Little Burgundy

• Little Burgundy’s population dropped from 14,710 in 1966 to just 7,000 in 1973.
• .In 1991, public housing was 39.3% of all housing in Little Burgundy and nearly 55% of the area’s rental housing
• The Coloured Women’s Club of Montreal founded atLittle Burgundy, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Little Burgundy, which was once home to 90 per cent of the city’s Black residents, by 1996 was now home to only 2 per cent of all Blacks in Montreal
• Habitations Jeanne-Mance was the first public housing project built in Quebec and second housing project in Canada after Regent Park in Toronto.
• The Lachine Canal is regarded as a National Historic site since 1996
• Gentification is the process whereby the character of a neighbourhood changes through the influx of wealthier residents and investment.
• Rufus Nathaniel Rockhead was designated a National Historic Person by the federal government on January 19, 2024
• Between 1968 and 1978, 1441 units of low-income public housing were constructed in Little Burgundy

By Jeangagnon – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32954015

Union United Church was founded in 1907 by Black railway porters and their wives.It was a place where they could worship without discrimination. The Church is first black church in Montreal. The church has always played a role in social justice movements. The church was created by the same people who started the Coloured Women’s Club of Montreal. The Coloured Women`s club attended war veterans and provide resources to those in need. This was also mirrored in the church which collaborated to give black students scholarships. Reverend Chatles H.Este of the Church founded the Negro Community Centre as a way to work together with the community to improve social and economic conditions for the Black community.

By Lanma726 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32547580

Lachine Canal located in Montreal, Quebec, is a 14.5-kilometer waterway that connects the Old Port of Montreal to Lake Saint-Louis. It was built between 1821 and 1825, the canal was designed to bypass Lachine Rapids on the St. Lawrence River, facilitating navigation and trade. ​The canal was essential in the economic growth of Montreal. In the 1840 the canal was deepened and started producing hydraulic power. hydraulic power powered industries. Products could be also be shipped through the canal which reduced costs and increase profit.

Little Burgundy residents want to create awareness of the development which will result in demolitions that have lead to mass relocations of mainly Black people. They want the general public to be aware of the historical and cultural significance of Little Burgundy. The main goal is to form a coalition to advocate against demolitions and further development plans. Thus, the residents want to make Little Burgundy a heritage site. The residents want Little Burgundy to be recognized in it`s ties to Black Culture. They also want to preserve the remnants of their cultural heritage.

The main goal is for the local community be aware of the advocacy efforts against demolitions and displacement in Little Burgundy to preserve its` culture. Former residents should also be aware of this initiative so that they can speak up to the media about the harmful impact demolition and displacement have had on them. The press is also essential as it gives our initiative a more expansive audience. Thus, the residents can get more people to join the cause. The media can help reach out to organizations such as activists. Activists can help us plan demonstrations and protests to help pressure the Municipality to make Little Burgundy a heritage site. Advocacy agencies may see our cause in the media and can advise the residents on legal processes. Historians need to know that the demolition has continued since 1968 and that displacement has had long-lasting impacts on the community and culture. They highlight the historical relevance of the neighbourhood, which helps to get support for making it a heritage site. The city council also needs to be informed about the grievances of the residents and how the demolition has impacted their lives negatively. The initiative will reach the target audience through blogs, social media and media reports.

Blog 1: “How Urban Renewal Failed in Little Burgundy? The impacts of this policy today on the community.”

Summary: Urban renewal refers to a set of plans and activities to upgrade neighbourhoods and suburbs that are in a state of distress or decay. In 1966, the City of Montreal launched a large urban renewal project in Little Burgundy by demolishing countless residential and commercial buildings and replacing them with public housing. The program failed to attract the amount of investment it needed to be successful.Between 1961 and 1971, the proportion of welfare recipients grew dramatically from 10% to 40%. The population dropped due to the demolition, resulting in 70% of the Black community being displaced. The program faced criticism, with some people calling it part of systemic racism as it mainly impacted Black businesses and the middle class. Due to population displacement, businesses with fewer customers were left, and they relocated. This resulted in Little Burgundy becoming an area of concentrated poverty and was publicly associated with drug use, crime, and youth gangs.

Blog 2: “Little Burgundy is threatened once again with demolitions. How can we do to stop them?”

Summary: Little Burgundy has been faced with new development plans. The plans mean demolition and result in displacement. As we have seen after the 1966 urban renewal, this has resulted in economic disruptions. Many business closed down which led to poverty which mainly affect Black people. The new development plans would mean not only further economic disruption but also further displacement of Black people. The rich historyof the Black community will further be destroyed.The residents advocate for the neighbourhood to be a heritage site to avoid the past from repeating itself.

