OBHS 35th annual Black History Month brunch on Sunday

Kardinal Offishall

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.

Joy Bullen, Bernice Carnegie and Kathy Grant

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

Joel Zola and African Canadian Heritage Association – ACHA

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

Elise Harding-Davis, Kardinal Offishall and Ebonnie Rowe

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.