Mervin Witter, Ontario Human Rights Commissioner at left, received a painting from artist Michael Gibson, centre. Looking on at right is Murielle Brazeau, Deputy Secretary General for the Canadian Human Rights Commissioner.Eddie J. Grant, Contributor
AN EVENT that started several years ago in the office of Jamaican-born Mervin Witter, Ontario Human Rights Commissioner, has now become an integral part of the annual Black History Month celebration in Toronto.
In December 1995, the Parliament of Canada officially proclaimed February Black History Month in Canada. In February 1996, Witter, regional director of the Ontario Office of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, said he would like to see something different happening during black History Month that would reflect the talents and the contributions blacks have been making to the Canadian society.
In association with Fresh Arts, a group of five young African-Canadian artists, he launched the first "Promoting Human Rights Through Arts," and held an exhibition in the foyer of his office. The idea was to give Jamaicans and other black and Caribbean artists residing in Toronto an opportunity to showcase their works of art for the general public to view.
Witter said he was surprised with the interest shown by the community, as more than 40 people attended that first exhibition that was held in a very small space. It has now become an annual event that is much anticipated by both the artists involved, and the general public who otherwise would not be able to see the varied talents that abound in the Black community.
Witter said that as the years went by he realised that to continue holding the exhibition in his office foyer would not be the proper medium to expose these talents to a wider community. So, in 1997 he approached the City of Toronto, the Ontario Black History Society, and the Bank of Montreal which became a major sponsor of the exhibition and the Law Society of Upper Canada, which in 1998 became a co-sponsor.
In 2003, the Bank of Nova Scotia replaced the Bank of Montreal as a sponsor. In addition, Coca Cola Canada also became one of this year's sponsors. At the official opening of the exhibition, held recently at the McDonald Block, at the Ontario legislature at Queens Park, works by more than 16 artists were on display for one week. The artists included five Jamaicans. They are: Michael Gibson, whose work adorned the cover of the programme; Darrell McCalla; Ato Seitu; Ken Daley; and Jacqueline Ward, who was born in England of Jamaican parents.
