A BRIEF HISTORY OF ACHA

1969: The ACHA started out as the Black Heritage Program at a church in the Thorncliff Park area of East York. The program was formed by concerned African Canadians who thought it necessary to provide Black children with an avenue to learn Black history.

1975: The Black Heritage Program moved to Valley Park Middle School in East York.

1989:The name of the program was changed from Black Heritage Program to African Canadian Heritage Association to reflect the African heritage of all Black Canadians, regardless of where in the diaspora they may originate.

1992: The ACHA developed a curriculum based on the seven Principles Evaluation System and classes in African history, Swahili, and Creative Arts incorporated this new evaluation system. Over the years, supplementary programs such as chess, strategic games, homework tutorials, and martial arts have been incorporated periodically.

1998: The ACHA moved to Harbourfront Community Center, 627 Queen's Quay at Bathurst. We left Valley Park Middle School in 1998, after over two decades at this location. Due to financial considerations, we decided to relocate to Harbourfront Community Center.

2003: The ACHA moved to Centennial College, Progress Campus in Scarborough.

2019: The ACHA makes the pivot to online programming due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: The ACHA resumes in-person programming at John Buchan Senior Public School.

2024: Due to the rising cost of rental, the program relocates to CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals

2025: The ACHA begins a collaboration with Woodgreen Community Services to deliver programming to their Homeward Bound Initiative for single mothers.