Local residents came together in Ajax recently to celebrate Black History Month and honour Black culture and community in Durham Region.
The 11th Annual Looking Back Into the Future Black History Month Conference founded by Channon Oyeniran was held on Feb. 7. at the St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts and Culture in Ajax.
“Every conference has been a reminder of why this work matters because our stories, our voices and our legacies continue to shape the very fabric of Ontario and Canada,” said Oyeniran.
Back in November 2015, Oyeniran said she was praying and got the sense to plan a Black History Month conference. This sparked the first conference in 2016.
The conference has been held every year since.
“I think it’s become a kind of staple in the Durham Region and in Ajax,” said Oyeniran. “I’m so glad and thankful each year that everybody comes out and has a good time and learns.”
Former MP Jean Augustine moved a motion to make Black History Month a law in Canada more than 30 years ago. She gave a keynote at the conference where audience members had the opportunity to join the conversation.
“This too is a reminder to us that every little action can reverberate and create and make change,” said Augustine.
Throughout the conference, attendees had the opportunity to visit and support local vendors. TNL Accessories, Dreams of Africa, WafeOge, Folu Abayomi and Wewanna Create set up shop for an afternoon of sales and connection.
The event featured a dance performance by the Riddim Cultural Arts Program, a documentary screening of Steadfast: The Messenger and the Message, a keynote from Jean Augustine, the 2026 School Black History Essay and Art Competition led by Oyeniran Education Support (OyES), the 2026 Canada Post Black History Month stamp unveiling and a raffle.
MPP Rob Cerjanec, councillors Lisa Bower, Rob Tyler-Morin, Nancy Henry, regional councillors Marilyn Crawford and Sterling Lee were in attendance.
Coun. Crawford said she learns something more each time she attends an event like this.
“It always helps me to be a better person when I hear those conversations,” she said.
Oyeniran said the main goal of the conference is to always uplift Black Canadian history in the province and across Canada.
“It’s not just for black Canadians, right?” said Oyeniran. “It’s to make sure that we’re learning – everybody, all Canadians – are learning about the contributions of people of African descent.”
Augustine told audience members to make sure they find a way to make the world a better place.
“The winds that are blowing from the south to the north, those winds should not change how we feel about each other, those winds should not create erasures,” said Augustine.