From the Desk of Dr. Garcia

BHM_Web.pngAs we are celebrating Black History month, I wanted to share a few opportunities that might interest you.

I hope you have already had the chance to see at least one of the amazing line-up of speakers in the Black History Month Speaker Series hosted by Western University’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed Christina Lord’s kickoff presentation about the arrival of Black Canadians to Ontario and their experiences.

The London Black History Coordinating Committee also has shared a full schedule of events this month, including a fireside chat with Canada’s first Black female Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament. The Hon. Jean Augustine successfully introduced the motion to declare February as Black History Month in Canada in 1995.

Of course, history does not begin and end in a calendar month. If you are interested in exploring Black History in Canada further, you may enjoy this engaging roundtable discussion hosted by Amanda Parris, or one of the many other resources available through the Ontario Black History Society.

- Bertha

Dr Bertha Mispireta Garcia
Vice Dean and Executive Director (acting), Dentistry
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University