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African Canadian Heritage Association Timeline
40 Years of ACHA
1969 -
Black Heritage Program started by a group of concerned parents and community members who wanted to organize a program to bolster the Black pride and self-esteem of their children. The first location for the program was the Chapel in the Park in the Thorncliffe community.
1972 -
Black Heritage Program moves to Valley Park Middle School, where it would remain for more than two decades.
1981 -
Community worker Veronica Sullivan joins the program to serve as Children's Coordinator, a position she still holds in 2009. Shortly thereafter, the program expands its curriculum from being Black-focused to embody a more African-Centred approach.
1990 -
Black Heritage Program children perform South African Gumboot dance for Nelson and Winnie Mandela on their first official visit to Canada after Mandela's release from prison after 27 years.
1992 -
Black Heritage Program undergoes name change to African Canadian Heritage Association to preserve its unique identity following the establishment of a number of "Black heritage programs" across Toronto, and to reflect the African-centred nature of the program.
1994 -
Dr. Maulana Karenga, founder of Kwanzaa, visits the program. Kwanzaa is a central part of ACHA programming, so it was a great honour to have Dr. Karenga visit. Other leaders/scholars who have visited the program include Dr. Molefi Asante, Professor James Small, Malik Yakini (founder of Nsoroma Institute in Detroit), and Marcus Garvey, Jr.
1996 -
MCA Recording Artist – New Edition plays against Too Black Guys All-Stars in celebrity charity basketball game at Harbord Collegiate, to raise funds in support of the ACHA program.
1999 -
ACHA survives Ontario Premier Mike Harris' cutbacks on cultural programming, which caused a massive increase in the cost of utilizing Valley Park School. Due to its financial management planning, ACHA manages to remain self-sustaining, and moves to Harbourfront Community Centre.
2000 -
ACHA conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the program, with funding from the Trillium Foundation. The study's objective was to evaluate the program's effectiveness in meeting certain specific needs of children of African heritage in order to strengthen programming to better meet the challenges of the 21st century. The study was led by ACHA member Akwatu Khenti, who co-authored the final report.
2002 -
Program moves to Centennial College, its current location.
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