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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Statement by Minister Guilbeault on Emancipation Day

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, made the following statement:

“Today, across the country, we mark Emancipation Day, a moment of reflection and resolve. This day is both a call to action and a reminder of our shared past. It is the duty of every person to never forget the tragic history of slavery and its enduring impacts on Black people, their communities and our country.

In 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act, passed by the British Parliament, came into force - paving the way for the emancipation of enslaved Africans and their descendants across most of the British Empire. More than 800,000 people in Canada, the Caribbean, Africa and South America were freed after being stripped of their freedom, dignity and fundamental rights, and subjected to horrific violence and abuse. Though generations have passed, the pain remains deeply felt.

Read more here

Emancipation Day Marks Countdown to a Project Celebrating Black Families in N.B.

Emancipation Day commemorates the enactment of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1834, which freed over 800,000 enslaved people across the British Empire - including many in Canada. This year, it also signals the official countdown to the launch of the Still Here project, which honours the rich history and enduring legacy of 15 Black families in New Brunswick.

Watch here

Long-Standing Africville Activist Says He Will Fight Latest Eviction Notice

Standing outside his RV at Africville Park in Halifax, Eddie Carvery remains defiant, declaring he won’t leave—despite receiving yet another eviction notice after more than 50 years of protest.

Now 79, Carvery was born in Africville and has kept a protest camp on the land of the former Black community for decades, pushing back against repeated efforts by the municipality to remove him.

The latest request for him to vacate comes not from the city, but from the Africville Heritage Trust Society, which owns the land where his trailer is parked and operates the nearby Africville Museum, housed in a replica of the community’s original church along the Bedford Basin.

Read more here

Sask. Author's Anti-Racism Book is Among 596 Banned by U.S Department of Defence For Use in its Schools

A Saskatoon author is still processing the news that his debut non-fiction book has been banned by the U.S. Department of Defense for use in its educational programs.

Stay Up: Racism, Resistance, and Reclaiming Black Freedom by Khodi Dill is written for young adults as an introduction to anti-racism theory.

Released in fall 2023, the book draws on Dill’s personal experiences growing up Black on the Canadian Prairies to explore the workings of white supremacy in North America and to help readers better understand the real-life impacts of racism.

Read more here

Join PSAC in reflecting on Canada’s history with slavery on Emancipation Day

Emancipation Day has been celebrated every August 1 in Black communities in Canada since the 1850s. But in 2021, Members of Parliament voted unanimously to designate August 1 as the official date to recognize Emancipation Day nationally.

Emancipation Day is not just about celebrating the abolition of slavery – it’s also about pausing and reflecting on what it took to reach Emancipation Day.

In Canada, Indigenous peoples were the first to be enslaved in the 16th century. After 1760, Black people who were brought here through the transatlantic slave trade became the predominant enslaved group in Canada. That’s more than 200 years where the enslavement of Black and Indigenous peoples in Canada was considered the norm.

Read more here

Young people more prone to believe in conspiracies, research shows

Hillary Clinton had Jeffrey Epstein killed. Barack Obama was not born in the United States. The pharmaceutical industry was responsible for the spread of COVID-19.

These are all conspiracies with no basis in fact, says University of Ottawa professor Daniel Stockemer — but his research shows that theories like them are gaining traction among young people. 

In fact, people younger than 35 are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than other age groups, according to a recent study by Stockemer and co-author Jean-Nicolas Bordeleau that surveyed more than 380,000 people internationally.

Read more here

McGill University Team Develops AI That Can Detect Infection Before Symptoms Appear

Researchers at McGill University have developed an artificial intelligence platform capable of predicting when a person is about to develop a respiratory tract infection - before any symptoms appear.

Touted as a “world first,” the study involved participants wearing a ring, watch, and T-shirt embedded with sensors to collect biometric data. By analyzing this data, the AI successfully detected acute systemic inflammation - an early indicator of respiratory infections like COVID-19.

Read more here

Terrebonne, Que., Police Officers Suspended For Racial Profiling

Quebec’s police ethics tribunal has suspended two officers for racially profiling a Black man during a 2019 traffic stop in Terrebonne, just north of Montreal.

The rulings, issued on June 23 and July 16, mark a rare instance in which the Tribunal administratif de déontologie policière has imposed disciplinary measures following a misconduct complaint.

Justice Benoit McMahon ordered officers Vincent-Anthony Cléroux-Mastracchio and Charles Ballard to serve a 14-day unpaid suspension for targeting Pierre Marcel Monsanto based on his race and skin colour.

Read more here

Getting to Know Black Communities: A Toolkit for Population Health Assessments

Black communities in Canada experience significantly worse health outcomes than the general population, due in part to a history of medical neglect and systemic racism in healthcare. This has led to deep mistrust in health institutions. Despite growing awareness of the unique health needs of Black populations, there is a lack of race-based data to fully understand and address these disparities.

