The African Descent Society BC (ADSBC), a non-profit organization founded in 2014, is taking strides to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of Black Canadians in Vancouver and British Columbia. The society, registered under the British Columbia Societies Act, is dedicated to fostering education, economic development, and tolerance while promoting the conservation of Black Canadian heritage, culture, customs, and tourism.
ADSBC actively engages the community through various initiatives. They organize live music events in collaboration with local partners, Kwanza Live Music series, music workshops, and weekly shows for emerging artists within the African Descent Youth community. The society plays a pivotal role in organizing Black History Month programs and cultural activities. The organization also establishes partnerships with schools, community organizations, and colleges.
One of ADSBC’s notable contributions is the establishment of the Heritage and Black Strathcona walking tours in 2014. The tours focus on Hogan’s Alley, Vancouver’s original Black community settlement. These tours aim to educate the local community about the heritage of people of African descent and showcase historical landmarks. The executive director and founder Yasin Karaga guides the tours. He sheds light on the impact of gentrification and “urban renewal” efforts that displaced the Black community from the Strathcona neighborhood.
Black Canadian Walking Tours
The walking tour, recently featured on CBC’s North by Northwest, explores significant landmarks. Karaga takes tourists to the former Vie’s Chicken and Steak House. Vie’s, located at 209 Union Street, was a cultural hub for the Black community for over 30 years. It hosted legendary musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, and Diana Ross. Notably, it was where Jimi Hendrix, the famed guitarist, played some of his early music.
Hogan’s Alley, another historic location, is where many of B.C.’s first Black immigrants settled. It faced urban renewal in the ’60s and ’70s, resulting in the construction of the Georgia and Dunsmuir street viaducts. ADSBC aims to highlight the historical significance of this area and its impact on the Black community’s vibrancy.
The tour also visits the former Country Club Inn. Run by Leona Risby, the club is a renowned entertainment venue within the Black community. Additionally, the Fountain Chapel, originally the First Scandinavian Lutheran Church at 823 Jackson Avenue, became the heart of the Black community in 1918 under the leadership of Nora Hendrix.
ADSBC’s commitment to community engagement extends to restoring and re-opening Vancouver’s Fountain Chapel, now a focal point for the Youth Engagement program. This program brings together youth immigrants and refugees. It fosters engagement in public and cultural social policies, as well as poetry, storytelling, and dance presentations.
In collaboration with the Vancouver Parks Board and the sustainable food movement, ADSBC offers an African food community engagement program. The society actively promotes the UN’s “International Decade for People of African Descent” program and advocates for acquiring an arts and cultural space in Vancouver. The organization envisions a state-of-the-art cultural heritage center that meets the needs of people of African Descent in BC.
For more information, follow ADSBC on its website or Instagram.