On Saturday, February 17, 2007, at 1:30 p.m., York Regional Police, in partnership with the Thornhill African Caribbean Canadian Association, Markham African Caribbean Association, the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Ace Foundation, the Vaughan African Canadian Association, B.L.E.Y.P Youth Association and Legacy4youths will celebrate Black History Month at #5 District Headquarters.

Dignitaries include Dr. Avis Glaze, Chief Student Achievement Officer and CEO of Literacy and Numeracy for the Ontario Ministry of Education, as well as community activist Stephnie Payne who both appear in the Legacy poster created by artist Robert Small who will also be in attendance. Simone Soman the 2007 recipient of the Bob Marley Award will sing at the event.

Mr. Small's poster has been distributed to government agencies, school boards, libraries and community centres throughout Canada and will be viewed by millions of people during Black History Month.

Black History Month was founded by Carter G. Woodson in February of 1926, originally as a one-week celebration called Negro History Week. In the 1970s it was expanded to include the entire month of February. The original week was to coincide with the birth dates of emancipators Abraham Lincoln, former American President and Frederick Douglass, who had been enslaved. Railway porters brought the idea across the border into Canada. Through the efforts of Dr. Daniel G. Hill of the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS), Black History Month was formally recognized in Toronto by 1979. Rosemary Sadlier, then president of the OBHS, solicited the help of former MP and Parliamentary Secretary Jean Augustine to have Black History Month declared a national celebration. The bill was passed in the House of Commons in December, 1995, and Black History Month was celebrated nationally for the first time in February, 1996.

"We can all use this occasion to examine the collective ingenuity, creativity, cultural and political experience of Africans and those of African descent," said Chief Armand LaBarge. "In one of the most diverse regions in Canada, it's important to recognize and celebrate the historical contributions of all our communities."

Join York Regional Police in celebration of this occasion between 1:30 p.m to 3:30 p.m on Saturday February 17, 2007, at  #5 District Headquarters, located at 8700 McCowan Road  in the Town of Markham. All are Welcome.

Anyone who wishes to attend is asked to R.S.V.P to the Diversity and Cultural Resources Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7723 or by e-mail at 1050@yrp.ca