RICHMOND HILL – Residents are invited to take part in a variety of local activities throughout the month of February to honour the contributions and achievements of Black Canadians.         

Musical Performances
The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts presents an array of black musical talent in recognition of Black History Month. For tickets, visit RHCentre.ca. 

• February 15, 8 p.m. – Africville Stories: This is the story of Canada’s oldest black community, Africville, which was destroyed for ’urban improvement’ in the 1960s. Within the tragedy of this event comes stories of the people of this community shared through song, narration and music spanning jazz, R&B and gospel. 
• February 28, 8 p.m. – Afrique En Cirque by Cirque Kalabante: A handful of amazing acrobats perform to the pulsating rhythm of the djembes of Guinea with their authentic and original choreography and acrobatics. Be transported to a place where the diversity of traditional African arts are combined with the virtuosity of a modern North American Circus performance. 

Books, Authors, Drumming and More!
The Richmond Hill Public Library is offering opportunities throughout the month to learn about the perspectives and contributions of African Americans to Canada’s culture and history. Visit your nearest branch to select from our curated collection of books, DVDs and other materials featuring black voices. Explore more offerings and content at RHPL.ca/Black-History-Month. 

• February 9, 10-11 a.m. – Virtual Author Visit: Register your Grades 3-5 class for an engaging virtual presentation by Nigerian-Canadian children's author Ekiuwa Aire. She’ll be discussing the importance of showcasing African historical figures in children's literature, and sharing her journey to becoming a successful writer. To register, please call 905-884-9288 ext. 5012. 
• February 11, 2-3 p.m. – African Drumming: Tales by Moonlight: Join Drums et al. at our Oak Ridges Branch for a dance and hand-drumming performance and learn about beloved African characters, including Ananse and Ijapa! Register online for this free program. 

• February 13, 7-8 p.m. – Black Excellence in STEM Careers: We’re showcasing Black excellence in engineering with a feature presentation by Electrical Engineer and Energy specialist Gary Thompson, PEng. As an Engineering practitioner and advocate for Diversity in Engineering, Thompson shares his experiences and opportunities for success in this STEM field through this virtual event. Presented in collaboration with York and Durham Libraries, register online for this free program. 

For more information about these and other arts and culture events, visit RichmondHill.ca/Arts.