Celebrating diversity during Black History Month
February 03, 2020
People with
roots from around the world work at Runnymede Healthcare Centre and we believe this
diversity is one of our key strengths. An important way we acknowledge and
celebrate our diversity is through our annual Black History Month celebration.
February 19,
2020 will mark the 16th anniversary of our Black History Month event
at Runnymede. A long-standing highlight for staff, the event is an opportunity
to gather and recognize the contributions that Canadians of African and Caribbean
descent have made – and continue to make – to our country.
In addition to
fantastic food and music, the celebrations provide staff with an opportunity to
learn about other cultures. Esteemed members of the Black community have joined
us over the years to share incredible stories about how they broke down
barriers so younger generations could dream bigger.
The Honourable
Jean Augustine inspired us with her story about making history as the first
African Canadian woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons. Chief Mark
Saunders shared his journey about rising through the ranks to become the first
member of the Black community to lead the Toronto Police Service.
This year’s celebration will include an exhibit from the Canadian Multicultural Inventors Museum, which highlights the Black community’s contributions to science and medicine. The exhibit aims to raise awareness of the inventors and their many innovations while providing important historical context.
The Black community
continues to make strides in healthcare today. Many of our own staff of African
and Caribbean heritage continue this tradition of excellence, and we’re proud
to honour them through our Black History Month celebration. For more
information about Black History Month events happening in and around your
community visit the City of Toronto website.