Blog 3: “Walking through the history of Little Burgundy.”

Summary: Little Burgundy, a neighbourhood in Montreal, Canada, is rich in history and culture with strong ties to the Black community. The neighbourhood hosts the Union United Church was founded in 1907  by Black railway porters and their wives. It is the oldest Black congregation in Quebec. Rockhead’s Paradise was an iconic black-owned bar and Jazz Club in Little Burgundy Montreal from the 1930s to 70s.  Rockhead’s one of the earliest black-owned bars in Montreal, but it is also known to be the earliest venue for what we know today as Drag performances. It was b very successful at the time. The Lachine Canal was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1929. in the 19th and 20th centuries, it was the head of a canal network linking the continent’s heart to the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence route. It allowed for easy transportation of goods to markets, leading to the industrial and commercial development of Montréal. The canal was also a source of hydraulic power. The industrial corridor of the Lachine Canal is witness to different stages of the country’s industrialization and the manufacturing production on its banks as it was cost-effective to create a business on a transport route. For that reason, it was one of the principal manufacturing centres .

Blog 4: “Jazz as the heart and soul of Little Burgundy.

Summary: Musicians were abundant in Little Burgundy, usually creating Jazz. Most of the musicians would usually be people who had regular jobs and would play music after work. Jazz music was predominantly created and consumed by the Black community. However the music and late hours also attracted white audiences looking for livelier parties, as well as white musicians looking to put their talent to the test. It wasn’t long before Saint Antoine clubs such as Café St-Michel and Rockhead’s Paradise became legendary for their showmanship.

Blog 5: A trip to the past with a 1966 resident of Little Burgundy

Summary: The resident will talk about their experiences of the initial urban renewal. How did the community react to development plans intially before the demolition? When did people start to notice the negative impact of the demolitions? What did they try to do to save their communities? How were they affected individually?

March 31

Upload Blog 1:“How Urban Renewal Failed in Little Burgundy? The impacts of this policy today on the community.” Publish on website/blogThis is to give the audience the historical context of the development issues.

April 4

Release press release and start campaign for heritage protection. Distribute to media outlets, community newsletters, and city officials. Cross-promote on social media and email.

April 7

Community meeting with the residents.

April 8

Upload blog 2: “Little Burgundy is threatened once again with demolitions. How can we do to stop them?”

April 12

Upload Blog 3:“Walking through the history of Little Burgundy.”

April 16

Upload Blog 4: “Jazz as the heart and soul of Little Burgundy.

April 20

Upload Blog 5: A trip to the past with a 1966 resident of Little Burgundy

The first blog post will give the context of our initiative. When the press release is posted, the people will already understand the initiative and why it is essential. At the first meeting, all the suggestions were included in the blog to accommodate those who could not attend. The blogs highlight decisions that, when made now, will impact our future. The blogs centre the community and thus showcase genuine care of the community, therefore building trust. The blog creates an image of an initiative that cares about the history and culture of Little Burgundy. On our website, there will be a survey which people answer after reading a blog, asking if they are satisfied with the content, such as the length and readability of the blog. Page views are monitored to see which kind of content the audience prefers. The blogs can be edited to include more or less information as requested by the audience.

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Little Burgundy Residents advocate against the demolition of their cultural heritage.

Little Burgundy Residents have faced the imminent danger of their communities being destroyed through demolitions. The residents have been advocating against demolitions that have been going on since 1968. Little Burgundy is a historically black neighbourhood in Montreal, Quebec; thus, it holds cultural significance for black people. City developers have built highways and commercial developments, disregarding how they had scattered the black community through forced relocation. The neighbourhood was where Black people shared their culture for many years.

 On the 7th of April, residents will host an event about the impacts of demolition on the community and select a committee to represent them to the Municipality.  The event will occur from 11 am to 4 pm at the Le Salon Richmond 1861. “What happened in Little Burgundy was not just development — it was displacement by design,” said Joanne Bell, a third-generation resident and spokesperson for Citizens for Little Burgundy. “We’re still living with the consequences of policies that targeted our homes, music, and livelihoods.”The residents argue that the continuous plans of demolition of the Little Burgundy is a way of destroying Black culture. This can be regarded as a part of systemic racism. The residents want Little Burgundy to be recognized as a heritage site and legally protected from demolition. This means the municipality must grant special permission to demolish and significant renovations. The residents want to be counselled beforehand on any further developmental projects so they can give their opinions. The residents want financial compensation for people forced to relocate due to demolition. The residents want Municalipity to create a program where people can come and learn about the history and culture of Little Burgundy.

