British Columbia’s first Black arts and culture community centre will officially open its doors in Victoria on Saturday, marking Emancipation Day with an evening of celebration and community. The Black and Here Centre will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. featuring elders, board members and staff. A public grand opening celebration follows at 7 p.m., with DJs, live music, local catering and community festivities. Emancipation Day is observed in Canada each Aug. 1 to commemorate the day the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect across most of the British Empire in 1834, ending the legal enslavement of more than 800,000 people. Organizers say the centre is intended to serve as a year-round hub for arts, culture, education and community connection. They are also encouraging donations to help sustain the space and support future programming.
