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LIVE STREAM

 

The live stream is an opportunity for the public to take part in a suite of sessions, to hear the presenters and interact with panelists at the Summit. The three-day live stream program will showcase the Opening ceremony, youth-focused workshops, keynote addresses, roundtable discussions and the Halifax Declaration.

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Access to the entire live stream summit costs $45 with complementary modules to enhance the online experience.

LIVE STREAM PROGRAM

The Summit is presented as a three-day conference, at the Halifax Convention Centre. Every workshop, presentation and creative session is inspired from the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024): Recognition, Justice and Development, as proclaimed by the United Nations. The full program with schedules will be released on a later date.

DAY 1 │ FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2022

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

Interactive Arts Expression Workshop – Youth Focus

Moderators

  • Landscape of Hope

  • IMOVE

  • Youth Arts Connection

 

Human Rights Roundtable

Opening Remarks by Mohammed Hashim, Executive Director, Canadian Race Relations Foundation

 

Presenters

  • Gyasi Symonds, Educator, Community Advocate, and Psychotherapist/Counsellor

  • Kirk Johnson, Former Professional Boxer

  • Reverend Dr. Lennett Anderson, Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church

  • Joseph Fraser, CEO, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

  • Myrlande Pierre, Vice-President of the Commission on the Human Rights and the Rights of Youth in Quebec (Commission des droits de la personness et des droits de la jeunesse)

 

Closing Remarks by Marie-Claude Landry, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission

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Anti-Black Racism Toolkit Workshop

Presenters

  • Debra Olaniyi Anti-Racism Project Coordinator, Federation of Black Canadians

 

Let’s Talk Black Health – Part I – Mental Health and Wellness

Panelists

  • Robert Wright, Executive Director, Peoples’ Council Clinic and the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute

  • Dr. Kwame Mckenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute; a full   Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto

  • Dr. Jude Mary Cénat, Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health

  • Richard Sharpe, Director of the Equity, Anti-racism, Diversity and Inclusion Leading the Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Secretariat, Department of Justice Canada

 

Moderator

Floydeen Charles-Fridal, Executive Director at Caribbean African Canadian Social Services

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

DAY 2 │ SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2022

8:30 -
10:00 a.m.     

PLENARY SESSION​

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Words of welcome from the Summit Co-Chairs

  • Vanessa Fells, Director of Operations, African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition

  • DeRico Symonds, Senior Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister in the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives

 

Remarks

  • Jean-Daniel Lafond, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Michaëlle Jean Foundation

  • Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

 

Poetic Power Performances

Presented by the Canada Council for the Arts

 

Steeped in the traditions of people of African descent, the Spoken Word is a powerful art form that often uses wordplay and repetition to convey personal and political messages. Spoken Word artists strive to create a form of Edutainment (« education » and « entertainment ») that can inform their audiences and empower them to transformative actions. 

 

Power of Poetic Performances Inspired artists

  • Randell Adjei, Ontario’s first Poet Laureate 

  • Afua Cooper, 7th Poet Laureate of Halifax

  • Titilope Sonuga, Edmonton’s Poet Laureate

 

Conversation with Canadian Changemakers

While there is no shortage of artistic talent across Canada’s Black identities, there are too few opportunities for elevating and celebrating Black Canadian talent and arts entrepreneurs. 

 

This pre-recorded presentation will explore the major artistic, cultural, social and socio-economic issues currently facing us, and offer advice on building the coalitions that support funding opportunities, mentorship, programming and awards to advance Black excellence. 

 

The BLACK Academy founded by actors and producers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, aims to combat systemic racism while honouring, celebrating and inspiring Black talent in Canada. Fabienne Colas, known as the ‘Queen of Festivals’, is an award-winning actress, filmmaker, speaker and business owner who works tirelessly and passionately to support and promote diversity off and onscreen. Both organizations are creating the environment for changes now and into the future. 

