The NABC Community Newsletter is a weekly look into the resources and events of interest to our communities. Vibrant Black communities are cultivated through knowledge sharing and a commitment to long-term learning.



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'Mission Accomplished': Artemis II Crew Return to Earth After First Moon Mission in Half Century

The crew of the Artemis II lunar mission has splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, where they are awaiting recovery by U.S. officials, bringing their 10-day journey around the moon to a close.

Their return ends with a dramatic plunge through Earth’s atmosphere, racing home at speeds of nearly 40,000 km/h.

Among them, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen made history alongside his three American crewmates, having connected with children, journalists, a prime minister, and a president during the mission.

Read more here

The Africville Heritage Trust Removed Eddie Carvery's Trailer. His Family Wants it Back

The Africville Heritage Trust has taken down the late Eddie Carvery's trailer, which had stood as a symbol of protest for decades, though his family is demanding it be returned to its rightful place.

Carvery began his demonstration in 1970 in response to the city of Halifax's decision in the late 1960s to demolish the community of Africville to clear the way for industrial development, including the construction of the MacKay Bridge.

Read more here.

Ford Government to Cut Length of Teachers' College, Revamp Training Requirements

Ontario's Ford government announced Friday that the duration of teachers' college will be reduced from two years to one, effectively cutting the program in half. The announcement, made jointly by Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn and Education Minister Paul Calandra, also includes the introduction of a minimum practicum requirement aimed at placing greater emphasis on hands-on classroom experience.

Under the current structure, most teacher education programs span four semesters stretched across two years. The proposed changes would condense that into three back-to-back semesters completed within a single 12-month period.

Read more here

Immigration Department Informing Some 30,000 Applicants They May be Ineligible for Refugee Hearings

Canada's immigration authority is dispatching letters to tens of thousands of refugee claimants, informing them that they may not qualify for asylum, with some being advised to depart the country right away.

This follows legislation passed by Ottawa last month that imposed stricter rules on how and when individuals can submit asylum claims. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) clarified to CBC News that the notices, which are being sent to approximately 30,000 applicants, do not constitute deportation orders.

Read more here.

Canada's Economy Adds 14,000 Jobs in March After February's Whopping Losses

The Canadian economy saw a modest recovery in March, gaining 14,000 jobs according to Statistics Canada, though this only partially offset the steep employment losses recorded in January and February. The agency's previous Labour Force Survey had revealed a surprising loss of 84,000 jobs in February, a figure that caught many economists and analysts off guard.

In light of those earlier declines, Bank of Montreal's chief economist Douglas Porter cautioned in a client note that the minor rebound should not be interpreted as a sign of economic strength.

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B.C.'s March Unemployment Rate Hit 6.7%, Highest Since Pandemic: Report

British Columbia shed 19,000 jobs in March, according to new data, driving the provincial unemployment rate up to 6.7 per cent — its highest level in roughly a decade, excluding the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This represents a notable increase from the 6.1 per cent recorded in February, a month that also saw significant job losses with young workers disproportionately affected, per Statistics Canada's latest Labour Force Survey. The report highlights that youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 in B.C. climbed to 17.1 per cent in March, up from 14.4 per cent the previous month.

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Posthaste: More Canadians Desperate for Tax Refund to Plug Holes in Their Fiances

Financial professionals may caution that receiving a tax refund signals poor financial planning, yet two new surveys suggest a growing number of Canadians are nonetheless leaning on that annual cash boost to shore up their finances.

With the April 30 tax filing deadline fast approaching, certain demographics are found to be more reliant on refunds than others. Those between the ages of 18 and 34 show the greatest dependence, with just over 40 per cent counting on a refund as a financial safety net — the highest proportion of any age group. Meanwhile, data from EQ Bank reveals that 41 per cent of women report depending on their refund to cover everyday expenses, compared to 32 per cent of men.

Read more here

London's Jobless Rate Moves Into Top Spot in Canada

The London area has claimed the unwanted distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in Canada, after shedding more than 3,000 jobs in March, according to newly released Statistics Canada figures.

