Greetings from Black Student Support and Engagement (BSSE) and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDIB), 

As we prepare to welcome a new semester and new year, we are excited to unveil the theme for Black Heritage Month 2026: Black Brilliance: Stories that Shape Us. 

This year’s theme celebrates the power of Black storytelling as a source of identity, belonging, and community connection. Black Brilliance: Stories that Shape Us centers the personal, cultural, historical, and future-focused narratives that continue to influence Black life, learning, creativity, and community at Humber Polytechnic and beyond. By honouring the stories we carry and the stories we create, this theme invites our community to reflect, learn, and engage more deeply with the richness, depth, and brilliance of Black experiences. 

Join us at Lakeshore Campus on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 12 p.m. for our Black Heritage Opening Ceremony, an energizing celebration featuring music and reflections that uplift Black voices and stories. This event will set the tone for a month grounded in connection, celebration, and collective exploration. 

Throughout February, BSSE will host a robust calendar of events that bring this theme to life. We encourage faculty and staff to organize their own programming tied to Black Brilliance: Stories that Shape Us and to share these events on the BSSE Black Heritage 365 Calendar.

If you are interested in co-hosting an event with BSSE or the Office of EDIB, please connect with us at bsse@humber.ca by Wednesday, January 14, 2026. 

Let’s come together to honour the stories that shape our communities, celebrate the brilliance woven through Black culture, identity, and creativity, and create space for new stories to emerge. We look forward to celebrating with you throughout Black Heritage Month and beyond! 

Watch to learn more about the importance of Black Heritage at Humber.