Echoes of Greatness: Celebrating Black Canadian Legacy, Arts, and Futures

Since 2005, CACD has gathered our community each February to honour Black History Month through education, culture, reflection, and celebration. What began as a commitment to ensure our stories were heard has grown into a signature civic gathering in Mississauga—one that brings together youth, elders, artists, leaders, families, and allies in a shared space for learning and renewal.

This year, we invite you to be part of something truly unforgettable.

Tuesday, 24 February 2026
LC Taylor Auditorium
Mississauga Valley Community Centre

We proudly present Echoes of Greatness: Celebrating Black Canadian Legacy, Arts, and Futures.

This is not simply an event.
It is a journey—from truth to triumph, from reflection to renewal.

An Afternoon Grounded in Truth

4:00 p.m.

The afternoon begins with a screening of the powerful documentary What We Deserve, produced by Shelley Jarrett and Andrew Terry Pasieka. This fearless examination of over 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade grounds us in historical truth and invites meaningful dialogue, particularly with our youth.

The film confronts the realities of displacement, exploitation, resistance, and survival—not to reopen wounds, but to illuminate resilience. It creates space for honest, intergenerational conversation and reminds us that understanding history is essential to shaping a more equitable future.

For CACD, education is not abstract; it is transformative. This screening lays the foundation for the evening ahead.

An Evening Alive with Culture and Excellence

6:00 p.m.

The evening celebration unfolds with the vibrant sounds of the Young Legends of Pan, filling the auditorium with the unmistakable rhythms of Caribbean heritage.

An immersive art exhibition featuring Philemon Campbell and Sandra Williams will surround the space with visual storytelling that honours identity, struggle, and beauty.

Caribbean cuisine and warm fellowship will set the tone for connection and community—reminding us that culture is experienced not only on stage, but in shared moments.

Main Stage Programme Highlights

• Threads of Identity – A fashion showcase celebrating Afro-inspired heritage, craftsmanship, and pride
• Intercultural dance performance by the Oakville Chinese Network, affirming solidarity and shared multicultural futures
• Spoken word and masterful hosting by Wali Shah, weaving narrative, reflection, and energy throughout the evening
• Keynote address by Dr. Kalu of the African Union Sixth Region Global, connecting our local story to the global African Diaspora and underscoring the power of unity across borders
• Tribute to Canadian Black trailblazers who have shaped this nation’s political, economic, artistic, and civic landscape
• Poetry recital by Floyd Garvey, great-grandson of Pan-Africanist Marcus Mosiah Garvey, linking historic vision with contemporary cultural expression
• Musical performances by Dr. Winston Hurlock, Christina Smith, and Wes McKenzie, lifting the spirit through song
• Interactive Wall of Futures, inviting each of us to contribute our hopes and commitments for the next generation

Honouring 30 Years of Black History Month in Canada

This gathering honours 30 years of Black History Month in Canada and marks a significant milestone in CACD’s own journey of service and community leadership.

Black History Month exists because the contributions of Black Canadians have too often been overlooked or marginalized. It affirms that:

• Black Canadians have been nation-builders in politics, business, science, sport, arts, education, and faith
• The legacies of enslavement, segregation, and systemic discrimination continue to shape lived realities
• Equity requires sustained civic engagement and collective responsibility
• Celebrating excellence strengthens national unity and social cohesion

Black history is Canadian history. It is woven into the very fabric of this country.

A Call to Show Up

We are calling on you—our members, friends, partners, and allies—to show up.

Bring your family. Invite a colleague. Encourage a young person. Stand in solidarity with a community that has given so much to this country and continues to build its future with resilience, creativity, and excellence.

In a time when narratives can divide and diminish, this evening stands as a declaration of dignity, contribution, and shared responsibility. It will be thoughtful. It will be joyful. It will be inspiring.

Spaces are limited. Registration is encouraged.

Join us for Echoes of Greatness—and be part of a journey that honours the past, celebrates the present, and shapes the future.D