 

Changemakers

Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, Co-founders and co-chairs, Black Academy

 

Hosted by Fabienne Colas, Founder of Montreal, Toronto, New York City, Halifax, Port-au-Prince, and Salvador International Black Film Festivals

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

From Reimagining to Reinventing Justice                              

Panel

  • Angela Simmonds-Sparks, Nova Scotia Member of Legislature and Deputy Speaker of the House

  • Daniel Kinsella, Chief of Police, Halifax Regional Municipality

  • Jacqueline Edwards, President, Association of Black Law Enforcers

  • Emilie Nicolas, Columinist and Human Rights Advocate

 

Moderator

  • Michelle Williams, Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

 

Let’s Talk Black Health – Part II – Influencing Health Systems and Structures

Panel

  • Sharon Davis-Murdoch, Social Justice Champion and Co-President of the Health Association of African Canadians

  • Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, James R. Johnston Chair, Black Canadian Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University

  • Dwight Townsend, Executive Lead, Health Research Council for People of African Descent

  • Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund

 

Moderator

  • Suzanne Obiorah, Director, Gender and Race Equity, Inclusion, Indigenous Relations and Social Development at City of Ottawa

 

Breaking Barriers in Education – Primary to Grade 12

Presented by Canadian Commission for UNESCO

Panel

  • Pemberton Cyrus , President, Imhotep’s Legacy Academy Head, Department of Industrial Engineering

  • Marlene Ruck-Simmons, Executive Director, African Canadian Services branch, Nova Scotia, Department of Education

  • Tana Turner, President, Turner Consulting Group

  • Tya Collins, Postdoctoral Scholar - McGill University

 

Moderator

  • Robert Upshaw, Co-Chair of the President’s action committee on Anti racism and part-time instructor, Department of Education – St. Francis Xavier University

 

Business Roundtable

Presented by Export Development Canada

Panel

  • Matthew Martel, Chief Operations Officer, Black Business Initiative

  • Mona-Lisa Prosper, Director, Black Entrepreneurs, Futurpreneurs

  • Cynthia Dorrington, Owner, Vale and Associates

  • Tiffani Young, Founder, Natural Butter Bar

  • Melisa Ellis, Founder, Nobellum

  • Stéphane Georges Nana, Regional Entrepreneurship Advisor, Groupe 3737

 

Moderator

  • Dave D’Oyen, National Lead, Black Exporters - Export Development Canada

12:30 -

2:00 p.m.

2:00 -

4:00 p.m.

Black Identity and Creative Expression

Presented by Michaëlle Jean Foundation

 

Panel

  • Ricardo Lamour, Artist, Columnist, Community Activist

  • Webster, Activist, Author and Lecturer  

  • Bria Miller, Multidisciplinary Visual Artist, Owner of Bria Makes Things, Animator, Organizer

 

Moderator

  • Rachel Décoste, Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, National Film Board of Canada

 

Blacks in Science and Tech

Presented by Enbridge

Panelop

  • Shalyn Williams de Coteau, Senior Sonar System Engineer, Ultra (Maritime System)

  • Leanne Lucas, Senior Research Associate

  • Kevin Hewitt, Professor of Physics and Former Chair of Senate

  • Alfred Burgesson, Founder and CEO – Tribe Network                  

Moderator

  • Edouard Staco, President, Socio-economic Summit for the development Black communities  

 

Black Lives Matter and Beyond Roundtable - Transformative Activism and Building Beauty

Panel

  • Jessica Kirk, Executive Director at Wildseed Centre for Art and Activism

  • El Jones, Spoken Word poet, educator, journalist and community activist

  • Sandy Hudson, Co-founder – Black Lives Matter Canada and Black Legal Action Centre

  • Marlihan Lopez, Black Feminist Community organizer, cofounding member of the Montreal Coalition to defund the SPVM (police)

 

Moderator

  • Husoni Raymond, Community Organizer and Law student

 

“What if…”: reimagining the future of affordable housing for Black Canadians Roundtable (Call to Action)

Presented by Michaëlle Jean Foundation and Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation

 

Presenters

  • John Beck, Founder and Executive Chairman of Aecon Group Inc.

  • Colette Kikongi, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

  • Lisa Ingraham, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

  • Samantha Jones, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

  • Patrick Neptune, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

DAY 3 │ SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2022

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Mr. amanuel melles, Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of Black Communities

 

Remarks by Dwayne Provo, Associate Deputy Minister, African Nova Scotian Affairs

INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE

 

Officiated by

  • Reverend Dr. Lennett Anderson

  • Reverend Dr. Rhonda Britton

CLOSING CEREMONY

10:30 a.m. – Noon

Presented by the Regional Municipality of Halifax

 

Remarks

  • The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, 27th Governor-General of Canada and Third Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie

  • The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

  • Senator Wanda Thomas-Bernard, Nova Scotia

  • Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (pre-recorded)

  • Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund

  • Alice Nderitu, Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide

  • Roda Muse, Secretary-General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO

  • Mike Savage, Mayor of Regional Municipality of Halifax

 

HALIFAX DECLARATION

 

Musical Performances

  • Nova Scotia Mass Choir

  • Measha Brueggergosman, Canadian Soprano

10:30 a.m. – Noon

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