re often more familiar with American civil rights giants like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. than their Canadian counterparts. There’s so much to say about Hugh Burnett and what happened in Dresden. For instance, did you know that the Dawn slave settlement from the time of the Underground Railroad is now largely in the town of Dresden? And did you also know the man who inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe’s seismic, anti-slavery text Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Reverend Josiah Henson) lived there? The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History is there too. Henson house (once called Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site after the book) is visited by tourists every year. A formerly enslaved man himself, Henson conducted 118 enslaved people to what was then Upper Canada, where they would be free from the threat of capture. He risked his own freedom to help others achieve theirs. His legacy is awe-inspiring and lives on to this day. It’s important to distinguish the real person from the character Stowe wrote, and shine a spotlight on his life’s work. That work also included the founding of the original 200 acre Dawn settlement itself. The illustration of Henson above is by an amazing artist, who you can find on Instagram here. You can also read more about Henson — and other Black history figures — in the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Heritage Matters online magazine here. Lifelong Dresden local Marie Carter writes about the complex history of the town in In the Light of Dawn from our catalogue. There are so many avenues of discovery to be found there. If you’re as curious as I am, check out the recently published treasure trove.
In my research travels, I also came across a massive project to improve schools’ curriculum on Black history in Canada. The highly regarded academic and writer Dr. Afua Cooper is at the helm of the research initiative, called A Black People’s History of Canada. I highly encourage you to check out the link above and delve into the incredible undertaking. Essentially, Cooper’s team is researching, compiling, and synthesizing the rich history of Black Canadians from the 1600s to the present in order to create ready-to-use, accurate learning materials for classrooms across Canada. What an amazing goal. We have Dr. Cooper’s book-length poem, The Halifax Explosion, in our catalogue. Many of us are likely familiar with the 1917 devastating explosion that happened in the Halifax Harbour when two ships carrying flammable cargo collided. Cooper’s poetic account focuses on the African Nova Scotians whose stories have been forgotten, including a doctor who cared for the victims. In penning their accounts, she affirms and validates their existence. Although geared toward junior readers, it would make a moving and informative read for anyone.
Moving into the present, I wanted to showcase a Black Canadian filmmaker. Clement Virgo is a highly regarded director who has worked in film and television for many years. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, his first feature-length movie Rude is the first of its kind: a hundred percent shot by Black Canadian filmmakers. The fact that it premiered in 1995 is surprising to me and telling. On top of directing for some of the biggest TV shows ever — The Wire, Billions, Empire — he continues to make unique, thought-provoking cinema. He adapted the book Brother, a successful novel from Scarborough-born-and-raised author David Chariandy to critical success. He’s also responsible for the acclaimed adaptation of The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. His recent film Steal Away was inspired by the non-fiction work — Steal Away Home — about an enslaved teenage girl who cleverly used a trip to Niagara Falls to secure her freedom, only to risk everything to return and reconnect with the family and young mistress she left behind. Virgo’s new film takes up this true account and adapts it into a fictional story with glimmers that hint at its historical source material. I can’t wait to see what future projects he comes up with.
That’s it for me this year. I hope, dear reader, that you’re intrigued by something you read above or that one of our recommended reads/programs below capture your attention. There’s a lot to learn on this topic, and not just in February. I’ll see you all again soon. For now, take care and stay warm.
VPL Black History Month programs
Creative Age: African Drum & Dance
Saturday, February 7th, 2026 – 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Experience high-energy excitement in this drum & dance workshop with Saikou Saho. This is an all-ages drop-in celebration.
Celebrate Black History Month with Talkin’ Tales
Monday, February 2nd, 2026 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Celebrate Black History Month with African and Caribbean stories and more, presented by Talkin’ Tales! For grades 1-6.
Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 – 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Discover financing opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. Presented by Vaughan Business and Entrepreneurship Centre (VBEC). Attend in person at Dufferin Clark Library or virtually on Zoom. Access to capital is identified as the main barrier to the establishment and success of Black entrepreneurs. This session will look at available resources, such as loans, start-ups, and innovation funds to meet those needs.