CANADA-USA BLACK STUDIES MINI FILM FESTIVAL

DATE: WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY

TIME: 5.00 P.M

LOCATION: LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES, 395WELLINGTON STREET

ADMISSION: FREE. DONATIONS TO HAITI GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED

OTTAWA, February 11, 2010 – During Black History Month, Peter Hanes of Washington, DC is pleased to collaborate with Black History Ottawa to explore our shared North American Black historical and cultural connections during the Canada-USA Black Studies Mini Film Festival. This event will be held in the Auditorium of Library and Archives Canada, located at 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 5:00 PM.

The master of ceremonies is none other than Mr. Anthony Sherwood, distinguished Actor/Director/Film Producer. Guest speakers include: Hon. Leslie C. Cheatham, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs for the USA Embassy in Ottawa; Prof. David Divine, Chair Emeritus at the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies at Dalhousie University; Dr. Henry Bishop, Chief Curator of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia; Major Matt Joost of the Directorate of History and Heritage of the Department of National Defence Canada - Canadian Air Force; Brigadier Simon Knapper, British Army, Defence Advisor for the UK High Commission in Ottawa; Ms. Liz Wong, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post; and Ms. Elise Harding Davis, Administrator Emeritus of the North American Black Historical Museum.

Films to be screened include: the Canada premiere of Enslavement to Emancipation, a documentary on the history of Washington, DC from enslavement to emancipation to Civil Rights to voting rights; Black, Copper, & Bright: The District of Columbia’s Black Civil War Regiment, a Three Dimensional Production documentary preview based on the book by historian C.R. Gibbs, on Washington, DC’s 1^st Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops; 100 Years of Faith, a film by Anthony Sherwood Productions. The story of the Union United Church of Montreal, one of Canada’s oldest Black churches, its legacy of service, and its immense historical impact on and beyond the City of Montreal.

The evening will also feature a Canada Post commemorative stamp unveiling honouring Distinguished Seaman William Hall, VC. The first Black person, the first Nova Scotian, and the first Canadian seaman to receive the Victoria Cross, the British Empire’s highest award for bravery.

Information / Media Interviews:

Peter Hanes peter.hanes@verizon.net

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For more information on Black History Month events at LAC, please visit:http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/black-history/index-e.html

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Canada-USA Black Studies Mini Film Festival

Exploring Our Shared North American

Black Historical and Cultural Connections featuring:

Distinguished Actor/Director/Producer Anthony Sherwood

Master of Ceremonies

The Canada Premiere of Enslavement to Emancipation

A documentary on the history of Washington, DC from

Enslavement to Emancipation to Civil Rights to Voting Rights

The film references the British Imperial Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which came into force August 1, 1834, and abolished slavery throughout the British Empire and its colonies. The historic action fueled abolitionist movements worldwide and led to slavery’s end in Europe, the Caribbean colonies, the U.S., and South America.

Black, Copper, & Bright:

The District of Columbia’s Black Civil War Regiment

A Three Dimensional Production documentary preview based on the book by

Historian C.R. Gibbs, on Washington, DC’s 1^st Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops.

The regiment had a distinguished role and an impressive record in the American Civil War, during which the unit fought across a dozen bloody battlefields in Virginia and North Carolina. The men, fugitive slaves and freed persons, flocked to the regiment’s ranks from the Eastern Seaboard States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Films by Anthony Sherwood Productions-

100 Years of Faith

The story of the Union United Church of Montreal, one of Canada’s oldest Black churches, its legacy of service, and its immense historical impact on and beyond the City of Montreal.

Founded by immigrants from the U.S. and the Caribbean, this church for over a century has been the social conscience, cultural fulcrum, center of community activism, and the artistic haven of Montreal’s indigenous and immigrant Black population. Several distinguished Canadians, like world famous musicians Oscar Peterson and Oliver Perry, and Hollywood actor Percy Rodrigues, grew up in this church.

Tribute to William Hall, VC

Public Service Announcement

Envisions the distinguished seaman inspiring youth in his retirement years.

Canada Post Commemorative Stamp Unveiling

William Hall, VC, Merchant Seaman, U.S. Navy Seaman

First Class Petty Officer, British Royal Navy (retired)

The first Black person, the first Nova Scotian, and the first Canadian seaman to receive the Victoria Cross, the British Empire’s highest award for bravery, on February 15, 1859.