Hockey / Hockey and Ottawa Black History Month 2020

Hockey and Ottawa Black History Month 2020

Date:  Source: Ottawa AAA Myers Automotive
February is Black History Month. For Black History Ottawa (BHO) this year’s Black History Month theme is Creating 
 a New Dynamic. Under this theme, BHO continues to increase the knowledge and appreciation of the history, culture, 
traditions and achievements of Canadians of African descent. 

To celebrate the Month, BHO has organized several key events in partnership with Canada Post, the NHL and Ottawa 
Senators that you don’t want to miss.

1- Saturday, January 25, 2020, The Shaw Centre, Room 214, 55 Colonel By Drive, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - BHO’s Black History 
Month Ceremony will include live performances, speeches and special awards. One of key events will be the official unveiling 
of the 2020 Canada Post Black History Month stamp honouring the 125th anniversary of the Colored Hockey League of the 
Maritimes (CHLM). Despite hardship and racism, the league through, its style of play (butterfly style of goaltending) and 
innovations (slap shot), helped revolutionize the game as we know it today. For more information on the CHLM click on  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2QZm8llvig.

2 - Sunday, February 2, 2020 to Tuesday, February 4, 2020, Aberdeen Pavilion (Lansdowne Park) - TheBlack History Month 
Expo, which will be open to the public and local schools, will feature a number of exhibits/displays and activities recognizing 
the Canadian Black Experience. For hockey fans and historians, the NHL’s Mobile Museum on Black Hockey History will be on 
site, featuring 200 years of Black achievement in hockey. The Ottawa Senators will have equipment on hand to engage kids and 
stimulate their interest in hockey. 

3 - Monday, February 3, 2020, Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Drive (Kanata), 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm - In kicking off its Ice 
Breakers series, BHO, in partnership with the NHL and Ottawa Senators, will put on a Commemorative Hockey Game to honour the 
Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes with a pre-game ceremony involving descendants of former CHLM players, George and Darril 
Fosty co-authors of the groundbreaking book, Black Ice, and other special guests. For the game, NHL Hall of Famer Willie O’Ree will be 
one of the Honorary Head Coaches with Ron MacLean, host of Hockey Night in Canada, the Honorary Head Referee and Adrian 
Harewood, TV personality and CBC host, the Game Announcer. 

With the emphasis on fun, the teams will be made up of Black and non-Black players of various ages and skill levels. Players taking part 
in the game include Geoff Regan, Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Fred Brathwaite, Ottawa native and former NHL 
player as well as Bob Dawson, a member of the first and only all-Black line in Canadian university hockey history. The game may include 
a couple of Sens alumni. Admission is free.

 4 - Tuesday, February 4, 2020, Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 pm - The Ottawa Senators will host a “Black Hockey History Night” as part 
 of their home game against the Anaheim Ducks. Willie O’Ree, living descendants of former CHLM players, George and Darril Fosty and 
special guests will participate in a ceremonial puck drop in honour of the 125th anniversary of the Colored Hockey League of the
Maritimes and Blacks in hockey. The NHL’s Mobile Museum on Black Hockey History will be at the Canadian Tire Centre for those that 
didn’t have the opportunity to visit it at the Aberdeen Pavilion. Note: To receive savings on the Sens game tickets click on  this link
https://offer.fevo.com/ottawa-senators-black-history-game--773f877?fevoUri=ottawa-senators-black-history-game--773f877%2F.

The forgoing events were made possible through the support of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Black History Society, the National Hockey 
League, Ottawa Senators, DA-Integrated, Paul Aubut and Associates, and TRANE.
 
For updated information on the forgoing and other events during Black History Month consult Black 
History Ottawa’s web site at http://blackhistoryottawa.weebly.com/bhm-2020.html.