During the event, the citizen of Little Burgundy will come together to advocate for their communities. They will discuss the impacts of demolitions on them both socially and economically. The citizens will discuss the most effective strategies for recognizing Little Burgundy as a heritage site. The residents must participate in a survey about their opinions on how they should attain their goals. Community members will discuss strategies to help those needing assistance if demolition happens. The residents will have lawyers explain to us what legal procedures they can employ to stop the demolition and what we can do after it to get compensation. 

We urge all community members to come to our event so we can work together to prevent losing our business and properties. For more contact information, please contact Mutsa Madzivire at mutsaa73@gmail.com.

About Little Burgundy:

 In 1966, the City of Montreal launched a large urban renewal project in Little Burgundy by demolishing countless residential and commercial buildings and replacing them with public housing. The program failed to attract the amount of investment it needed to be successful.Between 1961 and 1971, the proportion of welfare recipients grew dramatically from 10% to 40%. The population dropped due to the demolition, resulting in 70% of the Black community being displaced. The program faced criticism, with some people calling it part of systemic racism as it mainly impacted Black businesses and the middle class. Due to population displacement, businesses with fewer customers were left, and they relocated. This resulted in Little Burgundy becoming an area of concentrated poverty and was publicly associated with drug use, crime, and youth gangs.

Communication Plan

About Canfor

Canfor (Canadian Forest Products Ltd.) is a leading North American producer of lumber and other wood products. The company aims to provide high-quality products with the least environmental damage. It spends time creating programs to improve its carbon output. Canfor creates its products with local communities, including minorities. Canfor values sustainability and community; this is reflected in its social initiatives.

Canfor`s target audience is eco-conscious customers, usually millennials and Gen Z. Gen Z and Millennials care more about the environment than previous generations. Research shows that both generations are more aware of the environmental issues caused by their consumption patterns and try to minimize their ecological impact. Thus, we will market our product on social media through short video content on TikTok and YouTube. We will also highlight our brand value through our Instagram page. Generation Z loves visual content , like eye-catching photos and engaging videos.  62% of Gen Z use YouTube every day. Additionally,  Instagram and TikTok are currently the most popular social media platforms. We will measure the campaign’s success by looking at how many people liked and shared our content on social media.

Corporations are also potential consumers of our products. These construction, homebuilding, and furniture manufacturing companies require sustainably sourced wood products. They would buy from us because it enhances their public image and shows effort in achieving sustainability. They will potentially increase their sales as people are more conscious about how the things they buy are created. We market to companies using press releases and industry events. The press release will include information about how we manage our business. We will highlight how your products can benefit their company and help them achieve their goals. We will show how we differ from our competitors and why they should work with us instead. Industry events are also places where we can meet potential customers directly and communicate with fewer barriers and more quickly than through other methods. We evaluate the success of these measures by the number of bookings we get.

 Canfor’s commitment to sustainability appeals to those looking to invest in companies with responsible business practices. Investors may want to invest in eco-friendly initiatives, and thus, information about our sustainability goals is readily available. We highlight our goals on our website with a segment for investors with all the information they might need. Thus, we will measure how many investors visit our websites to see if the campaign was successful.

 Canfor’s key message is creating sustainable value in the forestry industry by maintaining environmental integrity and providing high-quality products. Its target audience includes environmentally conscious consumers, businesses needing wood products, regulatory bodies, investors, and local communities.

Press Release

Canfor Promotes Indigenous Vendor Partnerships and Cultural Awareness

About Canfor

 The company aims to provide high-quality products with the least environmental damage.  It spends time creating programs to improve its carbon output. Canfor seeks to become a net-zero carbon company by 2050 through climate-positive forest management, sustainable forest products, and impactful partnerships. They are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2022 baseline and scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. Canfor creates its products with local communities, including minorities. Canfor values sustainability and community; this is reflected in its social initiatives.

Canfor is pleased to announce the launch of Indigenous Vendor Partnerships and Cultural Awareness Training. The initiative starts on March 16, 2025, and will work with Indigenous people to educate its customers and employees about the history and connections native people have with the land. Canfor acknowledges that the land they work on initially belonged to the Indigenous community. The company wants to work with the Indigenous people by employing Indigenous Vendor Partnerships.

