Inaugural Canadian Black Government Leaders Summit June 8-10 in Birchtown, Nova Scotia
- Hon. Michael Coteau and Hon. Tony Ince to co-chair this milestone summit on location at the largest free black settlement of its time 1783-1792 -
TORONTO, May 14, 2015 /CNW/ - On the heels of the successful North American broadcast of The Book of Negroes and the start of the International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024 as sanctioned by the United Nations, Hon. Michael Coteau, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Hon. Tony Ince, Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage announce the inaugural Black Government Leaders Summit in Canada, June 8-10. The Summit will be held at the new Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown, Nova Scotia, the location of the largest free black settlement of its time 1783-1792 and a prominent location in Lawrence Hill's award winning novel The Book of Negroes. The announcement was made at a press conference in Toronto earlier today with both ministers in attendance.
"This Summit will be an unprecedented and historic meeting of Black federal and provincial government leaders in Canada to discuss challenges, exchange ideas and seize opportunities," said Minister Coteau.
"We felt this was the ideal setting for the summit," said Minister Ince. "The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, and indeed Birchtown, is sacred ground for people of African descent."
The outcome of the Summit is to promote equity and discuss best practices in the design of programs that embrace opportunity and address current day realities for African Canadians. The Summit agenda will include an extensive discussion on governance models that facilitate leadership within minority communities and increase awareness of the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent. The Summit will also see the Michaëlle Jean Foundation's Director of Programs and Communications, Peter Flegel, discuss ways to empower Canadian youth to use the arts to advance the aims of the International Decade.
The 13 Black Government Leaders Summit invitees are:
- The Honourable Tony Ince, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, MLA for Cole Harbour-Portland Valley, Nova Scotia
- Mr. Stephen Gough, MLA for Sackville-Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia
- The Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, MPP for Don Valley East, Ontario
- The Honourable Mitzie Hunter, Associate Minister of Finance, MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood, Ontario
- Mr. Granville Anderson, MPP for Durham, Ontario
- Senator Anne C. Cools, Ontario
- Senator Don Meredith, Ontario
- Mr. Maka Kotto, MNA for Bourget, Quebec
- Mr. Tyrone Benskin, MP for Jeanne-Le Ber, Quebec
- Ms. Sadia Groguhe, MP for Saint-Lambert, Quebec
- Mr. Emmanuel Dubourg, MP for Bourassa, Quebec
- The Honourable Hedy Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre, British Columbia
- Mr. David Shepherd, MLA for Edmonton Centre, Alberta
Scott Mullin, Vice President Community Relations, TD Bank Group commented on the announcement saying, "As an early contributor to the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre's capital campaign, TD is a proud supporter of this inaugural summit and is committed to promoting the history, heritage and culture of Birchtown, NS". The Black Government Leaders Summit is presented by TD Bank Group.
SOURCE Black Government Leaders Summit
For more information, images from the press conference or to book an interview, please contact: Vanessa Andres, Holmes PR, 416-628-5612, [email protected]; Corinne MacLellan, BLHC, 902-209-3234, [email protected]
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