For the reporting period ending in March, the region — encompassing London, St. Thomas, and Strathroy — recorded a jobless rate of 9.1 per cent, the steepest of any area in the country. The unemployment rate reflects the share of jobless individuals relative to the total labour force and can be influenced by various factors, including population growth.

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FIFA World Cup Trophy Arrives in Vancouver

Soccer's most coveted prize has made its way to Vancouver, with former Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro presiding over an unveiling ceremony as part of a cross-country tour. The FIFA World Cup trophy's stop in Vancouver is one of many across Canada, with the city set to serve as one of 16 host locations spanning Canada, the United States, and Mexico when the tournament kicks off this summer.

Read more here

Liberal Convention Will Debate Social Media AI Chatbot Ban for Kids

Proposed restrictions on social media and AI chatbot access for Canadian children and youth are anticipated to be put forward at the Liberal party policy convention currently taking place in Montreal.

Among the 24 policy resolutions brought to the floor for debate by party members, two specifically address the possibility of banning young people from accessing social media platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots.

The proposals come amid a broader international conversation around similar measures, following Australia's decision to implement such a ban last year.

Read more here

Ontario Welcomes Microsoft's AI Infrastructure Expansion

The Ontario government is embracing a multi-billion-dollar Microsoft investment as part of the tech giant's previously announced $19 billion commitment to Canada. The funding will go toward expanding Microsoft's cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure throughout the province, substantially boosting Ontario's computing capacity and solidifying its standing as a leader in the technology and digital economy. The Ontario-based projects are also expected to deliver significant economic benefits, generating 1,000 jobs during the construction phase and an additional 250 well-paying permanent positions once the facilities are up and running.

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After 150 Years, Canada Still Has an Indian Act. Why is it so Hard to Get Rid of?

For a century and a half, the Indian Act has shaped and controlled nearly every aspect of life for First Nations peoples across the country. "It means control of our people, control of my community, of my nation," said Jean-Guy Whiteduck, chief of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, a community roughly 130 kilometres north of Ottawa. He added that the legislation was deliberately designed to assimilate Indigenous peoples and strip away the distinct rights they hold over their traditional territories.

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Canadian Astronaut Shares 'Seven Sacred Laws' Indigenous Elders Sent with Him to Space

Like the missions that preceded it, Artemis II is fundamentally rooted in rigorous science and data collection. Yet what has truly captured the world's imagination is the profound beauty and human connection it has laid bare. Audiences on Earth have been charmed by the astronauts' warm camaraderie as they venture farther into space than any humans before them, moved by the powerful reminder of our shared humanity, and brought to tears by the touching decision to name a lunar crater after Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife. Now, attention is turning to the mission's sole Canadian aboard, who has spoken about how the wisdom of Indigenous elders has served as a guiding force throughout his journey.

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MMIWG2S+ Programs at Risk of Losing Federal Funding, Say Indigenous Women's Organizations

Organizations representing Indigenous women are urging the federal government to commit to stable, long-term funding for programs addressing the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, as well as two-spirit and gender diverse people. Speaking at a Wednesday news conference in Ottawa, National Family and Survivors Circle president Hilda Anderson-Pyrz argued that the federal government's reliance on short-term funding decisions has weakened the very organizations on the front lines of preventing violence and supporting affected families and survivors. She further emphasized that the toll of this violence extends far beyond human loss, describing it as a crisis measured in lives cut short, devastated families, and hundreds of millions of dollars in costs each year.

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How a Senate Bill Could End The Indian Act's 2nd-Generation Cut-Off

For 150 years, the federal government has used the Indian Act to define who qualifies as a "Status Indian" under Canadian law. As the legislation marks that milestone this month, a bill currently before the House of Commons seeks to eliminate a provision that cuts off the transfer of Indian status after two consecutive generations of marriage outside of Indigenous communities. Bill S-2 was introduced to restore status to approximately 3,500 individuals who were stripped of it under previous entitlement clauses, to address longstanding inequities faced by women who were transferred to their husband's First Nation rather than remaining registered with their own, and to remove outdated and offensive language that remains embedded in the act.

