This Friday, Feb. 1 marks the start of Black History Month in Richmond (BHM), with an array of performances, exhibits and events lined up.

The now annual event in Richmond kicks off Friday with an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. at the Richmond Cultural Centre.

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Richmond-born and raised Shiraine Haas will, again, MC the ceremony, which will feature music by Checo and the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir, as well as the McNair Secondary Jazz Band.

The ceremony will last for an hour, followed by light refreshments from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker at the ceremony this year will be Dr. Carole Christensen, a professor emerita at UBC’s School of Social Work, whose presentation is titled “Blacks in Canada: Acknowledging the past and the future to envision the future.”

In that school's 75 year history, Christensen was only the second woman ever chosen as director and was also the first black woman to be selected for the position anywhere in Canada.

In 1991, Christensen founded the Multicultural Family Centre (MFC) at REACH in East Vancouver, which is designed to assist immigrants and refugees to access health and social services.

Prior to her UBC appointment, Christensen introduced courses and graduate degree concentrations in cross-cultural and anti-racist studies at McGill university.

“She’s been involved in Black studies and history for many years and has done things in the community for all cultures,” said BHM Richmond founder and organizer Mary Wilson of asking Christensen to be the keynote speaker.

Black History Month (Richmond) organizer and founder Mary Wilson (right) with event MC Shiraine Haas. File photo

Other Black History Month events in the cultural centre include:

Art exhibition:

Feb. 1 to 16 (during centre opening hours):

This exhibition features artists Akem and Odera Igbokwe as they explore the concepts of identity, culture and representation through their illustration and paintings. Akem’s Mythic Texture focuses on Black people living with joy and adventure as a counter-narrative to the negative images in the media. Odera’s Black History, Present and Afrofuturism explores Black historical figures, legends and mythologies from the African diaspora, and visions of Afrofuturism

Reading and storytelling for children:

Saturday, Feb. 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

Join presenter Carmencita Lake as she tells stories about the history and contributions of the Black people in Canada.

Living our Culture through Art, Dance and Community Events:

Saturday, Feb. 2, 2 to 4 p.m.:

Discover Black culture through the dance performances of presenter Violet Haas and her dancers from Richmond and throughout the Lower Mainland.

Film screening: Black Panther (including free popcorn)

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 6:30 to 9 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.)

Discover why Black Panther is the highest-grossing film of 2018 and why this superhero movie has sparked powerful conversations about Black history and culture.

Beyond the Underground Railway; Feature on Viola Desmond:

Thursday, Feb. 7, 7 to 9 p.m.:

Presented by Carmencita Lake, find out about the development of the Black community and its history in Canada and learn about the life of Viola Desmond, the first woman to appear on a Canadian bank note, and her fight against racial discrimination. There will be a discussion after the presentation.

Long Forgotten or Never Known Black Inventors: The Many Cultures within the Black Diaspora

Saturday, Feb. 9, 2 to 4 p.m.:

Presenters Ernest Codrington and Wilbur Walrond will introduce a selection of Black inventors and their inventions along with a discussion of the many different cultures that exist within the Black community due to intermarriages, respectively.

According to the 2016 Census, there were 870 people of Caribbean origin and 2,010 of African origin living in Richmond.

This compares to the non-mandatory, 2011 National Household Survey, which indicated just 1,250 of black ethnicity were living in Richmond.