City hall ceremony marks Black History Month

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This article was published 09/02/2024 (819 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Brandon marked Black History Month at city hall on Thursday to celebrate the contribution of the Black community.

Organized by former city councillor Sunday Frangi, the occasion was attended by Mayor Jeff Fawcett, Westman Regional Cabinet Office outreach coordinator Jason Gobeil and dignitaries from Brandon’s Black community, all gathering to acknowledge and honour the significant contributions of Black individuals to the growth and diversity of Brandon.

Frangi opened with a reflection on the immense contribution of Black people in Canada and specifically within the local community, noting Black history is not just about the past but also an opportunity to focus on the present and the future.

Frangi pointed to individuals who have made substantial contributions, including Tukube Tabia, one of the city’s first Black residents, and Prof. Balfour Spence, dean of arts at the University of Brandon.

“When I see all of us here, I see black excellence, heritage and a future to celebrate,” he said. “So let us be reminded that we’re not just here to only celebrate Black History Month, but also to celebrate the fabric, the makeup of our community, the strength behind us, the greatness ahead of us, as one big community.”

Fawcett recognized Frangi as the first Black city councillor in Brandon and commended the community’s diversity, expressing appreciation for the contributions of individuals like the convener and others who have contributed to the diversity and growth of the city.

“I love the diversity of our community and it’s changing all the time,” Fawcett said. “It was great to have (Frangi) elected as the first Black city councillor in the City of Brandon, and we’ll continue to have more, we want to continue to have more involvement in the whole community.”

Fawcett said Brandon eagerly anticipates not only commemorating Black History Month annually, but incorporating similar celebrations as regular contributions to daily life in Brandon.

“The aim is for everyone in the city to feel at ease, akin to being a Brandonite, embracing their identity, backgrounds and cultures.”

Bankole Abejide, an entrepreneur based in Brandon, shared his gratitude toward the city council for its contributions to the community, acknowledging the support and guidance he received from Tabia upon arriving in Brandon in 2013.

“In 2013, Tabia encouraged me to be courageous and assured me that any aspirations I had for this city were achievable, and those words have helped me so far,” Abejide said. “I want to tell everyone here, especially newcomers, that Brandon is a land of opportunities where dreams can be realized with the support of the community and divine guidance.”

Encouraging increased involvement, Abejide stressed that the community mirrors individuals, and active engagement is pivotal for fostering positive transformation. Gratitude was extended to the entire community for cultivating a peaceful environment, underscoring the strength found in cultural diversity and emphasizing unity as the community’s greatest asset.

The event concluded with an expression of unity, appreciation and a commitment to continue the celebration of diversity and contributions from the Black community in Brandon. City hall’s doors, Fawcett said, remain open to foster ongoing dialogue and collaboration.

Brandon recognized the importance of Black History Month with its first-ever proclamation signing in February 2022 through the efforts of Frangi when he was a councillor representing Meadows-Waverly.

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