Black History Month event stresses leadership, community connections

Students, faculty and community members gathered at Brandon University on Saturday afternoon as the Loy Excellentia Initiative hosted its annual Black History Month celebration.

The event, in its third year, focused on reflection, mentorship and building stronger community connections. It brought together speakers, students and local leaders to celebrate Black history while emphasizing collaboration and leadership among students and the wider community.

Keynote speaker Balfour Spence, a professor of applied disaster and emergency studies in the faculty of science, delivered a presentation titled, “Unravelling Canadian Black History: Acknowledging the Past and Mentoring the Future.”

Spence said the goal of his talk was to examine the evolution of Black history in Canada while encouraging people to learn from past experiences to shape a more inclusive future.

He said understanding history requires honest conversations among people of different backgrounds. Black history, he said, is not solely about Black communities but about shared experiences shaped through interaction and collaboration among cultures.

“For us to chart a better future, it must be an outcome of interactions and collaboration between Black, white, brown and Indigenous people,” he said.

Having lived in Brandon for nearly 18 years, Spence said the growing diversity in the city reflects the future many once envisioned, pointing to increasing participation of Black residents in education, business and community life.

Reflecting on both past and present challenges places communities in a stronger position to address emerging issues, he said.

Students attending the event said the program created an important space for connection and support, particularly for international students adjusting to life in Canada.

The event created a valuable opportunity for migrants to build networks and share experiences, Uzodinma Chilaka, a master’s student in geography and environment, told the Sun during the event.

He said initiatives like Loy Excellentia help students connect with others from similar backgrounds while working collectively toward solutions to shared challenges.

“It’s always good for Africans to identify with one another, find ways to network, share culture and bring out the best in each other,” Chilaka said.

The event’s emphasis on social interaction stood out, student Kenechukwu Arinzechi told the Sun.

He said international students often face difficulties adjusting to a new country, and gatherings like this make it easier to meet people and learn from shared experiences.

“The keynote address helped deepen my understanding of the history of Black communities in Canada,” he said.

Participation has grown steadily since the initiative began three years ago, with increased involvement from students, community members and campus partners, founder Aloy Anyichie said.

“When we started, it wasn’t that easy. We found it difficult getting students, but over the years, there has been a steady increase in participation,” he said. “This year we have the BU jazz band participating, more community members trying to be part of it and organizations like the Rotary Club supporting the event.”

Anyichie said the initiative’s focus this year is encouraging students to take on leadership roles and build skills that will help them integrate into society after graduation.

“We want them to be more involved because it offers them the opportunity to learn to lead and develop soft skills that will help them connect with society and be useful when they graduate,” he said.

“I believe that with initiatives like this, students are better equipped to contribute effectively to society, boosting the African community here in Brandon, Manitoba and even beyond.”

Alysha Farrell, dean of the faculty of education, said she has seen positive growth since the initiative began.

“Because of Dr. Aloy Anyichie’s leadership, I’m seeing an increase in mentorship opportunities for Black students and Black faculty members,” Farrell told the Sun.

“Honouring Black history means looking critically at the past, looking critically at the present and figuring out a good way to move forward together.”

Equity, diversity and inclusion work is foundational to the work of the faculty of education, she said, “and I’m honoured to play even a small part in that.”

Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen said celebrations like Saturday’s demonstrate the growing recognition of Black contributions within the community.

“It’s very significant. Over the years, we’re seeing the celebrations and the successes grow within our community,” he said.

“Black History Month should not just be celebrated one month or one day — it should be celebrated throughout the whole year. Events like this bring people together and highlight the contributions of Black students and community members in Brandon.”

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