Celebrating Black History Month #HereAtSAIT

February is Black History Month — a time to learn about, honour and celebrate the legacy of Black Canadians.

See what’s happening around campus, check out a new micro-credential offering and hear from a SAIT employee as he shares his experiences as a Black immigrant in Canada.

📅 Schedule of events

From a speaker panel to a dancing flash mob, Black Empowerment and Excellence at SAIT (BEES), the Afro-Caribbean Student Club and SAIT invite you to participate in plenty of great events on campus and online.

💡 There are limited spots for each event — sign up to claim yours!

• Ice Breakers: Exploring the history of the Black hockey league in Canada 🎬 | Wednesday, Feb. 8
  Watch and discuss a 15-minute documentary about the experience of a promising Black teen hockey star.

• A Conversation with Distinguished Immigrants 🗨 | Thursday, Feb. 16
  Hear about the lived experiences of Black immigrants in Canada at a speaker panel presented by the BEES committee.

• Paint ’N’ Chill 🎨 | Monday, Feb. 27
  Paint alongside a local artist at this unique event presented by the Afro-Caribbean Student Club.

• Flash Mob Dance Challenge 💃🏾 | Monday, Feb. 27
  Join the Afro-Caribbean Student Club for a fun-packed activity featuring a dance challenge, music, games and popcorn.

• Inclusion Talks: Black Like Who? Book Review 📖 | Tuesday, Feb. 28
  Access the free ebook Black Like Who? by Rinaldo Walcott ahead of time using your mySAIT credentials, then tune in virtually for a discussion about it.

💻 Attending some of the virtual events? Update your Zoom background for Black History Month with special graphics found under “Holidays and national days” on sait.ca.

🍴 Learn while you lunch. Heading over to the John Ware building to grab something tasty from the Culinary Campus International Market? You’ll find info on legendary Black cowboy John Ware himself and other Black History Month facts cycling through the mounted TV screens all month.

📚 Add to your reading list. The Reg Erhardt Library and BEES have compiled a selection of contemporary titles featuring Black authors — check it out.

🏅 Gain workplace skills with a new micro-credential course

A new, free SAIT micro-credential offering called PERS 020: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Starter Pack will launch in June 2023 — registration opens Thursday, Feb. 9. The course is open to anyone and provides a Canadian lens on eight topics including inclusion at work, anti-racism, understanding ableism, queer essentials, decolonizing business and turning allyship into action.

Upon completion, you’ll be able to showcase your learnings to your network and employers with a digital badge. This course is available for free for a limited time thanks to funding from the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services.

Black History Month is a period where I see myself represented. It is a celebration of my culture and heritage. It is an opportunity to recognize the experiences, contributions, achievements and history of Black people in Canada. And although the name might suggest it’s mostly about looking back at past events, it’s also very much about looking forward — about bringing to light the realities of Black people in Canada today.

Oluwatomisin Aroge

Second-year Information Systems Security SAIT student

✨ Connect with the SAIT community

• Get involved with Black Empowerment and Excellence at SAIT (BEES).
• Join the Afro-Caribbean Student Club and their Snapchat group.