Session 6B: Panel discussion: Celebrating the Black Contributions to the History of Quebec from Mathieu da Costa to the Honourable Marlene Jennings: 1608-2021
My Session Status
Speakers:
Brian Rock, Chairman, Committee for the Enhancement of the Curriculum of the History of Quebec
Marlene Jennings, President, Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
Dorothy Williams, Historian and creator of the ABCs of Canadian Black History Kit
Linton Garner, Director of Blacbiblio
The panel discussion will center on the celebration of the Black contributions to the history of Quebec over the centuries from Mathieu da Costa in 1608 through to 2021. It will explain why it remains so important to not only highlight Black contributions during Black History Month in February, but throughout the year as well. A prime example of historical resources available to increase knowledge and awareness of the Black contributions to the history of Quebec is the ABCs of Canadian Black History Kit, which will be presented to the audience by its creator. The panel is sponsored by the Committee for the Enhancement of the Curriculum of the History of Quebec (ComECH-QC).
Speakers' bios:
Brian Rock is a retired School Principal and Teacher of History of Quebec. Brian chairs the Committee for the Enhancement of the Curriculum of the History of Quebec. A former Executive Director of the Regional Association of West Quebecers, Brian serves as Director of QCGN, WQ Literacy Council, QFHSA, RAWQ, as well as being Secretary of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy and Vice-President of the Hull-Aylmer Senior Council.
The Honourable Marlene Jennings, who became President of the Quebec Community Groups Network in November 2020, is a retired lawyer and former Member of Parliament. She is a valued contributor to Quebec’s English-speaking community on a wide range of issues ranging from education to health and access to justice. In 2015, Marlene chaired the Elections Systems Study Panel which handed down recommendations that aimed to protect the constitutional rights of English-speaking Quebecers and the integrity of our educational institutions.
Author Dr. Dorothy W. Williams specializes in Canadian Black history. Her expertise is in demand for public lectures and consulting, supporting media research and consulted with various governments. With a Masters in History, and a doctorate in Library Studies, Dorothy’s company, Blacbiblio.com, Inc. promotes African-Canadian history using "The ABC’s of Canadian Black History Kit." Dr. Williams has many awards for her groundbreaking work including “Quebec Laureate” in 2002.
Linton Garner is a community organizer who has worked on issues impacting youth, housing, police relations, race relations, education, seniors, health, and social services as well as minority and minority language rights. Linton is the co-creator of the ABCs of Canadian Black History, the Quebec Regional Director of the Canadian Association of Black Journalists, Host of CityLife Outaouais TV and is responsible for Revenue Generation and Grant Writing for the Quebec Community Newspaper Association.
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