To close this gap, community-centered approaches are essential. This toolkit offers practical guidance for conducting population health assessments (PHAs) with Black communities in Ontario. It provides adaptable resources rooted in equity and intersectionality to help healthcare organizations better assess and respond to the health needs of Black Ontarians.

Read more here

Black Women In The Workplace Are Facing a Crisis. What Now?

Black women have long been pillars in the workplace, often overperforming while being undervalued. In the wake of widespread cuts to DEI programs, many are now facing even greater challenges to stay seen, supported, and secure in their roles. This Refinery29 article dives deep into how Black women are navigating these shifting landscapes. From advocating for promotions to knowing when it’s time to walk away, it offers tangible strategies rooted in lived experience. It also exposes the emotional labor often expected without recognition or reward. 

Read more here

City of Toronto's Identify 'N Impact Youth Grant

Identify ‘N Impact (INI) was created through the advocacy work of the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC), the City of Toronto’s official youth advocacy organization. Since 2006, the City’s INI grant program has supported youth-led initiatives across Toronto by providing funding opportunities. The program offers time-limited grants of up to $17,000 per youth-led group to design and implement their own projects.

Apply here

Deadline for application

The application deadline is August 12, 2025.

Please contact asmaa.mohamed@toronto.ca with any questions.

Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grant

The OTF Seed Grant helps Ontario-based nonprofits, Indigenous communities, municipal collaboratives, and culturally focused groups build capacity to better serve their communities through planning, innovation, or organizational strengthening. Projects must be community-focused and align with OTF’s priority areas, such as arts, social services, the environment, sport and recreation, youth development, and lived-experience-driven initiatives. Eligible organizations can apply for up to $100,000 in funding.

Apply here

Deadline for application

The application deadline is August 20, 2025.

Please contact otf@otf.ca with any questions.

8 80 Cities Ontario Community Changemakers

8 80 Cities has announced the launch of applications for the fifth year of the Ontario Community Changemakers program, now open to individuals aged 19 and older. The #OCChangemakers initiative is a leadership and microgrant program designed for Ontario residents who are passionate about activating public spaces, strengthening civic engagement, and promoting social inclusion within their communities.

Apply here

Deadline for application

The application deadline is August 25, 2025.

Please contact occsupport@880cities.org with any questions.

Canadian Race Relations Foundation National Anti-Racism Fund

The National Anti-Racism Fund supports efforts to build a national framework to address racism in Canadian society. It aims to strengthen the capacity of racialized communities, religious minority groups, and Indigenous peoples to lead their own anti-racism work while fostering meaningful dialogue, education, and knowledge-sharing with the broader public. Funding for approved projects ranges from $25,000 to $125,000.

Apply here

Deadline for application

The application deadline is August 29, 2025.

Please contact grants@crrf.fcrr.ca with any questions.

Ontario Power Generation Province-Wide Empowerment Grants

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is committed to creating a sustainable future by electrifying life in one generation. If your organization is passionate about driving positive change in Ontario. Grants of up to $100,000 are available.

Apply here

Deadline for application

The application deadline is November 15, 2025.

Please contact hrsc@opg.com with any questions.

Cycle Breakers Creating Change for Well-Being

Join a transformative 4-part in-person workshop series designed to foster personal growth, emotional resilience, and lasting change through interactive activities and group discussions. Guided by the trauma-informed Remember, Reflect, Change & Maintain (RRCM) Model, participants will gain practical tools for mental wellness while building connection and community.

Starts: Thursday, August 7, 2025

Register here

Black To The Future - Film + Conversations in Community

The Black Futures Project is a community-led initiative empowering Black and Afro-Nova Scotians to envision and create liberatory, joy-filled, and inclusive workplaces in the nonprofit and community impact sector. The launch event invites community members to gather for film screenings and open dialogue, co-creating a future rooted in culture, imagination, celebration, healing, and collective liberation.

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025

Register here

United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin

United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin (UWGWD) is the largest investor in social services in the region, second only to government. Acknowledging the complexity of the social challenges facing the community, UWGWD also recognizes that the ways people want to engage and create impact are evolving. In response, the organization is adapting its approach to amplify collective impact.

UWGWD is hiring for the following position:

• Relationship Manager (Full-Time)

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

Deadline for application

The deadline for applications is Sunday, August 17, 2025.

YouthLink

YouthLink is committed to supporting the potential of every young person. The organization provides a range of services, including brief and ongoing counselling, in-home wraparound support, shelter and housing, educational assistance, and safe drop-in spaces. With a focus on helping youth make positive life choices, YouthLink aims to create equitable outcomes for young people in the community. This commitment is also reflected in its equity-based hiring practices.

YouthLink is hiring for the following position:

• Manager, Human Resources(Full-Time)

If you require any accommodations during the hiring process, please contact managementposting@youthlink.ca.

Deadline for application

The deadline for applications on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.