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Black History Walk coming to Burnaby's Central Park this month

February is Black History Month in Canada, and Burnaby will celebrate with a family event organized by Ethiopian Affairs in B.C.
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Black History Walk, in observance of Black History Month in Canada, will be held at Central Park in Burnaby on Saturday, Feb. 25.

In observance of Black History month in Canada, the Ethiopian Affairs in B.C. group has organized a Black History Walk on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.

The non-profit, dedicated to promoting Ethiopian cultural values and history through the arts, is inviting the public to join the five-kilometre walk to learn about the rich cultures of Africa and about Black history in Canada.

The walk will begin from Swangard Stadium at 1:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to gather at 1 p.m. to socialize and warm up for the walk.

Organizer Moges Seblehiwot said the event "will be the biggest gathering of Black History Month celebration in Burnaby.” He hopes that it will give an opportunity for people to gain a deeper understanding of Ethiopian history and culture. The event, he said, will also commemorate the 127th anniversary of the victory of Adwa, a significant event in Black history where Ethiopian forces defeated a colonial invading force in 1896.

The Black History walk, which is in its second year, recognizes achievements of Black Canadians. This year it will honour Canadian sprinter Harry Winston Jerome, a three-time Olympic champion. Jerome won the bronze medal at the 1964 Olympic in Tokyo and set a total of seven world records over the course of his career. 

“Black community is big in British Columbia, and we hope to add our culture to the mosaic of B.C. and Canada through this walk," Seblehiwot said.

The walk is open to everyone, and pets are welcome. Follow the Black History Walk Facebook event page for more information and discussion.

Black History Walk

When: Feb. 25 at 1 p.m.

Where: Swangard Stadium (6100 Boundary Rd, Burnaby)

Cost: Free, no registration