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9 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,F ebruary 27,2020 insidehalton.com • Great Wine List • 17 Beers on Tap • Great New Menu • Multiple TV's FAMILY RUN FOR YOUR FAMILY FUN! We have a Family Friendly Menu so bring the gang and enjoy our Famous Nachos and Jumbo Wings in our totally renovated restaurant. INFO@THESTOUTMONK.COM THESTOUTMONK.COMFollow us @thestoutmonk: 478 Dundas St. W., Oakville • (905) 257-4004 • www.thestoutmonk.com Enjoy Premier League every Saturday and Sunday • WEEKLY FEATURES • Monday is Wing Night Tuesday is Ladies' Night Every Day Soup & Sandwich Combo New - BREAKFAST SERVED EVERYDAY until 2pm Live Music every Saturday night after the hockey game Football Sunday ANIMAL TALES A pair of woodpeckers feast on the suet cakes in these backyard feeders near Glen Abbey Golf Course. Got a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief description. Joe Brandt photo COMMUNITY In 1995, Canada's House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Ho- nourable Jean Augustine. The motion was carried unani- mously, officially recognizing our nation's Black history. This year's Black History Month theme is "Canadians of Af- rican Descent: Going forward, guided by the past" it is inspired by the United Nations proclaiming 2015-2024 the International De- cade for People of African De- scent, which emphasizes recogni- tion, justice and development. I am proud and grateful to those in our community who share and celebrate the influen- tial contributions and deep cultur- al impact Black Canadians have had across all facets of our society -- especially community mem- bers like the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH). For over 40 years, CCAH has played a crucial role in advancing a message of diversity, inclusion, and the celebration of culture as the pillars to growth and prosper- ity of our communities. The federal government pro- vided over $30,000 in funding to CCAH this year to ensure they could deliver programs through- out the month to Halton residents, students and business. I want to thank Andrew Tyrrell, the presi- dent of the CCAH, for his tireless advocacy, crucial work and inspir- ing leadership within our Halton community. In 2015, Oakville Councillor Al- lan Elgar and I led the initiative to name the August Civic Holiday "Emancipation Day" in Oakville, to recognize the town's ties to and rich history with the Under- ground Railroad. It is important for us to recog- nize and celebrate the great strides and contributions made by Black Canadians. It is also our re- sponsibility to acknowledge the continued struggle of people of colour in Canada. The fight for true equality is one we must be keenly aware of and be active participants in. Those of us in positions of privi- lege have to keep an open mind and a welcoming ear to listen and understand the experiences of ra- cialized communities, as our expe- riences often cloud our judgment. As Black History Month comes to a close, let us celebrate, recog- nize and be inspired by the suc- cesses, while acknowledging the work yet to be done. Pam Damoff is the MP for Oakville North--Burlington. CELEBRATING CANADA'S BLACK HISTORY OPINION LOCAL GROUPS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITY, WRITES PAM DAMOFF PAM DAMOFF Column PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER