To the MSVU community,
February is African Heritage Month and I invite the MSVU community to join in events to celebrate the contributions of people of African descent and reflect on their diverse history, culture and traditions.
MSVU events
- Our Campus Exchange session in February will reflect on this year’s provincial theme for African Heritage Month: “Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance.” Panelists will discuss how best we can support Black student success, including current campus initiatives and the future of Black student supports. Date, time and location details to follow.
- In partnership with the Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice, the Research Office’s Black and Indigenous Speaker Series will feature a presentation by Dr. Afua Cooper on February 27 (the World Day of Social Justice) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the McCain Atrium, moderated by MSVU Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Advisor Delvina Bernard. All are welcome.
Dr. Cooper is a scholar, author, and artist and leading authority on Black Canadian history and Black Canadian studies. She will speak about the legacy of slavery in Nova Scotia and the responsibility of post-secondary institutions in addressing this history.
Community events
- In HRM: African Heritage Month | 2025 | Halifax
- In NS: Celebrate African Heritage Month 2025 | African Nova Scotian Affairs – Government of Nova Scotia
- Head to the Halifax Central Library (Paul O’Regan Hall) on Spring Garden Road on Saturday, February 8 (2 to 4 p.m.) for 5 Poets Breaking Into Song – an event featuring Delvina Bernard and El Jones of MSVU. From Halifax Public Libraries: “Halifax native and Toronto Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke will host a delightful afternoon of original poetry and music. Poets Delvina Bernard, El Jones, Reed ‘iZrEAL’ Jones, Salima Tourkmani-MacDonald, Stedmond Pardy and George Elliott Clarke will recite original poetic works. These works will then be performed as musical pieces composed by Emmy Award-winning composer D.D. Jackson, and sung by Nova Scotia native Shanice Skinner and Dean Bowman. This afternoon promises to be a salve for your soul.” This event will be broadcast live on YouTube too.
- On February 15, the Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society will host an African Heritage Month dinner at MSVU, featuring African cuisine, music, and art focused on celebrating Black women throughout history. Purchase tickets here.
We continue to deepen our commitment to supporting Black members of the MSVU community. In April of last year, we welcomed Amélie Gero to MSVU in the new role of African Nova Scotian Community Pathways Navigator, funded by the Windsor Foundation. Amélie is guiding the university in breaking down barriers to higher education and promoting successful transitions for students from African Nova Scotian communities. She is currently prioritizing consultation with those communities as she undertakes a thorough needs assessment.
Last fall, the MSVU community gathered in the Black Student Support Office (BSSO) to unveil a painted Baobab Tree, a symbol of the merging of the BSSO’s Baobab Project and the Elders’ Circle—both initiatives that celebrate the diversity of individual experience and the richness of shared wisdom. I encourage you to stop by the BSSO to see the tree and learn more about what it represents.
Black Student Advisor Randy Headley was the featured speaker on a recent installment of the Research Office’s Black and Indigenous Speakers Series. Randy spoke about the underrepresentation of Black students in research within post-secondary settings such as MSVU, the repercussions, and strategies to bridge the gap. In case you missed it, you can listen to a recording of Randy’s presentation on YouTube.
It’s important to note that the UN announced a second Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034) late last year, as the first decade (2015-2024) came to an end. Noted a statement from the UN: “The first International Decade, while a significant milestone, fell short in delivering transformative change, according to several experts on the human rights of people of African descent. … This Second International Decade is an opportunity to take concrete actions to confront the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, deliver reparatory justice, and secure the full human rights and freedoms of people of African descent worldwide.”
I remain deeply thankful to the many individuals within our university community who are dedicated to breaking down barriers and supporting the success of Black and African Nova Scotian students, faculty, staff, and community members. And I look forward to furthering this important work together.
Joël
Dr. Joël Dickinson
President and Vice-Chancellor
Mount Saint Vincent University