Pan-African flag raised at Kitchener City Hall for first time
The Pan-African flag was raised at Kitchener City Hall for the first time on Monday morning, to remember and honour the victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
Aug. 23 marks Sankofa Day, which is the international day for the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition. The date also celebrates Black history, culture and achievements.
“Challenge everyone to make a choice that not only are you personally not going to allow racism to exist in your own life, but you address it head on in the lives of those that you love,” said Dewitt lee III, co-founder of Emancipation Month Canada.
Members of Emancipation Month Canada organized the event with assistance from city councillor Debbie Chapman. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic also attended Monday’s ceremony.
“It’s important to know the colours of the flag, the red, black and green, what they stand for,” said Emancipation Month Canada ambassador Fitz 'The Whip' Vanderpool.
The Pan-African Flag, also known as the Black Liberation flag, is a tri-coloured flag made up of red, black and green. The group says the red represents the blood shed by the African people, the black represents the African people themselves and the green stands for the abundant wealth of Mother Africa.
“It’s great to know history and brought back and refreshed in the minds of many,” added Vanderpool.
The flag willfly at city hall for the remainder of the month of August, which marks emancipation month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.