Black History Month in Canada: Spotlighting Local Influential Figures and Events

February 10, 2026

February is Black History Month and we’re excited to celebrate by spotlighting local influential figures from Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as well as highlighting events happening this month. Black History Month often focuses on The United States, so we wanted to spotlight Black excellence and the history made right in our neighbourhood. We asked BridgeWay staff to submit names of local influential figures that have inspired them. Keep scrolling to see them all!

Note: The photo above shows some of the Black History Month bulletin boards on display at our centres in 2025 and 2026.

On This Page:

• Celebrating Black Excellence in Toronto and the GTA
• 2026 Events for Black History Month

Celebrating Black Excellence in Toronto and the GTA

Sarah Nurse

Sarah Nurse is an Olympic and professional hockey player, playing for Team Canada at the Olympics and for the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the PWHL. In 2022, Nurse broke the points record for a single Olympic tournament – a record that had been held since 2006!

Destinie Adélakun

Destinie Adélakun is an award-winning artist who uses photography, film, painting textiles and sculpture for her work. Adélakun is the artist behind the 2026 Black History Month poster: We Didn’t Cross the Waters Alone commissioned by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.

Ama deGraft-Johnson

Ama deGraft-Johnson is a retired anesthetist who worked in Hamilton for over 30 years. This CBC article from 2015 looks back at deGraft-Johnson’s career as she was preparing to retire.

Michie Mee

Michie Mee is known for her unique rap style which combines reggae and dancehall with hip-hop. In 1988, she became the first Canadian hip-hop artist to sign with a major U.S. label. Michie Mee has been the recipient of multiple awards, including Toronto Arts Counil ‘Roy Thompson Hall Award’.

Maestro Fresh Wes

Maestro Fresh Wes is a Canadian rapper, singer, record producer, actor and author who had the first Canadian rap song go gold and was the first Juno award winner for Best Rap Recording. He was recently inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.

Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion (a hip-hop group from Montreal) are on Canada Post’s 2026 Black History Month stamp set – paying tribute to Canada’s hip-hop trailblazers!

Jully Black

Jully Black is a platinum selling recording artist who has won Juno and Gemini awards. She has been dubbed Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul and was chosen by CBC Music as one of The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever. In 2020, Jully Black starred in the musical theatre production of ‘Caroline, Or Change.’

2026 Black History Month Events in Toronto and the GTA

Below we’ve listed some events and we will continue to add to this page as we find more. Click the links below to find out more. Please note that registration may be required and fees may apply.

Events in Brampton

• 2nd Annual Canadian Black Screen Awards
• From Legacy to Liberation: 100 Years of Black History, Infinite Futures
• The Ninth Floor: Black History Month Film Screening and Fireside Chat

Events in Mississauga

• Movie Nights at Hazel McCallion Central Library
• African Drumming and Storytelling at Churchill Meadows Library

Events in Toronto and the GTA

• Kuumba 2026
• 2026 OCADU Black History Month Digital Exhibition
• Skates & Sounds (Black History Month Tribute)
• Black History Month Celebration: Scadding Court Community Centre