Calgary's new pop-up space on Stephen Avenue celebrates Black culture
A previously empty storefront in downtown Calgary is now the location of a pop-up space celebrating Black culture and excellence.
The University of Calgary announced the project on Monday.
The pop-up – located at 808 First Street S.W. – provides a space for Black communities, local leaders, artists and musicians to come together, display or perform their work.
Transformative Racial and Spatial Justice: Celebrating Black People’s Knowledges and Contributions is a collaboration between the U of C's Faculty of Social Work Anti-Black Racism Task Force and the School of Architecture Planning and Landscape (SAPL), led by Dr. Patrina Duhaney.
"This space will offer an amazing opportunity to celebrate Black contributions in Calgary’s downtown," Duhaney said in a release.
The Calgary Design Clinic has been converted into a space for the Black Youth Summer Leadership program. (Photo via Zoltan Varadi, Faculty of Social Work)It will also house a summer youth leadership program that will allow 23 participants (age 15-18) to develop their leadership abilities.
"It creates access for youth in spaces they are often excluded. Activities in the space are intended to illuminate the intersections between race and space, and to dismantle and transform oppressive spaces that minimize or exclude Black contributions."
Through the youth leadership program, participants will take part in a series of workshops and activities to bring awareness to emerging issues in Black communities and develop an action plan to enact change.
"Locals and tourists will also appreciate the vibrant infusion of Black art and culture," Duhaney said.
"The project is intended to recognize the strength, resilience and plight of Black people while advocating for Black inclusion through spatial justice opportunities."
Transformative Racial and Spatial Justice: Celebrating Black People’s Knowledges and Contributions officially opened to the public on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.