Stories regarding black farmers, settlers, and pioneers in BC tend not to get told because they didn't write the history books. The role Black people played has been largely erased. Can we find and retell their stories? Join a speaker series to learn about hidden Black histories of the Lower Mainland, presented by Shayla Bird and Carl Beach.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 14, 12 to 1 p.m.
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: Free
How to Register: Register online (Course ID 00352880)
OR Call/Email the Museum of Surrey: 604-592-6956 | museum@surrey.ca

Shayla Bird


The past two years Shayla created a Black Student Union called Black Connections HS where roughly 60 Black youth from Grades 9-12 gather at bi-weekly meetings and engage in place-based learning activities. Shayla focuses her time on providing students with opportunities to see themselves represented in their various communities, encouraging educators to unlearn, learn, relearn and reframe and ultimately focusing on Black joy.

Carl Beach

Carlyle Beach graduated from UBC in 1972 with a B.A. in History. In his thirty-two years as a teacher and twelve years as a teacher-on-call, Carl presented Multicultural Anti-Racist Workshops to teachers (elementary and Secondary) throughout B.C. at Multicultural Camps, in Classrooms and on teacher Pro-D days and sponsored Multicultural clubs. As a BCTF member Carl has been on the Program Against Racism Committee, the Metro Zone Coordinator for the Committee Against Racism and the Educators Against Racism committee.