The election of America's first black president gives Black History Month meaning for everyone, not just those of African descent, black community leaders said Friday.
There was a special ceremony at city hall to launch official activities for the month which begins on Sunday. This year's theme is "Act with Passion: Dream to Achieve" -- a theme coined by the Black History Month roundtable which has been working in collaboration with the city for 18 years.
Roundtable president Elisabeth Dembil told a news conference that U.S. President Barack Obama has universal appeal, represents hope and can inspire people of all races and ages. Obama was featured prominently in this year's Black History Month calendar.
Two community projects
City officials also commented Friday on plans to relaunch two historic institutions that are sigificant to the black community -- the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in Little Burgundy and the Empress Theatre in N.D.G.
The NCC would serve as a black community centre and a museum, while the Empress Theatre would become a permanent home for the Black Theatre Workshop.
Marcel Tremblay, the executive committee member responsible for cultural communities, expressed hope that federal infrastructure money announced in this week's budget could fund renovations at both facilities.
But Tremblay added the projects can't go ahead without funding from all three levels of government.