Indigenous Vendor Partnership works to employ indigenous people in the local community and take part in the decisions that may affect them. Indigenous people are informed about the activities and voice their opinions on what is best for their community. Canfor`s goal is to allocate 5% of its total spending to Indigenous vendors for its Wood Products Canada business by 2025.  Indigenous People can be employed and contribute to the economic development of their communities. “We understand the importance of building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities,” said Don Kayne, CEO of Canfor. We aim to foster a good relationship with the indigenous community and have a reliable supply chain.

 Indigenous communities’ relationship with the land is fundamental to their cultural identity. Canfor partners with Indigenous People by developing programs where they can share culture. Their customs and rituals are intertwined and closely tied to the natural world. They believe their ancestors are closely tied to the land; for example, some land is considered spiritual and sacred. Thus, Canfor must be aware of these areas and how to navigate their activities while respecting Indigenous customs. Indigenous peoples possess a deep knowledge of the land, often called traditional ecological knowledge. This knowledge is passed down through generations and includes understanding the land’s ecosystems and sustainable farming and hunting practices. Canfor will incorporate this indigenous knowledge into its practices. Canfor allows Indigenous People to share their experiences with land displacement and colonization. We acknowledge that the land we operate on as settlers. Thus, we must build a relationship with the community supporting our business.

Canfor invites people to register for these programs on our website. Indigenous people can register for the vendor partnership until March 29th. The cultural awareness training happens every Friday online on our website.

For media inquiries, please get in touch with Mutsa Madzivire

Communications Director

Canfor Communications Team

Email: mutsaa73@gmail.com

Blog Post

Indigenous Vendor Partnerships and Cultural Awareness: Canfor’s Commitment to Economic Inclusion and Respect

Canfor has committed to working with its community to bring about social change. It acknowledges the history of colonization and displacement associated with the land on which it operates. Canfor has a vendor partnership program that allows Indigenous People to gain employment by selling our products, thus employing the community. We take a proactive approach to community engagement with Indigenous communities and the open exchange of information supporting local interests. We encourage Indigenous community members to participate in our Public Advisory groups and to communicate any local knowledge that may help us protect their culture and environment.

Canfor is working with the community through Indigenous Vendor Partnerships, which allow Indigenous people to have a source of income. Indigenous communities have been suffering from unemployment and economic underdevelopment; this initiative reduces the problem. The Indigenous Vendor Partnerships contribute to the growth of Indigenous-owned businesses by encouraging them to start other companies that may service the existing ones, thereby helping their economy. Canfor has business arrangements with Indigenous groups and fibre supply agreements with First Nations bands that provide access to timber on land in their traditional territory. The company works toward meeting its goal of 5% spend with Indigenous vendors by 2025; these initiatives will impact the communities they serve and inspire other organizations to follow suit. Thus, Canfor supports the economic development of the indigenous community.

The Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training program gives indigenous people a voice to share their cultural beliefs about the land. It involves learning about indigenous history, how they view the land, and understanding why it is essential for their economic and spiritual needs.  They can help us identify and manage areas that are important spiritually through our public advisory, which is a part of the initiative. The cultural awareness training is designed to give employees a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures. Canfor provides all its staff with Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Understanding training to communicate respectfully with the community. Indigenous People come to our workshops and share any cultural knowledge that helps us protect their culture and environment.

Canfor’s initiatives in fostering Indigenous vendor partnerships and cultural awareness exemplify how businesses can integrate reconciliation efforts into their core operations. These efforts highlight the importance of alliances based on mutual respect and understanding, and they pave the way for other organizations to consider similar approaches in their business strategies. By embracing diversity and striving for cultural sensitivity, Canfor contributes to a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Canadians.

As these programs continue to evolve, it will be exciting to see their positive impact on the company, Indigenous communities, and the broader movement toward economic inclusion across Canada.

References

Nourishing Communities in Partnership with the Berkeley Food Network. https://www.thistle.co/learn/thistle-thoughts/berkeley-food-network

Indigenous Peoples. https://www.canfor.com/responsibility/indigenous-peoples

Forests Support Indigenous Cultures: A Vital Relationship for Sustainability | Nourish The Planet. https://nourishtheplanet.com/publication/forests-support-indigenous-cultures-a-vital-relationship-for-sustainability/

The Omega is back with a relaunch that’s more daring and insightful than ever before! Get ready for a unique experience that you won’t want to miss.

