beyond blk

Supplementary Information to Support Learning about Canada’s Black History by Region

Venturing beyond blk

The BLK: An Origin Story docuseries offer rich learning about some of the regional histories of Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia from the lens of the African Canadian experience. Taken together, these regional histories reveal patterns within the Black freedom struggle across Canada from Pre-Confederation through to the present day - all while highlighting the significance of Black agency, leadership and respite in spaces of community. Viewers gain new insight into the enduring presence and contributions of African-descended people across Canada even through seasons characterized by de facto segregation, dispossession, and other forms of systemic anti-Blackness. The BLK docuseries provide important counter-narratives that build upon what most people think they know about Canadian history.  

Viewing the diversity of stories within these films will awaken an awareness that there are many more stories as yet untold.  As such, this supplement invites you to expand your learning beyond or alongside the BLK Clip Library. We’ve selected a few people, places, or events from across Canada that were not included in the BLK series and organized them into four Canadian regions - to spark further exploration and understanding. Enjoy!

Regional History

  • “

    In Grade 10, the topic was Canadian history. I wrote about Black migration to Salt Spring Island. My teacher went ahead and told me that was not Canadian history…. Black Canadian history roots me in my community, in our community, in this country.

    - Joshua T. Robertson in BLK, Ep. 103

  • “

    The rest of the world knows nothing about Canadian slavery because we at home know nothing about Canadian slavery. We're talking about a 200-year history, from the 1600s until 1834, under two empires, the French and the British. 

    - Dr. Charmaine Nelson in BLK, Ep. 104

  • “

    Black history is Canadian history and, therefore, the full history should be taught in the public school system. And when you erase a person's history effectively you are telling our people that our history doesn't matter.

    - The Hon. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Senator in BLK, Ep. 101