Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus opened its doors to hundreds of visitors at its second annual celebration to kick off Black History Month on Friday, February 3, 2012.

“The students should be commended for their tremendous success in hosting this dynamic community event,” said Dr. Gary Boire, Trent University provost. “Many families, community leaders and organizations came to our Oshawa campus to see the work students are doing and to share in the cultural celebrations. It was a great day!”

Gospel Singers, the famous Resolutionaries marimba band and a variety of performers gave great performances for the evening celebration, following an official welcome by Oshawa mayor John Henry, and a keynote address by Trent History professor Timothy Stapleton.

“I am always amazed when I come to Trent University,” said Mayor Henry to the enthusiastic crowd gathered in the front atrium at Trent University Oshawa.

President of the Canadian Jamaican Club, Dr. Tracy Russell was impressed by Dr. Timothy Stapleton’s keynote address, “Forgotten Black Heroes of the World Wars.” “The willful erasure from the collective memory of the Blacks involved in WWI and WWII (250,000 in French service & 1,000,000 transporters in Guinea, for example) is staggering,” said Dr. Russell.

University students showcased their research in a fair, alongside community groups such as the Canadian Jamaican Club, who shared information about their ongoing work in the local community and internationally.

Close to 20 student projects in the research fair included topics such as The History of Reggae, The Jamaican Bobsled Team, American Health Interventions in Haiti (1915-1930), and Women’s Rights Since Caribbean Independence.

Community partners including the Apostolic Pentecostal Church Ministries and group visitors on display included the Congress of Black Women of Canada, Shona Stone Sculptures, Girl Guides of Ontario, Grand Jamaica Homecoming, Jamaica Self-Help, JUMP4JA!, and the Ontario Provincial Police Diversity Council.

Fair-Trade vendor Ten Thousand Villages was on site, with fair trade products and art on sale by artisans from Africa, the Caribbean, and Central America. The Caribbean food sold out quickly and children with their newly made masks ran through the crowd.

Student Clinton Taylor, who originally envisioned the event in its first year in 2011, said that it was a huge success. “It was a great celebration,” he said. “Everyone worked together as a team. Our goal was to educate fellow students and the community about black history and I think we accomplished our goal.”

Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012.