Each February, the Montreal Canadiens proudly celebrate Black History Month by honouring the rich heritage and impactful achievements of the Black community, both in hockey and in today’s society.
This month-long celebration is an opportunity to highlight the work of those who've made their mark not just in our sport, but in the world we live in, by giving visibility to the people and organizations creating positive change in our communities.
In February and beyond, explore this page to find resources that you can support, learn from and engage with.
Celebrate Black History Month
Join the Black History Month festivities at the Bell Centre on Thursday, February 27, as we celebrate Black Excellence. During their home game against the San Jose Sharks, the Montreal Canadiens will honor the rich heritage and outstanding achievements of Quebec's Black communities.
Black History Month activities in Quebec
The Round Table on Black History Month oversees the promotion of the programming surrounding Black History Month across the province. Presented under the theme of All That We Carry, this 34th edition offers a ton of activities aimed at educating, raising awareness and promoting the history and culture of black communities in Quebec.
Black History Month Collection
Visit the Bell Centre Tricolore Sports store or go online to get your hands on limited-edition Black History Month merchandise, featuring artwork by Anna Binta Diallo, a multidisciplinary visual artist from Senegal. 25% of the profits will be donated to Nos Jeunes à Cœur, a Montreal-North based community organization.
Habs in the community with Nos Jeunes à Cœur
On September 7, Justin Barron, Kaiden Guhle, Alex Newhook, and Arber Xhekaj paid a surprise visit to youth in Montreal-North for a sports day organized in partnership with Nos Jeunes à Cœur, a community organization active in the neighborhood since 2017. Held in collaboration with Henri-Bourassa High School, the activity gave over 70 young participants the opportunity to discover new sports and enjoy ball hockey, basketball, and soccer.
Nos Jeunes à Cœur
Nos Jeunes à Cœur was created based on the strong belief that every young person deserves the same opportunities, regardless of their socio-economic situation. Based in Montreal-North, the organization actively supports young people aged 10 to 24, helping them develop both their athletic and academic potential.
NHL Player Inclusion Coalition
The National Hockey League’s Player Inclusion Coalition, a group of current and former NHL Players as well as women's professional hockey players. Coalition members act as advisors, ambassadors, and catalysts to advance equality and inclusion in the sport of hockey, both on and off the ice.
Hockey Diversity Alliance
The Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA) was formed by NHL players of colour who saw an immediate need to organize and create a platform to eradicate the racism and intolerance they have faced throughout their lives and careers in hockey.
Committed to inspiring a new and diverse generation of hockey players and fans, the HDA works to improve accessibility to our sport at community levels while educating and encouraging accountability from leagues and leaders through anti-racism and unconscious bias education.
Black Ice
Black Ice is a thought-provoking documentary that examines the contributions of Black players in hockey as well as the struggles against racism that continue to this day. It brings together an impressive roster of players — both women and men, from major and minor leagues — to offer insight through eye-opening testimonies and a sense of hope for a more inclusive future for our sport.
Ice Breakers
Josh Crooks is a promising teen hockey star in a sport where Black players like him are chronically underrepresented. Sandi Rankaduwa’s documentary short film Ice Breakers reveals the buried history the pioneering Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (CHL), as Crooks discovers that his unshakable passion is tied to a rich and remarkable heritage.
Local community organizations supporting BIPOC
Several organizations across the province work hard every day to reduce racial disparities and promote the well-being of people from Black and other racialized communities in Quebec. Check out the list below to learn more about their mission and discover the different ways you can support them.
Defends social justice and the rights of members of the Black community.
Facilitates access to justice for local communities experiencing systemic racism and racial profiling.
Creates spaces for dialogue and mobilizing initiatives to eliminate systemic inequalities and develop supportive, inclusive, safe, and dynamic communities within the borough of Montreal-North.
Encourages Montrealers to take responsibility and action on key issues surrounding racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community.
Promotes the empowerment of young North Montrealers aged 15 to 25 by offering psychosocial assistance and telephone counseling support.
Provides key resources for youth from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, giving them access to opportunities that promote their overall development.
Works with underprivileged youth from the Saint-Michel borough and their families to reduce inequalities and increase the chances of academic and social success.
Empower and destigmatize BIPOC communities by fostering a sense of belonging through outdoor nature-based excursions.
Contributes to the development of youth from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to help them become engaged citizens capable of bringing about social change in their community.
By providing support to youth, P3P coaches help them gain the skills needed to succeed in school and in life.
Empowers Montreal’s youth to become socially conscious members of their community through sports, education, and mentoring.
Contributes to social justice by leading interventions that develop citizenship, family and collective skills, particularly with ethnocultural communities.
Supports residents of the Hodge-Carré Benoît area and its surroundings by contributing to their personal, social and community development.
Serving the English-speaking Black Community of Montreal for 50 years. Their services are specifically designed to address the needs and enrich the lives of its diverse and vibrant community.
Supports Black youth aged 18 to 35 in reaching their educational, employability, and entrepreneurial goals through a holistic and individualized approach.
Improves the living conditions of Haitians, Afro-descendants and immigrants by encouraging education and integration through active participation in society.
Empowers the Black community by promoting the education, health and personal development of youth, adults, and seniors living on the western end of the Island of Montreal.
Promotes the social and economic integration as well as the living conditions of immigrant women in their community.
Provides skills-building, leadership development, empowerment-based mentorships programs for BIPOC young women & girls.