Music fills the hall as models strut confidently across the stage in vibrant prints and bold patterns. Each outfit tells a story of culture, tradition and identity. The audience leans forward, applauding not just the craftsmanship but the pride woven into every piece of fabric. Laughter ripples through the room as friends cheer and wave in support.
The Threads of Culture Fashion Show closed the curtain on Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Black History Month celebrations for the month of February. This year carried an extra significance marking 10 years since the polytechnic formally began honouring the fashion, food and cultural contributions to the community.
Black History Month was officially recognized in Canada in 1995, following a parliamentary motion introduced by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected to Parliament. What began as a national acknowledgment of the contributions and experiences of people of African descent has grown into a month of reflection, celebration and dialogue about equity and representation.
At Lethbridge Polytechnic, that dialogue took shape in 2017.
Ibrahim Turay, PhD, a founding member of the Black History Month committee and justice studies instructor at Lethbridge Polytechnic, recalls joining the polytechnic in 2015 to find no formal celebration in place.
By 2017, he decided to change that. Since then, the celebration has evolved into a campus tradition featuring panel discussions, cultural showcases and collaborative programs.
For Turay, the work is deeply personal. He emphasizes how Black History Month is not only about remembrance but also about representation and diversity within the Black community itself.
“One of the things that slavery did was lump people all in one, as you can see in the labeling of Black. Our goal has always been to show the diversity of people that we identify as Black on this campus today, including diversity in skin colour, ethnicity and ways of life.”
The fashion show, now a signature event, is a visible expression of that diversity. It celebrates pride in identity through clothing, music and shared experience.
Panel discussions added further depth. A recent session focused on parenting in the Canadian context, offering what Turay describes as a counter story.
“We take what we’re learning today from books and stories being told from one side that are not complete. A counter story is being able to tell your own story from your own perspective,” said Turay.
His words echo those expressed by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her 2009 TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” in which she says reducing people to a single story creates incomplete, stereotypical perspectives. She explains how single stories stem from a lack of knowledge and why diverse stories are essential to restoring human dignity and understanding.
Sharing traditional dishes is also an important part of the celebration. Students and staff can try preparing dishes from across African using special meal kits, then compare it with those made by professional chefs. These shared experiences promote inclusion while highlighting the richness and diversity of African and Caribbean cultures.
Reflecting on the month, Divine Ezeh, Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association president says this year’s celebration carries personal significance as the theme highlights his home country, Nigeria.
“When you choose a country as a theme, you’re showcasing what that country is to the world. I’m a Nigerian student as well as the student president, so I’m able to give the committee perspective of my knowledge because I was born there. I tell them what our food looks like, our languages, our music and our lifestyle.”
For him, Black History Month extends beyond events.
“Black History Month gives students a sense of belonging. I can interact with people from different nations and still be respected,” said Ezeh.
While events bring the campus together, Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Buchanan Library helps ensure the impact continues beyond February.
Thea Gidyk, access specialist at Buchanan Library and a member of the Black History Month committee focuses on amplifying Black voices through curated collections, digital guides and art works.
“My job is to showcase the amazing books we have in our collection that are not only about Black experiences but also written by Black authors,” she explains. “These books aren’t just for February. They’re available every day, because Black history isn’t just for a month.”
Each year, Gidyk creates an art piece for Black History Month designed to centre student voices. This year, a selfie wall invited Black students to express joy and identity on their own terms.
“I really tried very hard to incorporate voices that are more important than my own, so it didn’t seem performative. The people who should be creating that art are people who live the experience of being Black, who are creating Black history every single day here at the polytechnic.”
Through these efforts, the library helps make Black History Month an ongoing educational experience for the entire campus community.
Ten years after its formal beginnings, Black History Month at Lethbridge Polytechnic has grown from one person’s determination into a campus-wide celebration of identity, culture, and belonging. Each February, the fashion, food, music, books and conversations serve as reminders that Black history is living history, honoured every day beyond the month of celebrations.
