About OBHS
The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) has been at the forefront
of African-Canadian educational information for over 20 years. The OBHS
was founded in 1978 as a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated
to the preservation, promotion and study of Black history. It has been
instrumental in initiating the formal declaration of the celebration
of Black History Month in February - across Canada, identifying and
addressing Black heritage issues.
The OBHS was very pleased when their initiative to have February declared
Black History Month across the country was successfully put forward
on a unanimous motion by Jean Augustine, Parliamentary Secretary and
Member of Parliment for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The Mathieu Da Costa Programme
was created as a tribute to this OBHS initiated declaration. This is
a sampling of the available data the Ontario Black History has to offer.
The OBHS provides a range of African-Canadian educational materials. For
those who are able to visit us, the OBHS has many special collections
(e.g. Mary Ann Shadd; Emancipation Day), a resource centre and a selection
of Afrocentric materials.
For others, the OBHS may be visited at this site, which contains a
tremendous sampling of the many resources we have to offer. Materials
can also be sent to you or you may book a speaker or exhibit.
African Canadian Materials:
Selected Books
(these and more available in the BOOKS
section of this site)
- The Freedom Seekers, Dr. Daniel G. Hill
- Against All Odds, Stephen Hubbard
- Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad: Her life in the United
States and Canada, Rosemary Sadlier
Free Standing Exhibits
- Alvin McCurdy
- Black History in Ontario
- Ontario's Black Heritage
- Displays available for rental
Films
(several of these and more available in the SCENES
section of this site)
- A Proud Past, A Promising Future
- OBHS: PSA's
- OBHS: Following in their Foot-steps
Posters
- Contributing Towards the Millennium. (limited edition)
- Nova Scotia Series
- Underground Railroad in Canada and African-Canadian Recipients of
the Order of Canada.
Speakers
A speaker from the OBHS can be booked for your next conference, professional
development session, or class.
Tours
Step-on tour guides are available to share the Black History of Toronto
- Discover Black History in Toronto, with your bus group. Advance notice
required. Join the Ontario Black History Society on a unique tour that
explores areas of Toronto where poeple of African descent lived, worked
and made significant contributions to Toronto, Ontario, and Canada.
The tour covers general Black history, politics, industry and inventions.
There are one hour, two hour and three hour tours available.
Membership Categories
| Students under 21 |
$15.00 |
| Seniors |
$15.00 |
| Individual |
$35.00 |
| Family |
$50.00 |
| Organizational/Corporate |
$100.00 |
| Members
will receive the Ontario Black History Society Newsletter. |
Our Accomplishments
- Initiated the first formal celebration of Black History Month in
Canada with the City of Toronto in 1979.
- Produced the first Canadian Black History film A Proud Past,
A Promising Future (1984).
- In collaboration with the city of Toronto, produced the first free
standing travelling Black History exhibition in Canada Black History
in Early Ontario (1987).
- Initiated the first formal celebration of Black History Month in
the Province of Ontario (1993).
- Initiated the Federal declaration of Black History Month throughout
Canada (December 1995, effective February 1996).
- Initiated the formal declaration of August 1st as Emancipation Day
in the city of Toronto (1996) effective in the province of Ontario
August 1, 1997.
- Initiated the formal celebration of Kwanzaa in the City of Toronto
(1996). And produced 5 Black History Public Service Announcements
(1996).
