Plenty to celebrate in February in LRSD

February is always a busy month in the Louis Riel School Division. Our schools are filled with music and pancake breakfasts to celebrate Festival du Voyageur. This event highlights our local francophone history and heritage, as well as our commitment to excellence in French-language education. Our schools are also full of guest readers and literature celebrations for I Love to Read Month, highlighting our commitment to literacy.

February is also Black History Month, and schools across LRSD took part in many celebrations and activities that honoured the contributions of Black Canadians while reinforcing our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Recognizing and celebrating the culture, achievements, and leadership of Black Canadians through meaningful events, displays, and learning opportunities helps promote awareness, understanding, and inclusion, in keeping with the goals of our 2023–2027 multi-year strategic plan.

This year marked the 30th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada, with the theme “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance.” Many of the activities held throughout LRSD reflected this theme, highlighting the legacy of past leaders, the impact of today’s changemakers, and the promise of future visionaries.

All our schools participated in Black History Month in some way. Among the highlights was Windsor Park Collegiate, which held an Afro-Caribbean celebration in its gym, complete with music and meat pies. At Glenlawn Collegiate, a student-led committee organized displays and activities throughout the month. École Henri-Bergeron showcased Black Francophone artists in rap and hip-hop.

I was also pleased to attend the night market at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé. It was a wonderful event that featured locally owned Black businesses and products, including clothing, artwork, and delicious food, alongside excellent music from local Black Francophone artists.

Together, these celebrations demonstrate how Black History Month continues to grow as an important and meaningful part of the LRSD calendar. I can’t wait to see what next year’s celebration brings.