Theme
Black Joy, Glory and Reclamation
In line with the Government of Canada's theme for Black History Month 2026, Western's theme celebrates Black Joy, Glory and Reclamation, reflecting the depth, resilience and excellence of Black life across generations. This theme recognizes Black history not only as a record of struggle but also as a testament to creativity, agency and enduring contributions.
Black Joy is a way of sustaining spirit, an act of care and connection, a strategy of survival and a declaration of Black agency, sovereignty and limitless possibilities; Black Glory honours Black contributions both past and present that have shaped global culture and innovation; and Black Reclamation calls us to return to ancestral knowledge, reclaiming languages, histories and identities and reshaping distorted narratives of Black life and liberation.
These three pillars invite us to celebrate Blackness in its totality, recognizing:
- Black Joy as a healing and liberatory force
- Black Glory is an undeniable legacy and the future of Black people everywhere
- Black Reclamation as a return to truth and self-determination
Together, this theme invites our campus community to honour the generations who came before us, uplift those shaping community today and support the brilliance of those yet to come.
