National Black Canadians Summit

Winnipeg 2026

The Summit is created BY and FOR Canadians of African descent, spanning all generations.

national black canadians summits

National Black Canadians Summit

Road to Winnipeg 2026

The National Black Canadians Summit is a three-day gathering of leaders, artists, and changemakers. Together, we celebrate Black Canadian culture, share powerful stories, and shape a more inclusive future.

PAST SUMMITS

It all started in 2017 and we’re just getting started

The National Black Canadians Summit was created in response to a call from emerging artists of African descent in Halifax, Toronto, and Montreal, seeking to unite and strengthen the collective efforts of Black communities across Canada in order to achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes. From the inaugural Summit held at the Toronto Public Library in 2017, to the 2019 gathering in Ottawa in the presence of federal parliamentarians and lawmakers, through a series of virtual events in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summit has continued to grow and evolve. This momentum was further reinforced by an in-person Summit in Halifax in 2022, followed by a major gathering in Montreal in 2025

2017 | Toronto first edition

First edition

The Toronto Public Library hosted this exciting event that brought together hundreds of Black Canadian leaders, including policy experts, media personalities, academics, activists, business professionals, and artists gathered for the inaugural National Black Canadians Summit. Over three days, the summit was filled with dynamic keynote speeches, captivating cultural performances, and productive strategic planning sessions focused on driving social change. The event was a continuation of several generations of ongoing struggles and mobilizations by Black communities, all of their advocacy efforts. It also seized upon the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) as a catalyst for increased collaboration, no longer atomized, but national. The ambition was an inclusive agenda for Canadians of African descent, anchored in a framework to combat systemic racial discrimination and exclusion. At the summit, a group of public servants came together to form the Black Federal Employees Caucus, an organization dedicated to eliminating barriers faced by Black public servants, including harassment, discrimination, and underrepresentation. This important development also served as a launching pad for the Federation of Black Canadians, a national advocacy group that collaborates with Black community organizations across the country to achieve meaningful change.

Past Summit

2019 | Ottawa second edition

Second edition

The second Summit, held at the National Arts Centre, was a tremendous success under the theme of “Mapping Our Future: Face to Face with our Lawmakers.” Over 800 Black leaders and stakeholders from across Canada came together to achieve the goals of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent - recognition, justice, and development. This mobilization was a powerful platform to bring critical issues to the forefront of national dialogue and work towards a more inclusive, empowered, and prosperous Canada for everyone. Throughout the event, a presentation of inspiring videos produced by Black youth who participated in cross-Canada Jam Sessions, in line with the Foundation’s mission to amplify youth perspectives within Canada’s national anti-racism strategy. The summit also provided a unique opportunity for direct engagement with parliamentarians, culminating in the "Black Voices on the Hill" meeting. During more than a dozen strategically targeted meetings with several federal parliamentarians, ministers and members of Parliament, the participants were able to raise awareness of the devastating impact of racism and discrimination on them and on the Black communities as a whole.

Past Summit

2021 | Virtual summits

Summit Virtual Series

The Covid 19 pandemic and the long periods of confinement did not slow us down in our work, quite the contrary. The mobilization was only more constant, the state of alert, vigilance and urgency more noticeable in the face of the impacts felt within the Black communities, clearly under considered during the pandemic. The shockwave caused by the assassination of George Floyd in the United States and the outpouring of the Black Lives Matter movement have intensified reflection and action.

The summit moved into virtual space with a series of 4 important conferences with, each time, several panelists, interactive discussions that attracted thousands of people, contributing expertise, testimonies, tangible experience, analyses, facts and data from the Black communities themselves, on the following themes : "Reimagining Justice"; - "Breaking Barriers in Education"; - "Redefining Entrepreneurship and Employment Through A Black Lens" ; and "Let's Talk Black Health".

Past Summit

2022 | Halifax, Nova Scotia

Third edition

The third edition of the Summit took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of Canada's oldest Black communities. The event brought together more than 1,200 delegates from Black communities across Canada, including 435 young people who were able to attend free of charge. This historic location provided a unique opportunity to learn about the rich history of Black communities in Canada and to highlight the broader reality of racism.
The Summit also advanced the goals of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent and was the site of the creation of the Halifax Declaration. Designed as a call to action for the eradication of racial discrimination, the Declaration identifies the changes needed in government policy, civil society, and the judicial and educational systems. Drafted in collaboration with community members from various professions, including lawyers, writers, journalists, and community leaders, the document was validated through an extensive online consultation process, making it a powerful tool for mobilization and a call to action for all Canadians.

Past Summit

Fourth Edition

2025 | Montreal, Quebec

The fourth edition of the Summit was held in Montréal, Québec, under the theme Taking Action Together, bringing together more than 1,500 delegates from Black communities across Canada at the Palais des congrès. A major highlight of this year was the introduction of Youth Day, which welcomed over 600 young delegates. For the first time, participants from the Foundation’s flagship Power of Youth program came together to present their projects and share their visions for change.

Building on the legacy of the Halifax Declaration, the Summit focused on expanding participation and advancing collective action to dismantle anti-Black racism across Canada. This edition issued bold calls for justice in healthcare, education, housing, and beyond.

Past Summit

National Black Canadians Summit Report

This report traces the key moments of the Summit, from its planning to its impact, highlighting the arts and community components, youth engagement, partnerships, and communication initiatives. It also proposes avenues for the future, reflecting a collective vision focused on impact and collaboration.

Information

Summit organization committee

nbcs-spcn@fmjf.ca

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