Black History Month 2024

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black people in Canada and their communities.

The 2024 theme for Black History Month is: “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; a Future to Build”. This theme celebrates the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of Black people in Canada, while aspiring to embrace new opportunities for the future.

The theme aligns with the 10th year of the International Decade for People of African Descent and recognizes that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.

We invite all residents to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to help shape Canada. Visit on of the two branches of the Russell public library to see a selection of books by black authors.

Sociodemographic diversity

• In 2021, Canada's Black population reached 1.5 million, accounting for 4.3% of the total population and 16.1% of the racialized population. In Russell Township, the Black population is at 1.7% and 33.3% of the visible minority population (as per the 2021 Census).
• The Black population continues to grow and is expected to reach more than 3.0 million by 2041, according to population projections from Statistics Canada.
• In 2021, over 40.9% of the Black population was Canadian-born—this includes individuals with multi-generational Canadian roots as well as children of immigrants.
• Among the Black population in Canada that was born outside of the country, 55.3% was born in Africa—Nigeria (12 %), Ethiopia (4.7%), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (4.1%) were the leading places of birth.
• Additionally, 35.6% of the Black population born outside Canada was born in the Caribbean and Bermuda, primarily in Jamaica (14.9%) and Haiti (12.1%).
• The Black population in Canada identified with more than 300 ethnic or cultural origins in the 2021 Census.

For more information, visit www.canada.ca/black-history-month.