Black Daddies Club and York University is proud to announce that the Planning in Toronto workshop course entitled Black Love Matters 2017 Un-Conference is now open for enrollment, please share with folks that you think might interested…deadline is approaching quickly

We are super excited to build with you all this Sunday, September 4th for Black Daddies Club annual Family and Friends Picnic at Petticoat Creek Park in Pickering. It is our pleasure to announce that one our community partner’s the City of Toronto has provided two 48 seat shuttle buses to ensure that this event is accessible to community members across the Greater Toronto Area.

There is a bus that will be dedicated for community members living in Toronto west, this bus will be making stops at Jane and Finch Mall and Lawrence West Mall (across from Lawrence West Subway Station). There will also be a bus dedicated for community members living in Toronto east, this bus will be making stops at Scarborough Town Center Mall, Malvern Town Center Mall, and Kingston and Galloway.

If you are interested in taking this free shuttle service it is important that you RVSP with Darlene atdarlene@theblackdaddiesclub.com before Saturday, September 3rd, 2016 so that we can ensure that everyone is able to attend the picnic.

Thing to remember:

This event is a potluck, but you can also purchase food at the picnic from one of our food vendors.

There is a general admission fee to get into Petticoat Creek Park due to fact it is a provincial park, non of this fee will go to Black Daddies Club, but rather to Ontario conversation, this cost is mandatory to all patrons entering the park. There is also afee to get into pool and splash pad area, children must be accompanied into this area with an adult.

Park Admission
Adult (15 +) $6.50
Senior (60 +) $5.50
Children (14 and under), with their family FREE

The theme of the picnic this year is “How can we support Black children and their parents living in the Greater Toronto Area?“, there will be a discussion taking place at the picnic as one of the many activities that will be taking place on September 4th, between 12pm to 7pm. We look forward to sharing space with you all, from grandparents to grandchildren and everyone in between.

The end of summer is fast approaching. [insert sad face here]

…but before the sun gives way to the cold and snow, let’s get together for some rest, relaxation and reasoning with family and friends!

On Sunday, September 4th at Petticoat Creek Park in Pickering, the Black Daddies Club (BDC) will be hosting our annual Family and Friends Picnic. This event will be a part of the Breaking Bread series that will culminate in our 10thanniversary co-created initiative entitled the Black Love Matters 2017 Un-Conference. Spread throughout 2017, the Un-Conference will be held at venues across the Greater Toronto Area.

Continue reading →

Black Daddies Club has partnered with York University’s graduate planning program to teach the fall 2016 course Planning in Toronto workshop, which will focus on developing a GIS mapping system that will be introduced during the Black Love Matters 2017 Un-Conference.

Continue reading →

Greetings All

As we reach the denouement of summer 2016, one thing that I have realized so far this  year is that the Black community in the Greater Toronto Area in our multiplicity of hues and politics has different ways of community organizing and claiming space, it has been a beautiful thing to witness and this has giving hope to many from my community. During this summer I have seen the city of Toronto come alive with various forms of community organizing, one of which was the July’s edition of Breaking Bread Brunch which has been our most successful brunch so far this year, I would like to thank our community partners (Vibe 105.5FM, We Speak Research, Young Potential Fathers/ Ujima House) and community members that made July’s discussion really thoughtful, sincere and provocative.

Continue reading →

Going clothing shopping in Canada as a Black man in a fat body can be a depressing experience,

Rummaging through theses stores shelves and no pants or jeans waistline over size 38 or 40, and a extra large shirt is the biggest you can find at some stores.

Going into the malls singing the refrain “I do not belong here”,

I learned from an early age that other than accessories, like glasses or hats “Club Monaco” is not targeting me or my body,

Canadian fashion designers are not making their clothing for people in my body. Continue reading →

As the summer heats up, the dialogue in the first three Black Daddies Club: Breaking Bread Brunches gets more personal.

Thank you to Michael Went, Nicole Angela and Belinda Ageda, who co-hosted and co-facilitated some really important and meaningful discussions in the June edition of Breaking Bread Brunch, which was focused on the “Importance of Black Space in Toronto.” Also, a deep thank you to the attendees who came out to June Edition, who broke bread with us, shared their intimate stories and collectively began thinking about strategies to move forward with for the 2017 Black Love Matters: Un-Conference.

This discussion is open to all genders who are interested in being apart of the dialogue regarding the lived experience of Black men in Toronto. This month’s discussion will not have a online streaming component, as we want to honour the intimacy of dialogue that we are hoping to create during this upcoming dialogue on Black masculinity. The admission for this event is pay what you can or Potluck, so if possible, please contribute by bringing food or donating something at the door.

Breaking Bread Brunches are a monthly discussion series of where we eat and discuss issues in the Black community in Toronto. These brunch conversations will inform the upcoming Black Daddies Club 10th anniversary co-created initiative, Black Love Matters Un-Conference, taking place in locations across the Greater Toronto Area from January 2017 to December 2017.

Looking forward to seeing you in the space and hearing your stories in the dialogue.

CARIBBEAN TALES & BLACK DADDIES CLUB PRESENTS