Canucks to Celebrate Black History Month in February
Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Canucks are honored to join in celebrating Black History Month in February. The month-long celebration will be highlighted by the team’s second annual game of Black History Month on Monday, Feb. 13 against the Detroit Red Wings, presented by Budweiser.
“The Vancouver Canucks take tremendous pride in trying to make hockey a more diverse, inclusive and safe space,” said Michael Doyle, President, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Business Operations. “Black History Month gives us a tremendous opportunity to showcase and highlight hockey’s ability to bring people together, educate, enlighten and, most importantly, inspire our fans to see the good in the game. We look forward to incredible stories this month to raise awareness and support, spark discussion and start important conversations.”
The Canucks join other league teams in celebrating Black History Month as part of Hockey is for Everyone, a joint NHL and NHLPA initiative to promote the inclusion in hockey. The theme for NHL Black History Month for 2023 is Black Hockey History is NOW, which highlights the significant contributions and invaluable impact that current and next generation of athletes black will have on the hockey game. Throughout the month, the Canucks will amplify voices within the Black hockey community and share stories on the team’s official social media platforms.
In commemoration of Black History Month, the Canucks’ Black History Month game against Detroit on Feb. 13 will highlight Black history, culture and excellence in hockey from the British Columbia. There will be many exciting and inspiring game day activations, starting outside in the North Plaza with a live DJ, performance by the Sin Birds dance team and a themed welcome wall. Inside Rogers Arena, fans will be treated to additional performances throughout the night from the Sin Birds, rapper Teon Gibbs and Henri Brown and Band.
Fans are also invited to visit the Canucks Black History Block Party Market, presented by Budweiser, between Sections 122-103, which will offer several stations including the BC Black History Awareness Society and the Black Business Association of BC. There will also be delicious food from Surrey’s Tommies Jerk Jamaican Cuisine and Budweiser’s #TapeOutHate booth where the Canucks and Budweiser will each donate $1 to the Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA) for every roll of tape sold. The HDA is a group of current and former NHL players whose goal is to eradicate systemic racism and intolerance in hockey through grassroots programs, anti-racism education, social justice initiatives, scholarships for young people, training, etc.
In addition to other arena activations, the Canucks will wear special Black History Month warm-up jerseys designed by award-winning artist Yared Nigussu. Nigussu has channeled his Ethiopian-Canadian experience to reimagine the Canucks’ Orca and shoulder patches with rich colors, patterns and textile designs from Ethiopia. The rink’s shoulder patches will display Genna sticks, used in traditional Ethiopian field hockey, and each player’s jersey will feature Ge’ez numbering from Ethiopia’s Amharic language. These unique player-worn warm-up jerseys will be available on Vanbase.ca on game day (auction only) alongside other Black History Month merchandise. Auction details will be posted soon on Canucks social media and Vanbase.
The Vancouver Canucks are proud to donate $20,000 to the BC Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS) on behalf of the Canucks for Kids Fund to support their efforts to provide educational resources, awareness and advocacy for racial diversity throughout the province. BCBHAS is a registered charity whose purpose is to provide resources that document, educate and publicize the past, present and future accomplishments of members of the Black community in British Columbia.
Tickets for the Canucks’ second annual Black History Month game on Feb. 13 against Detroit, presented by Budweiser, can be purchased now at Ticketmaster.ca.
About British Columbia Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS):
The British Columbia Black History Awareness Society (BCBHAS) celebrates the achievements of black people in British Columbia by raising awareness of black history in British Columbia, stimulating interest in the contributions of people of African descent to British Columbia Britain and Canada today, and celebrating historical events and contemporary achievements in the arts, education, government, sports, science, etc. They champion racial diversity by providing education, assistance and opportunity to members of the Black community who face unique social and economic barriers to integrating into Canada’s multicultural society.