The Coffee and Conversation event will feature the Dr. Shadd exhibit, a presentation from Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum and stories from people living in Melfort representing Nigeria, South African and Zambia. (Submitted photo/Melfort and District Museum)

By Rachel May

Black History Month

Stories of Dr. Shadd and more during Black History Month event in Melfort

Feb 2, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Across the country, Canadians are celebrating Black History Month and Melfort is no exception.

The Melfort & District Museum is hosting Coffee and Conversation on Feb. 9 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kerry Vickar Centre in partnership with the Western Development Museum (WDM) and the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM).

Gailmarie Anderson, museum curator in Melfort, said the event will be filled with different speakers and stories.

“We are going to feature the Dr. Shadd Virtual Exhibit which was put together by the WDM, ourselves, and SACHM.

The exhibit highlights the work of Dr. Alfred Schmitz Shadd who was the first person of African ancestry known to settle in Saskatchewan.

police work

RCMP still searching for missing woman

3h ago

nature

La Ronge bird count shows fewer numbers, but more species

3h ago

2025 BYELECTION

Tom Harrison looks forward to work after byelection win

4h ago

Throughout his time in both the Melfort and Kinistino area, he established himself as a doctor, politician, newspaper publisher/editor, and farmer.

“We organized this over the course of several months. The WDM has put it online as of Feb. 2 but our researcher Garry Forsyth will present it at our event.”

Darlene Lafayette-Hunter, a representative from SACHM, will also be presenting at the event sharing how the organization started, what they are doing and how they help African-Canadians in the province.

The focus will then turn to the community itself. Presentations will be given by those living in Melfort representing Nigeria, South African and Zambia.

Anderson said the event was made possible through the help of organizations in the northeast.

“We were able to collaborate with WeCollablorate, a local group of Canadian Africans and we are happy to do this for the Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists as it is also provincial archives week.”

Even though the event takes place over one day, Anderson believes it gives the community a chance to recognize other cultures’ contributions to the community, province and country.

“It’s important to recognize we have a number of immigrants in our community and their heritage and history is important to both them and us.”

For those hoping to attend the Coffee and Conversation event, masks and proof of vaccination is required.

–

Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM