With just a few minutes until what’s believed to be Canada’s first Black graduation, the packed hallways of Hart House at the University of Toronto were buzzing with excitement.

“It’s really great to see community coming out to support Black students who have made it to completing their undergraduate degree or the other degree they’ve accomplished,” said 23-year-old Jessica Kirk, one of the co-organizers of the event.

Kirk, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in psychology, co-organized the festivities with 21-year-old Nasma Ahmed, who’s graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy.

The ceremony held Thursday night comes on the tail end of a graduation season with 27 convocations. It was expected to draw graduates of undergraduate, Master’s or PhD programs from all three of the University of Toronto’s campuses.

In holding a celebration just for Black students, the school followed in the footsteps of Harvard University and others in the United States. Family and friends of the gown-wearing graduates filled the hall Thursday as proud parents snapped photos.

Media weren’t allowed to stay for the full event, with the ceremonies open to Black-identifying students and their guests only. However, the celebration was set to include speakers, student awards for contributions to research, community service, leadership and athletics, and recognition of all graduating students.

The number of Black students at the university has historically been low compared to the number of Black people in the GTA. This year, just one first-year student in the faculty of medicine identified as Black.

The challenges students of colour face make it all the more important to celebrate those who’ve made through a system largely stacked against them, said 19-year-old history student Milen Melles.

“That’s a huge thing, for people to be able to see positive images of Black people,” she said. “But, then, for graduates themselves to be able to, like, congregate and not feel so alone . . . , it means a lot emotionally, academically, for us to be able to see.”