On January 17, 2022, millions of Americans will be commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. – an influential civil rights leader best known for his work on racial equality in the United States. Here in Canada at the Ottawa Catholic School Board, our community will be celebrating Black Shirt Day to take a board-wide stand against anti-Black racism. 

This day builds on the foundation of the OCSB’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Framework by bringing Black successes and issues center-forward. As we continue the UN International decade of People of African Descent, we hope to take this day to uplift and highlight our Black community members throughout the OCSB.

This is a new event created by the OCSB Black Educator Network and the OCSB’s Leading and Learning Department to provide students, educators, employees and families throughout the city with the opportunity to stand up against racism and celebrate Black excellence in our community. You can learn more about our efforts to create a more equitable learning environment on our Equity page. 

Remember to wear your black shirt on January 17! Share a photo of your black shirt on social media and remember to include the hashtags #ocsbEquity and #ocsbBlackShirtDay.