The Omega, the official student paper of Thompson Rivers University, is delighted to announce its relaunch on April 10th. The event, held at the TRU Conference Centre from 10:30 to 15:30, is open to all students, faculty, and staff. We have chosen this venue for its central location on the main campus, making it easily accessible to most of the TRU community. The relaunch will feature speeches by Sean Brady and Robert McAllister, the manager and editor-in-chief of The Omega, respectively, who will share The Omega`s legacy and its vision for the future. This event is designed to be inclusive, and we encourage everyone to join us. Your presence at this event will be a valuable contribution to our mission of increasing visibility and engagement with the newspaper among the students.

The Omega was founded to provide a free, independent newspaper and news website for the students, faculty, and staff at Thompson Rivers University (TRU). The newspaper covers campus news, such as sports, arts, and culture, and writes about topics that interest the students and impact their well-being, including social issues in the general community. These issues, while not always directly related to the university, can significantly affect the TRU community. The students work with the Editor-in-Chief to create and cover what other students may be interested in. Staff writers are pitched topics during weekly meetings. The newspaper offers valuable opportunities for students to contribute to its content, which is particularly beneficial to journalism and communication majors as it can enhance their skills. The Omega accepts story pitches from any student looking to try their hand at journalistic writing on a volunteer basis. Contributors are eligible for a year-end honorarium awarded at Omega’s discretion. Contributing writers can pitch their story ideas directly to the Editor-in-Chief by emailing editor@theomega.news.  The Omega is a registered non-profit society, and we are excited to offer these learning opportunities to our student community, inspiring them to enhance their skills and contribute to the community.

 The event will consist of a live journalism showcase. The newspaper staff will host a live news deck experience in which the crowd discusses topics based on the prompts from the audience. This will replicate the atmosphere during the newspaper`s weekly meetings. We will organize a panel featuring The Omega`s writers and editors where the audience can ask questions about the newspaper’s functions and goals. This will spark conversation, educate the audience, and add credibility to the event. Using the event’s hashtag, students can upload pictures they would have taken from a photo booth. The person who receives the most engagement at the end of the event gets a t-shirt and a notebook with The Omega branding. The relaunch will include free lunch, snacks, and drinks. The first issue of the relaunch will be unveiled at the end of the event. By attending, students will get a chance to interact with The Omega’s team, learn about the newspaper’s operations, and contribute to the discussion about the future of The Omega. We urge students to come and attend this event, where they can actively participate and engage with The Omega’s team and their peers.

Distribution Plan

The press release will be sent to local media outlets. Our target audience is people who live close to the university, as that is where most students and potential students live. The press release will be sent to Kamloops Chronicle and KamloopsBcNow.  The press release will be sent to TRU Student Ambassadors.TRU Gaglardi Student Ambassadors (GSAs) provide key support during TRU Gaglardi events, produce engaging content on TRU Gaglardi social media pages, and focus on creating a holistic and engaging experience for our student community on campus and around the world. Thus, it has quicker reach to students through social media. I will make personalized messages to reach out to influencers who promote the event, for example, Amanda Round, who creates content about university life on Instagram. I will send the press release directly to the student`s email, who will likely see it. The press release will also be in The Omega newspaper, as its readers are the event’s target audience. I will send a press release to the blogs of university students. Canada International Student Magazine (CISM) acts as a lighthouse for International Students by providing Accurate, Reliable, and Updated information about studying and Settlement in Canada. They provide updated information and academic advice to all potential international students overseas or currently studying in Canada. This will help market the event, the university, and The Omega. As many students already follow these accounts, uploading press releases to TRU’s Instagram pages helps reach out. Post the relaunch event under the event section of TRU Newsroom for easy navigation and access to all students.

Distribution List

TRU Gaglardi Student Ambassador

Ugochi Nwangwu

Inderdeep Singh

Aashima Thapar

Jaideep Taneja

Ally Tatem

Marketing and Communications Coordinator – TRU Gagliardi

atatem@tru.ca

Arjun Singh, Interim Executive Director – info@kamloopschronicle.com

Todd Sullivan, Interim editor – editor@kamloopschronicle.com

Amanda Round

@manndaround Instagram

amanda@shifted.digital

Blog https://www.mycism.com/ + Follow Blog
Canada International Student Magazine (CISM) acts as a lighthouse for International Students by providing Accurate, Reliable, and Updated information about studying and Settlement in Canada. They provide updated information and academic advice to all potential international students overseas or currently studying in Canada.
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Michele Young at micyoung@tru.ca | 250-828-5361.