Preparing for the 2026 Black History Mandate
For many years, Black history in Canada has been treated as a brief moment in the school year. A single month, a single unit, a single assembly.
The 2026 Black History Mandate in Ontario is an important step forward. It also raises real questions for educators.
Where do we begin?
How do we support teachers who may feel unprepared?
How do we move beyond a February model and build learning that lasts all year?
In this online session, Dr. Dorothy W. Williams will share her four-decade journey as a historian, archivist and educator, and the story behind Blacbiblio.com Inc. and the ABC’s of Canadian Black History Kit. She will speak frankly about the challenges schools face and offer practical ways to integrate Canadian Black history into curriculum in a way that is thoughtful, realistic and sustainable.
The session will include a short presentation followed by an open question period where participants can ask about implementation, materials and real classroom scenarios.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this session, you will
• Understand what the 2026 Black History Mandate could mean for your school and staff
• Learn simple steps to begin integrating Canadian Black history across the school year
• See how the ABC’s of Canadian Black History Kit supports teachers with ready-to-use lessons and activities
• Hear examples of how schools are already using Blacbiblio resources to support equity and representation
• Leave with clear next steps for your own context
Who This Event Is For
This session is ideal for
• School and board leaders who are planning for 2026
• Principals and Vice-principals
• Classroom teachers in Grades Four to Twelve
• Curriculum and DEI leads
• Librarians and resource staff who support instructional planning
Whether you are just beginning or already doing this work, you are welcome.
Schedule
Format
Online group session on Zoom
Time
Thursday from 1-2 p.m.
Followed by a fifteen- to thirty-minute question and answer period
Flow
• Welcome and introduction
• Short talk from Dr. Williams on mandate, history and context
• Walk-through of the ABC’s of Canadian Black History Kit and supporting tools
• Live question and answer with participants
About Dr. Dorothy W. Williams
Dr. Dorothy W. Williams is a historian, archivist, educator and the founder of Blacbiblio.com Inc. For more than forty years, she has researched and shared the stories of Black communities in Canada, with a special focus on Montreal and Quebec.
She is the author of The Road to Now and Blacks in Montreal, and has contributed to significant academic works on Canadian print culture and history. Through Blacbiblio.com Inc., she created the ABC’s of Canadian Black History Kit, a classroom resource that helps teachers introduce students to Black Canadian figures and events from early settlement to the present day.
Dr. Williams is also an Adjunct Professor and an award-winning contributor to public history, recognized for her work in bringing Black Canadian stories into schools, libraries, museums and community spaces.
This event is free to attend, but registration is required.
Please use the button above to reserve your spot. Once you register, you will receive an email with the meeting link and event details.