Members of Quebec City’s Black community and allies launched the 10th Quebec City Black History Month on Jan. 31 at Université Laval. (Photo by Cassandra Kerwin) Quebec City celebrates Black History Month
Cassandra Kerwin
cassandra@qctonline.com
During the coldest month, Quebecers can find warmth by celebrating, honouring and learning about Afro-Quebec culture. The Table de concertation du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs de Québec (TCMHNQ) celebrates the 10th anniversary of Black History Month in Quebec City by holding over 40 events and activities throughout the city from Feb. 1 to 28.
To open the month-long festival, the TCMHNQ invited the community to a panel discussion on Jan. 31 at Université Laval about this year’s theme, “From yesterday to today, 10 years of living history in the Black communities of Quebec City: remember, unite, and build.”
“This theme reminds us of the importance of knowing where we came from and why we are here,” said TCMHNQ president Théodore Leuwat.
According to spokesperson Christian Alain Djoko, 2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of Quebec, the 30th anniversary of Canada and the 50th anniversary of the United States adopting February as Black History Month. It also celebrates the 100th anniversary of African-American scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson launching the first Negro History Week (Feb. 7 to 14, 1926), and pays tribute to Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) and Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), both born in February, who were instrumental in the abolition of slavery in the United States.
“I also chose to be the spokesperson because of the current global ambience, especially the Trumpisation from the United States,” said Djoko. “It is important to remind people of the contributions Black people have made in Quebec and Canadian societies.”
According to the 2021 census, over 22,000 Black people live in Quebec City. “One reason for the increase in the number of Black people in Quebec is due to immigrants choosing to live here, rather than returning home after their studies. They are establishing themselves here and starting families,” said Victor Dzomo, former president and cofounder of TCMHNQ and the Conseil Panafricain de Québec.
Artists Annie Lalande and Jean-Marc Ouattara painted the Murale en hommage aux Afro- Québécois that was revealed in October 2024 on the back wall of the Lucien-Borne community centre, a tribute to the presence of Black people in Quebec since the days of New France. Throughout February 2026, people can learn about the people featured on the mural and about other Black Quebec history makers.
The program includes a wide range of cultural, political, sports, arts and health and beauty activities for all ages (generally in French), including concerts at venues around the city. Attendees at the opening night got a taste of things to come with live performances from Afro-Brazilian musician Gelton Cruz and local jazz and neo-soul performer Valérie Clio, and capoeira demonstrations.
To learn more and discover the full program, visit facebook.com/MoisHistoireDesNoirsQC.
German countertenor Nils Wanderer surprised the audience by coming down the aisle before going up a short flight of stairs onto the stage beside OSQ director Clemens Schuldt and the rest of the musicians at the Palais Montcalm to sing a very special rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) 
Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge presented the province’s new immigration program for skilled workers at a Jan. 30 press conference. (Screenshot) 
A delightful program entitled Ce désir de profondeur (This longing for depth) was presented by Concerts Couperin at the Chapelle du Séminaire on Feb. 1. The program, sung by mezzo-soprano Marie-Andrée Mathieu (right), accompanied by clarinetist Stéphane Fontaine (left) and pianist Nathalie Tremblay (centre), included two cycles of melodies by German Romantic composers Louis Spohr and Johannes Brahms, plus works by Quebec composers Éric Champagne and Nathalie Tremblay.
To open the concert, guest cellist Anne-Sophie Laliberté (not in this photo) performed three movements from Bach’s Cello Suite No 3, in C major. The next Couperin concert will be presented on March 22 and will feature pianist Emmanuel Roberts Dugal and special guest guitarist Le Tuong Nguyen. For details, visit couperin.ca/prochain-concert. (SN) (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) 
Laurence St-Germain of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, seen here at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, will look to medal for the first time in her third Olympic Games in Italy. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Olympic Committee/Mark Blinch) 
Olympic champions Mikaël Kingsbury and Marielle Thompson will be Canada’s flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games on Feb. 6 in Milan, Italy. (Photo montage courtesy of the Canadian Olympic Committee)