
The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) will be celebrating its 35th annual Black History Month Kick-Off on Sunday with a brunch at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto.
It will be held in partnership with TD Bank, its lead sponsor, to recognize the achievements of Black Canadians and raise funds for the OBHS.
The organization has announced that the theme for this year’ event is centered on “OUR ROOTS: Black History in Canada.”
And it has launched a new awards category to recognize the contributions of Black Canadians in the arts, culture and entertainment.

The eight awardees who will be recognized this year are as follows:
Joy Bullen, Culturepreneur & Founder of Black History Month Tours
The Harriet Tubman Award – Commitment to a Purpose
Bernice Carnegie, Carnegie Foundation
Dr. Anderson Abbott Award – Presented for High Achievement
Kathy Grant, Legacy Voices

The Mary Matilda Winslow Award – For Advocacy in Public Education
Joel Zola, Street Voices
UN Decade for People of African Descent – For Recognition in Justice and Development
Elise Harding-Davis, African-Canadian Heritage Consultant & Historian
Dr. Daniel G. Hill Award
African Canadian Heritage Association – ACHA
Hon. Jean Augustine Award – For Trailblazing

Ebonnie Rowe & Kardinal Offishall
Arts & Culture/Leaders of Tomorrow Award
The Kick-Off will be hosted by award-winning senior correspondent for eTalk, Traci Melchor, and the keynote speaker will be African-Canadian historian Elise Harding-Davis.