February is Black History Month, a month where we honour and celebrate the achievements and contributions of our Black Canadians, and reaffirm our commitment to learn from the experiences of Canada's Black communities to create a more just and inclusive future for all.

Here in Ajax we are fortunate to have a large and vibrant community of Black Canadians who have made tremendous contributions to help improve the quality of life within our community. Throughout the month we will be highlighting some of these local accomplishments through posts on the website and social media feeds.

This year also mark significant anniversaries of two highly influential Black Canadian women. It has been 25 years since the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine became the first Black woman elected to Canadian parliament. Of her many accomplishments, Dr. Augustine introduced the motion to designate February as Black History Month in Canada.

This is also the 75th anniversary of civil rights icon Viola Desmond taking a stand in Nova Scotia against the racial segregation of the time. In 2018, Mrs. Desmond actions were honoured by placing her image on new printings of Canada's $10 banknote.

We honour the legacy of Black Canadians who broke down barriers and helped make our nation more inclusive, diverse and welcoming. Our government will continue to work hard to make Canada a fairer and more equal place for all. Canada works best when we all work together.