Celebrate Black Excellence Day!

Celebrate Black Excellence Day!

On Monday, we’ll mark Nova Scotia’s second annual Black Excellence Day.

Black Excellence Day, which will be celebrated on the third Monday in May each year, highlights the brilliance, achievements and talents of students of African ancestry. It is a day to reflect, learn and applaud members of our community who are also of the African diaspora who have for generations contribute with purpose and intention to elevate our Nova Scotian community. Please read a letter from the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development to commemorate the day, here.

I recognize that the Black Excellence Day celebrations taking place across HRCE aren’t the same without the presence of our African Nova Scotian Student Support Workers. The joy and commitment they bring to their roles daily makes an important difference for our students of African descent, and our school communities as a whole. We look forward to welcoming them back and continuing our celebration of their Black Excellence.

HRCE’s Diversity Team has created a video that highlights some of the significant Black Excellence that takes place in our schools every day. It features a performance of Lift Ev’ry Voice by Rocky Lake Junior High Grade 7 students Adrielle Grosvenor and Pearl Akinkuglbe, meaningful words from our Facilitators, African Canadian Education Services, Darcel Williams-Hart, Frances Waterman-O’Connell and Rachel Ross, important insights from many of our African Nova Scotian Student Support Workers, as well as a powerful spoken word piece by Charles P. Allen Grade 12 student Jayreece Whiley.

Please take the time to learn and celebrate the contributions of Black Excellence in your schools.

All the best,

Steve Gallagher
Regional Executive Director
Halifax Regional Centre for Education