Senator Paulette Senior has introduced Bill S-248, the Caribbean Heritage Month Act, in the Canadian Senate. This landmark bill would designate July as Caribbean Heritage Month throughout Canada each year. It passed Second Reading on June 9 and was referred to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for review.

In a video statement, Senator Senior oulined the rich history of Caribbean Canadians contributions to the country since the 17th century,which included working in hospitals, schools, government offices, transit, agriculture and business, and representing Canada in sports and politics.

The bill states that persons of Caribbean origin have been settling in Canada since the late 18th century and have contributed to the country’s economic, social, political and cultural life. July was chosen partly because the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, was established on July 4, 1973. Manitoba already proclaimed July as Caribbean Heritage Month at the provincial level in 2022. Ontario passed separate legislation in 2019 designating October as Caribbean Heritage Month provincially.

Caribbean Heritage Month has been recognized in the United States in June since 2006, when President George W. Bush signed a proclamation following a campaign first launched in Congress in 2004.

We at the Pan African Heritage Musuem are very supportive of our Canadian sisters and brothers in their quest for recognition. African contributions to global history span both forced and voluntary migration, first through transatlantic slavery and later through voluntary immigration and the passing of this bill will provided much needed visibility to those of Caribbean heritage in Canada and their cotributions across history.

The bill remains under committee review.