Flag raising held for Black History Month

February 3, 2022 · 0 Comments

Written By Paula Brown

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The beginning of February signals the start of Black History Month, and municipalities across Dufferin County marked the celebration with the raising of the Pan-African Flag.

Dufferin County Canadian Black Association (DCCBA) founder and president Alethia O’Hara Stephenson was joined by Shelburne councillors, members of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, and Dufferin OPP at Shelburne Town Hall on Tuesday (Feb. 1) for an official flag raising ceremony.

“There’s a sense of pride when I look at the [Pan-African] flag. To think when we first moved to Dufferin County, we didn’t have flag raising ceremonies,” said O’Hara Stephenson. “It’s a sense of community, of belonging, and of hope for the future; for our young people and for all the great things that we can accomplish together as a community – not just as a black community, but as a Dufferin County community. When I think of Black History Month and the Pan-African flag it’s not just black history, it’s Canadian history. So, it’s a humbling feeling to have our efforts, contributions, and work recognized as part of the fabric of Canada.”

In February of 2019, Shelburne Town Council became the first Council to recognize Black History Month in Dufferin County. The next year County Council approved the proclamation request, officially recognizing Black History Month in Dufferin County for the first-time, subsequently followed with the raising of the first Pan-African flag in Shelburne and Dufferin County.

Established in the 1920s by political activist Marcus Garvey, the Pan-African flag’s purpose was to unify the peoples of African descent.

Shelburne Mayor Wade Mills officially proclaimed February in Shelburne, Black History Month for the fourth time during the town’s council meeting on Jan. 24.

The Pan-African flag was also raised on Tuesday at the Museum of Dufferin (MOD). In attendance for the flag raising was Shelburne Mayor and Dufferin County Warden Wade Mills, Alethia O’Hara Stephenson, and representatives from the Dufferin OPP.

“This is always a day that I’m filled with pride, but especially today having the opportunity to do this for the first time as Warden of Dufferin County. These symbolic gestures are important, but they’re not enough,” said Mills. “What’s being demonstrated both at the county level and within the Town of Shelburne is we’re moving well beyond just simple symbolic gestures. While those are important to show the community visually that we’re committed, we’re also putting in the work to backstop that symbology with actual concreate strides towards a more equitable community.”

Speaking specifically to the work the Town of Shelburne is doing to back up the symbolic gestures of support, Mills pointed to the Town’s development of a DEI Committee, who through a mandate having been looking into ways of removing systemic barriers and promote racial equality in the community.

O’Hara Stephenson added that through the DCCBA they’re already seeing tangible changes such as the county taking steps to hire more diverse staff and organizations sharing job postings with a diverse community.

“These are simple things, but they play a huge role in changing the landscape and making sure that there’s equality throughout Dufferin County,” said O’Hara Stephenson. “Small steps, but there’s more to come and I’ve very proud of the work that we’re doing.”

The Pan-African flag was raised in other municipalities on Tuesday including Melanchthon and Mono, and is scheduled to be raised at the County of Dufferin office on Feb. 3 and Amaranth Town Hall on Feb. 5.