Halton Black History Awareness Society

“Local Lens: Multiculturalism: Cultural Equality”

The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS), in partnership with numerous Halton community associates, are pleased to invite young people to learn about Halton’s diverse history and present innovative ways to eradicate racism, hate and bullying within Halton.

HBHAS’ Local Lens project is a learning opportunity for young people and audiences. Young people are invited to enter the essay contest. Through video, spoken word and written essays they present their ideas around how to eradicate racism, hate and bullying within Halton.

2024 CONTEST WINNERS

We are delighted to announce the winners of the HBHAS Local Lens Contest, a celebration of local talent and community engagement. Through this contest, we have witnessed inspiring submissions that highlight the unique perspectives and creativity of our community and young people.

Congratulations to all the winners! Their exceptional work truly embodies the spirit of this impactful HBHAS initiative.

First Place Winner

Devi Alleyne-Omkaroe

"Cultural Equality From An Uncultured Black Girl"
Grade 10 - Burlington Central High School

Second Place Winner

Maya Jazayeri

"A Quilted Tapestry: Multiculturalism and Black History in Halton"
Grade 10 - Burlington Central High School

Third Place Winner

Keshav Mishra

"Enhancing Cultural Equality in Canada: Halton's Past and Future"
Grade 12 - Georgetown District High School

The HBHAS thanks you for your participation and welcomes you to our future HBHAS programs and events.
Have a great year at school.

2023 CONTEST WINNERS

The HBHAS thanks all contestants, jury and project members for their respective input in developing and participating in this project inclusive of the Halton Secondary School Board, Halton Catholic School Board, Metroland Media, Joseph Brant Museum, Oakville Museum and Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills, and Oakville Libraries. Continued successes.

Winner
Maya Jazayeri

Burlington Central
High School

Maya Jazayeri, who just completed Gr. 9 at Burlington Central High School, is the 2023 winner of the Halton Black History Awareness Society annual essay contest.

Under the theme Local Lens: The Black Experience in Halton, Maya titled her essay The Butterfly Effect: Unveiling its Impact on Halton’s Black History with the objective of “highlighting how seemingly minor occurrences have culminated into notable milestones for the Black community.”

Her essay describes how Halton became a safe haven for many Black slaves fleeing the United States and how their entrepreneurship helped the local economy.

“Every story starts with individual catalysts, people who embody the spirit of positive change and sow the seeds of the process, and whose footprints leave behind energy, inspiration, and lifelong changes for the following generations," she wrote.

Hearing about the essay contest, gave her “a sense of great desire and dedication to deepen my connection with my community through diving far into the untold stories, the triumphs, and the resilience displayed by all the Black individual catalysts.”

Through her writing process, Maya said she came to realize that Black history is Canadian history. She said she discovered “a sense of connection to my personal community and developed a sense of responsibility to continue to advocate for the needs of minority races, as their history, is my history.”

The Butterfly Effect: Unveiling its impact on Halton’s Black History Maya Jazayeri, 2023 First Place Recipient Gr. 9, Burlington Central High School April 22, 2023 "The flapping of the wings of a butterfly can be felt on the other side of the world." (Lorenz, 1960), A simple theory deemed as the butterfly effect, which simply highlights the capability of small actions generating large changes.

2022 CONTEST WINNERS

We are elated to have finalized the 2022 winners of our “Local Lens: The Black Experience in Halton” and are pleased to introduce to you:

First Place Co-Winner
Tobi Oyedele

Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School

First Place Co-Winner
Jackson Carter

Burlington Central
High School

Second Place Winner
Mya Tatem

White Oaks
Secondary School

Third Place Winner
Zahra Ba

École Secondaire Catholique Sainte-Trinité/Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School

The winning contestants received awards and honorariums in the amount of $500 first prize, $250 second prize and $100 3rd prize. Metroland Media (Inside Halton) interviewed our two first place contestants and placed excerpts of their narratives in their Halton newspapers Burlington Post, Milton Champion, Oakville Beaver and Independent/Free Press as well as enabling viewer opportunities to appreciate all “selected” narratives accessible to all through QR coding. (https://1drv.ms/u/s!Anzit_vbJ_digtx08LP08AbcY5lSBQ?e=NpiTRm).

The winning contestants received their awards at our 2022 Emancipation Gala on July 29th at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, signed and presented by Lawrence Hill and the Halton Black History Awareness Society.

The HBHAS is working towards developing an annual journal, with the support of the partner libraries, museums and sponsors, incorporating “selected” narratives to be distributed within their networks. The HBHAS is looking to annualize this project with focus on our diverse communities, which is the fastest growing visible minority population in Canada. Kudos to Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills in participating and supporting this valuable program as stated by the majority of essay providers.

Thank YOU for your ongoing support and the best of continued successes in appreciating our diverse community, learning about how cultural integration can develop knowledge and self appreciation and identity, and progress towards a more authentic inclusive collaborative environment at home, school and vocation. Thank you for your interest and participation. Continued successes.

Please ... help fund this worthy project with a donation!