On February 28, U of T held its 23rd annual Black History Month (BHM) Luncheon at Hart House to celebrate Black history and excellence, create community, and enjoy Black diasporic cuisine.

The event was available to participants online and in-person, with approximately 250 people gathering at Hart House. Students, alumni, and staff members of all cultural backgrounds were welcome to participate. 

BHM Luncheon history

As the event began, the luncheon’s co-founder Glen Boothe, who works in U of T’s division of advancement, recounted the origins of the annual tradition that now has hundreds of attendees every year.

Boothe began working at U of T in the late 1990s — just a few years after Canada formally recognized Black History Month. At the time, he said the university had no visibly centralized events or celebrations of the month. 

He came up with the event over 20 years ago in the lunch room of the Division of University Advancement, which coordinates the university’s fundraising. He was inspired by the idea of people sharing food and stories over lunch and the spirit of community that this created.

The Luncheon

Guests at the event included keynote speaker, Canadian Screen Award Changemaker, and former Cityline host Tracy Moore; Juno award-winning artist TÖME; spoken word poet and human rights activist Shahaddah Jack as well as U of T administration officials like U of T President Meric Gertler; U of T Chancellor Wesley J. Hall; Dean of the School of Continuing Studies Catherine Chandler-Crichlow; and Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Division University of Advancement Nikki Samuel. 

During the event, Gertler made remarks to the audience highlighting U of T’s commitment to inclusivity. 

“We recognize that great ideas are the product of diverse perspectives and that talent can and does come from any and every community,” said Gertler. “We also recognize that the playing field is not entirely level yet. Systemic barriers persist for many members of the Black community and for other groups on our campuses. U of T is committed to dismantling those barriers.” 

Gertler also announced the donation of $1.88 million from TD Bank to U of T’s School of Continuing Studies, aiming to help Black Canadians navigate the barriers to employment and secure jobs in industries critical to Canada’s economic future.

Moore also gave a speech at the event, saying, “This is community creation right here.” She expressed her gratitude to the diverse communities she has worked with as she navigated her way into her career.

Moore was presented with an achievement award by David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement, for her work in broadcasting, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and encouraging action to address equity disparities for marginalized communities.

“I feel that the community launched me into this position… I aimed to represent us well and to honour us and to bring us in whenever I could,” said Moore. “And it is now the community that are the hands on my back.”

Matthesa Gregg, a U of T alum who currently works for U of T’s School of Continuing Studies, comes to the BHM luncheon every year. 

In an interview with The Varsity, she noted that when she did her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at U of T, it was a much smaller event. Gregg was surprised to see how it expanded and grew over the years. 

Gregg also complimented the Caribbean food options, which resonated with her as her family is from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Barbados; and Trinidad and Tobago.

Astra Yu — a first-year international student attendee — also shared her impressions of the event in an interview with The Varsity. She said that since this is her first year in Canada, she was excited to learn about the different cultures that make up Toronto. 

“It is the first time I know about [Black History Month],” said Yu, adding that she was curious to learn what led to the creation of BHM in Canada. 

BHM aims to honour and amplify Black Canadian voices by reflecting on racial divides and honouring Black Canadians’ achievements and contributions. In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament. 

The House of Commons carried the motion unanimously.