Halton Black
HistoryAwareness Society
Welcome
The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) celebrates Canada's diverse "Community, Roots & Culture" through cultural education, cultural enhancement, and cultural entertainment.
Our multicultural team is focused on eradicating racism and inequality and educating the public on Canadian Black history and its dynamics.
The HBHAS initiated Burlington, Ontario, Canada being recognized as “the first city in the world to acclaim August as Emancipation Month” (2018) and celebrates the 1833 Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies( a.k.a. the Slavery Abolition Act).
Our annual programs include the Emancipation Flag Raising Ceremony (Aug. 1 – Emancipation Day), Emancipation Gala, Emancipation Celebration Festival, Emancipation Art Exhibition, and HBHAS Presents: theatrical, literary and historical presentations, forums, and workshops.
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HBHAS offers numerous events and resources which shine a light on and promote our rich Canadian Black History. Members and volunteers can register here. Welcome to our journey.
Who We Are
The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) is a passionate group of multicultural individuals.
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We are dedicated to implementing cultural education into the public and institutional mindset towards appreciating the values of inclusivity, equality, and self-development while eradicating bullying, prejudice and inequality on all levels.
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HBHAS is a community globally focused on mitigating negative relations towards all marginalized communities and individuals.
Our motto is to appreciate our individual and collective "Community, Roots & Culture."
HBHAS' Mission
Our mission is learning, uncovering and promoting Canadian Black History towards a progressive, inclusive future through events such as the Halton Emancipation Celebration Festival, the Emancipation Art Exhibition, and Cultural Dynamics Leadership Training.
HBHAS does youth mentoring plus speaking engagements to university and college students, businesses, community groups, historical, genealogical, and heritage organizations.
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"At this moment, we all face a choice. We can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration, or we can retreat in a world sharply divided and ultimately in conflict." – President Obama, UN General Assembly Conference
Sankofa
The Sankofa symbol appears frequently in traditional Akan art and has also been adopted as an important symbol in an African American and African Diaspora context to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future.
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It is one of the most widely dispersed adinkra symbols, appearing in modern jewelry, tattoos, and clothing.
"It symbolizes taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge."
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The symbol "functions to foster mutual respect and unity in tradition.
"​This is what the HBHAS is doing with Canadian black history. learning, uncovering, promoting towards a progressive future.
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OUR KEY PROGRAMS
The HBHAS, in conjunction with numerous Halton community partners, is pleased to invite young people to learn about Halton’s diverse history and present innovative ways to eradicate racism, hate and bullying within Halton.
The program kicks off at the end of January.
The Eighth Annual Emancipation Art
Exhibition takes place from July 16 to Aug.31, 2025 in Halton Hills. The HBHAS call to artists is open to artists from the African Diaspora from the GTHA and surrounding areas.
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Submissions: due by May 30, 2025
For more information, contact
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The Halton Emancipation Celebration Festival is held at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario, on the Saturday of the Emancipation/Civic Holiday Weekend.
Click here to watch the 2024 Celebration Festival video.