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Non-Profit Governance for a Complex World

Non-profit boards operate under relentless expectations — they must be financially responsible, strategically sound, ethically grounded, inclusive, and forward-thinking, often simultaneously. Yet despite an abundance of workshops, handbooks, and best practice frameworks, governance continues to be widely misunderstood. As Patricia Bradshaw observes, our collective grasp of what governance truly means is being put to the test. Her book, A Concise Introduction to Nonprofit Governance, takes on that challenge with clarity, depth, and a deliberate resistance to oversimplification.

Bradshaw, a professor emerita at the Sobey School of Business in Halifax and one of Canada's foremost scholars in the field, has written the book primarily for students in social work, business, public policy, and non-profit management, while also positioning it as a practical resource for board members and governance consultants. That dual purpose introduces a familiar tension: will it deliver the straightforward guidance practitioners are looking for, or does it lean too comfortably into academic complexity?

Read more here

Ontario Trillium Foundation YOF Family Innovation Test Grant

The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) recognizes the impact that healthy and resilient families have on the future success of young people. 

We define a parent, guardian or caregiver as someone who is responsible for the physical, emotional, and economic wellbeing of children and youth. Our definition of parents, guardians and caregivers is inclusive and respects diverse cultural and decolonized interpretations of these roles. 

By investing in grassroots projects that are community-led and community-designed, opportunities are created for families to develop culturally anchored solutions to issues faced by people like them, and empower parents, guardians and caregivers to improve their social and economic stability. Through shared identities, culture and traditions, families can find ways to connect and create networks of support to navigate social systems and services that present obstacles to their success through a Family Innovations Grant. 

Deadline for application

Application close on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Apply here

Please contact otf@otf.ca with any questions.

Community Initiatives Program (CIP) Project-Based (Alberta)

The Community Initiatives Program (CIP), Project-Based grant stream supports projects that enhance and enrich communities throughout Alberta by helping non-profit organizations with new programs, enhancements to an existing program, community events, gender equity projects, 2SLGBTQQIA+ events and new programs, technology and portable equipment.

Deadline for application

Applications close on Friday, May 15, 2026 and Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Learn more here

EmpowerHER Breast & Reproductive Health - Wellness & Screening Event

An empowering event created to educate and support Black women in taking charge of their breast and reproductive health. Black women experience distinct health disparities that affect early detection, diagnosis, treatment, fertility outcomes, and overall well-being. This gathering is designed to offer reliable health education, accessible screening resources.

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026

Register here

Black HR Professonals Summit

Join the Black HR Pros Summit for an engaging in-person experience built around meaningful conversation, professional networking, and career growth. Connect with fellow leaders in the field, take part in thought-provoking sessions, and have honest discussions about navigating and advancing your career in HR. This is a space where shared purpose and professional ambition come together an opportunity you won't want to miss.

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Register here

Women's Health in Women's Hands

Women's Health in Women's Hnads (WHIWH) delivers culturally safe, responsive, and relevant primary healthcare to racialized women, as well as trans and non-binary clients, from African, Black, Caribbean, Latin American, and South Asian communities across Toronto and surrounding areas. We are changemakers, actively advancing knowledge exchange, research, capacity building, and advocacy across diverse systems.

WHIWH is hiring for the following position:

• Locum Physician (Full-Time)

If you require any accommodations during the hiring process, please contact info@whiwh.com

Deadline for application

The deadline for applications is Monday, May 4, 2026.

COSTI

Since 1952, COSTI Immigrant Services has been responding to the evolving needs of a diverse society as a community-based, multicultural organization. It offers employment, education, settlement, and social services to immigrants, newcomers to Canada, and individuals seeking support.

COSTI is hiring for the following position:

• Housing Manager (Full-Time)

If you require any accommodations during the hiring process, please contact info@costi.org

Deadline for application

The deadline for applications on Friday, April 24, 2026.