Heritage Day 2025
Ottawa City Hall
On February 17, 2025, Black Legacy Collective (BLC) participated in Ottawa’s annual Heritage Day at City Hall. The free public event, held in Jean Pigott Hall, brought together more than 35 heritage organizations to celebrate the theme “Heritage Champions: Crafting a Legacy of Preservation and Innovation.”
Heritage Day invites residents to reflect on the people and stories that shape Ottawa. As an Ottawa-based heritage organization, BLC works year-round to document and embed Black heritage within public institutions. At our booth, we shared educational resources, children’s books, and information about our local initiatives that preserve underrepresented Ottawa histories.
Community Engagement
Families, educators, students, and community members visited our booth to learn more about Black heritage in Ottawa. Visitors explored resources, asked questions, and signed up to stay connected with our work. The event created meaningful opportunities to strengthen relationships with both community members and heritage organizations across the city.
Goals
-
Highlight the contributions of Black communities to Ottawa’s history
-
Increase visibility of Black heritage within citywide celebrations
-
Share educational tools and community-based research initiatives
-
Strengthen collaboration between heritage institutions and Black-led organizations
Impact
Our participation increased awareness of Black heritage as an essential part of Ottawa’s story. It strengthened institutional connections and encouraged continued engagement with inclusive local history. Events like Heritage Day help ensure that Black voices are visible within the city’s public commemorations and cultural celebrations.
