COLD LAKE - The Cold Lake Black Community gathered on Feb. 23 at the Cenovus Arena to celebrate Black History Month with an event aimed at honouring their heritage and enriching the community.
The evening featured a variety of presentations, discussions, and cultural performances.
"It's Black History Month. It's the month of February. And so, it calls for an event. It calls for celebration," said Sandra Ubabukoh, president of the Cold Lake Black Community.
The event highlighted the achievements, struggles, and cultural richness of the Black community in Cold Lake, with discussions on important topics such as mental health, cultural identity, and professional development.
"It calls for a time for the Black people here to come together and celebrate our accomplishments, struggles and the things we've been through together," Ubabukoh added.
Dr. Samuel Ubabukoh, a Cold Lake physician, led a presentation on mental health symptoms and effective strategies for managing them.
It was followed by a panel discussion featuring experienced and educated members of the community. The discussion covered a range of topics including cultural shock, the complexities of skin tone, hair textures, weight, and employment.
The celebration also included cultural showcases, such as a children’s dance performance, a hair and skin care brand presentation, and a dance battle.
Beyond the festivities, the event aimed to raise awareness within the wider Cold Lake community about the significance of Black History Month and the contributions of Black individuals, both past and present.
“It's important for the people of Cold Lake to know what the Black History Month is about and what the Black people have done in the past and are doing currently, our accomplishments, our struggles, everything that makes us black who we are," said Ubabukoh.
The event was open to everyone to attend.
"We hope people will understand more about what Black History Month is and have fun, enjoy all we have to offer today and learn."
Ubabukoh underscored the importance of ensuring the visibility and recognition of the Black community in Cold Lake.
"We need people to know we are here, the Black community is here to stay, so it’s important that people know about us and experience and enjoy our culture with us. We have lots to offer, from the economic side of things to even employment."
She added, "We want to showcase our culture, who we are and what we represent."
