This year's event is built around the theme of "Celebrating Canada" and will highlight the contributions, creativity and leadership of Black communities across the country
The University of Toronto will host its 24th annual Black History Month luncheon on Feb. 26 - a community event that has grown from an intimate potluck gathering into one of the university's signature Black History Month celebrations.
Held in-person at Hart House on the St. George campus and streamed live online, this year's event is built around the theme of "Celebrating Canada" and will highlight the contributions, creativity and leadership of Black communities across the country.
Glen Boothe, who co-founded the event and works in U of T's division of advancement, says organizers chose the theme given the current climate of geopolitical uncertainty in Canada and beyond.
"I'd like people while at the event, to take a minute to reflect on what it means to be Canadian and what our values are," he says, noting that his family immigrated from Jamaica when he was a teenager.
"I'm so big on Canadian values and the current times have shown us that things could be different so it's important to reflect, celebrate and be thankful."
This year's program will be co-moderatd by Booth and journalist Brandon Gonez, host of the Brandon Gonez Show, and will feature a keynote address from U of T Chancellor Wes Hall, a celebrated business leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist and anti-racism advocate who stars on CBC's hit series Dragon's Den.
Hall will be joined at the event by Ontario's poet laureate Matthew-Ray "Testament" Jones, who will recite poetry about Canadian values, and singer Kolette Easy, who will cover the songs of iconic Canadian artists such as Jully Black. Other distinguished guests include U of T President Melanie Woodin, David Kim, Hart House warden, David Palmer, U of T's vice-president, advancement, and Toronto Mayor Oliva Chow.
With as many as 600 in-person attendees expected, Boothe says he's grateful for the many volunteers and Hart House and U of T Food Services staff who come together each year to make the event possible.
The luncheon got its start nearly a quarter century ago when a group of U of T staff members gathered for a potluck to celebrate Black History Month. Boothe and volunteers brought dishes reflecting African, South American, Caribbean and other cultures, using food to bridge diverse cultures.
As attendance grew, the much-anticipated annual event moved from its early homes at University College and Woodsworth College to its current location in The Great Hall at Hart House.
About four years ago, U of T Food Services joined the collaboration, with Jaco Lokker, U of T's executive chef and director of culinary operations, Daniel Ofori, sous chef, and Colin Wright, executive sous chef, contributing a variety of dishes to the celebration.
The menu features dishes from across the Black diaspora including oxtail, jerk chicken, rice and peas, jollof rice, fried plantains and black-eyed peas stew, among many others (Boothe's favourite is ackee and saltfish - a dish that carries special significance this year given the historical rum and salted cod trade between Jamaica and Canada's east coast).
Wright, who has been cooking for the luncheon for four years, says he feels a great sense of pride seeing everyone come together.
"I think through the language of food, we all can understand the pride we take in our food, and we can show this to other people of our backgrounds," he says. "We don't have to jump on a plane to fly somewhere to experience cultures."
Ofori says food is a powerful way to connect with cultures.
"If you want to make friends, feed them," he says. "So, food is huge connection everywhere in communities, everywhere in the world."
The luncheon also features youth programming, with approximately 200 students attending in-person and an additional 65 high school and elementary schools from across the GTA participating via livestream - reaching an estimated 10,000 students in total. Special guests for student programming this year include York Regional Police Superintendent Kolin Alexander, the highest-ranking Black officer in the force, and youth race car drivers Mayer and Decklan Deonarine.
In 2022, U of T established the Black History Month Luncheon Award and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The award supports Black undergraduate students in financial need and two scholarship awards will be presented at the luncheon.
Boothe said there will also be prizes, giveaways and a silent auction, thanks to the support of sponsors that include Air Canada, Grace Kennedy Canada, TD Bank, Coca-Cola and Tim Hortons.
For Boothe, the most meaningful aspect isn't just the luncheon's popularity, but its impact.
"The camaraderie, the kinship, the emotional bonding at the event, the feeling of connectivity," he says. "People relate to the spirit. They relate to the values of what we're trying to do in terms of inclusion and trying to get people to say, 'We're stronger together.'"
