Halifax Declaration

Initiative

Join the conversation, be the change, read the Manifesto for the eradication of racial discrimination now!

Be the change

For Black Canadians, our moment is now. The Halifax Declaration is our collective, unified manifesto for recognition, justice, and development. It’s a roadmap for real change – in every sector, and every community.

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History

July 31, 2022 |

Halifax

Proclamation

The 2022 National Black Canadians Summit served as a pivotal platform for individuals of African descent across Canada, drawing 1200 attendees who experienced a profound sense of fulfillment and commitment to advocacy.

One of the most significant highlights of the 2022 Summit was the proclamation of the Halifax Declaration. In its first form, it was a poetic performance with music and dance, later to be crafted into a document.

Beginnings

March 8, 2023 |

Canada

The Halifax Declaration Survey

Before publishing a written version of the Halifax Declaration, we conducted a national survey, reaffirming key themes and essential facts that were prominently discussed during the 2022 Summit. This validation work allowed us to collect an inventory of organizations and their actions to advance the issues identified in the Declaration.

We teamed up with two partners on this work – the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC), led by Amanuel Melles (who delivered a keynote address at the Summit) and Argyle Integrated Public Relations Agency. NABC used its national networks and research capacity to share the Declaration with Summit participants and key stakeholders across the country.

Research

May 16, 2023 |

Halifax

Halifax Declaration Launch Event

The launch celebration of the Halifax Declaration at the Light House Arts Centre in downtown Halifax marked a historic milestone in the ongoing work of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation with the African Nova Scotian community. Attended by approximately 100 community members, distinguished guests, and influential figures, the event served as a platform to commemorate the achievements and aspirations encapsulated in the Halifax Declaration.

Notable attendees included TRH Michaëlle Jean, Mayor Mike Savage, and other key figures who have championed the rights and empowerment of the African Nova Scotian community. The event highlighted the progress made since the 2022 Summit and emphasized the importance of intergenerational collaboration.

Launch

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Power of Youth

Youth Driving Change

As a legacy of the Halifax Declaration, the Power of Youth is a grant program that aims to support young people to realize projects that benefit their own communities, working towards recognition, justice and development for Black Canadians.

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United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (June 2, 2023)

The Declaration on the Global Stage

Co-Founders, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean and Jean-Daniel Lafond joined hundreds at the Second Edition of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent. The Declaration was formally submitted as an official document of the forum during the closing ceremony.

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National Black Canadians Summits

Montréal 2024, en route !

“…We remain dedicated and actively mobilized for the upcoming 2024 Summit in Montreal, which will conclude the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024) proclaimed by the United Nations.”

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Join the conversation

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"We urge recognition of the fact that colonization was an abhorrent crime against humanity from the outset, and that such acknowledgement, seeking to decolonize our institutions, systems and laws, is both beneficial and necessary."

-Manifesto for the Eradication of Racial Discrimination, “Halifax Declaration” Third Edition, Chapter 1.4, p.2, 2024

"We, Canadians of African descent of all generations, insist on the urgency of remedying all persistent and pervasive injustices. We urge
all levels of government—federal, provincial, and municipal—as well as the private and institutional sectors, to work in concert with Black communities to eradicate racial discrimination."

-Manifesto for the Eradication of Racial Discrimination, “Halifax Declaration” Third Edition, Chapter 2.1.4, p.10, 2024

"Development for human beings begins with the recognition of their humanity, their value, their qualities, their dignity, their integrity, and their achievements."

-Manifesto for the Eradication of Racial Discrimination, “Halifax Declaration” Third Edition, Chapter 3.1.2, p.38, 2024