February is Black History Month, and organizations around the city have been celebrating it in a variety of different ways.
Prince George’s Multicultural Heritage Society (MHS) is a group that has especially gone above and beyond.
Georgina Shikhukhulo, the new head of the MHS, told My PG Now the organization has been “collecting facts about Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage to raise awareness across our community to mitigate stereotypical behaviours and confirmation biases that led to ignorant and sometimes racist behaviours.”
Part of that has included telling the stories of some of Prince George and BC’s most prominent black people, who have all made significant contributions.
Here are a handful:
o Sir James Douglas, a black man, is referred to as the ‘Father of British Columbia’, without whom we would still be nested in the western part of USA. James Douglas’ mother Martha Ann Ritchie, was a free woman of ‘colour’ who was born in Barbados. At the time, term ‘coloured’ generally referred to a person of mixed race who was of African and European ancestry. The description ‘free indicated’ that she was not enslaved (see also Black Enslavement in Canada). Sir James Douglas, founder of British Columbia and first Governor in multicultural heritage community of BC was knighted in 1863. A snapshot of his journey and contributions to BC are detailed on this link.
o Mark Tudor, a black man, is a certified management accountant and worked for Pulp Mill for several years. Mark owns a private finance management consultancy that employs people of different cultural heritages. Mark contributes to PG’s, BC’s and Federal Government’s economy through employment in his firm and the services offered. Mark moved to PG from Barbados (The Caribbean) in 1978 and still lives and works in our community.
o Rev Lance Morgan (deceased) has been the recipient of several awards including, the PG Citizen award. He along with his wife Patricia Morgan, and their four children have all been a part of Prince George’s black community. The Morgans have contributed and continue to indiscriminately make incredible contributions to our multicultural heritage community by supporting the unhoused and hungry on our streets and community. The family had moved to Prince George (originally from Jamaica) in 1962.
o Dr. Keith Prendergast, a black man is an Ear Nose and Throat specialist who moved to PG from Jamaica in 1970 and served our community until 2003 when he retired. An active member of our community, Dr. Prendergast, created the Speech and Hearing Unit in PG, and laid a sound foundation for ENT. Dr. Prendergast also established an outreach ENT clinic in Fort St James that is still active to-date. Dr. Prendergast served a Multcultural heritage community across PG.
o The Honourable Mr Justice Romilly, a black man received his law degree at UBC in 1966 and served a Multcultural heritage community in BC in many and diverse capacities including Provincial Court Judge. Hon. Justice Romilly was appointed to the Supreme Court of BC in 1995 and has contributed nationally to our judicial and education systems through teaching, public speaking and seminars across Canada. Hon. Justice Romilly moved to BC from Trinidad and Tobago (the Caribbean) to PG in 1960.
o Dr Winston Bishop, a black man was head of the Oncology Unit at PG Regional Hospital. Dr Bishop worked with many cancer patients in PG and as you may be aware, cancer is not a respecter of persons. Dr Winston, moved to PG from Grenada (the West Indies) in 1976.
o Joyce Flores, a black woman and a nurse / midwife at the PG Regional Hospital has delivered many of our multicultural heritage children in PG. Joyce is also a dedicated volunteer who moved to PG from Grenada (the West Indies) in 1976
o Cecile Podolski, a black woman, represented PG at the BC Summer Games in badminton and tennis. Podolski also worked for BC Tel for 25 years. She continues to be heavily involved in our multicultural heritage community through sports coaching. Podolski is also an accomplished caterer, an active participant and celebrant of diverse cultural heritages including Canada Day. Born in Jamaica (the Caribbean), Podolski moved to PG in 1972.
o Doris Da Silva, a black woman, was and still is an avid volunteer. Doris was former World Vision Chapter president, whose work has focused on outreach programs in our City’s downtown core. Doris moved to PG from Kenya (Africa) in 1972. At the time, Doris had a choice between coming to PG or going to sunny Brazil. However, Doris chose PG where she still lives and has served our Multcultural heritage community extremely well. See more on Doris on this link.
o Ingrid Hampton, a black woman, banker and account manager at our local Royal Bank of Canada branch, author, owner of a bed and breakfast establishment in PG, that serves a Multcultural heritage community. Ingrid founded PG Bed and Breakfast Association and was nominated for the Tourism Excellence ward 1991-1992. Ingrid moved from Trinidad and Tobago (The Caribbean) to PG early in the 1970s.
o Frank Hinkson, a black man was a rotating equipment specialist and served as a gas machinery analyst for the pipeline in Fort Nelson to Huntingdon. Frank, also referred to “Black Magic” was instrumental in implementing the use of Engine Analyzers (Reciprocating and Turbo Machinery) used throughout a Multcultural heritage community in BC. Frank moved from Trinidad and Tobago (The Caribbean) PG in 1979.
o George Kaweesi, a black man, is at the heart of PG’s soccer and is an active present day lecturer at CNC. George moved to PG from Uganda, (Africa) in 1985 and continues to serve our Multcultural heritage community as an Educator and a soccer referee in charge to-date.
o Chuck Nisbett, a black man,is a pressman at a printing and promotion business (SpeeDee Solutions). Chuck moved to Canada with his parents and family from the United Kingdom, spending his teens in Calgary. Chuck moved to PG as a photojournalist with the Citizen, before opening CN Photo-Graphics. He returned to the Citizen as an editor, then a pressman. Though the Citizen no longer has a printing press here Chuck plies his trade at SpeeDee, creating forms, cards and signs for businesses throughout BC, Alberta and some parts of the USA.
o Jacob Madjitey, an academic, lecturer, financial advisor works at CNC and UNBC. He was previously a Commercial Banker with the RBC Financial Group financial. Jacob moved from Ghana (Africa) to Canada to pursue his postgraduate education in 1988. He moved to Prince George in 1992 and is the current President of the Prince George African Heritage Society addition to his lecturing day job. Jacob Madjitey has served on the Boards of CNC, the Canadian Red Cross (BC and Yukon Region) and the MHS. He currently sits on the Board of the Immigration and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) in PG. Jacob and (Cliff, Anthony, George, Janet, Chuck, etc.) are heavily involved in serving our multicultural heritage community. The team has coordinated and hosted black history month events for the past 25 years.
o Dr Mohau Kolisang is a physician from South Africa (Africa) currently serving our Multcultural heritage community in PG.
The MHS says these stories are a key part in raising awareness and preserving black cultural heritage.
The Library is also contributing to Black History Month, they have had Afro-Caribbean artefacts on display for the entire month.
Shikhukhulo added that the MHS is holding a dinner to celebrate Black History month at the Overcoming Faith Centre on February 25th.
“There will be a few guests from the City, black owned business representatives, academics, and leaders of other cultural heritages in Prince George,” she said.
Tickets cost $25 and are still available, to inquire about a ticket the MHS says to email events@multiculturalheritage.
The province is also taking nominations for “multicultural and anti-racism heroes,” you can made a submission here.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
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