Exploring Blackhurst Cultural Centre (Article)
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“Exploring Blackhurst Cultural Centre” provides students with information about an important community hub for members of the Black community in Toronto. This cultural centre was once a bookstore and has evolved into a vibrant community space. First known as A Different Booklist, the Blackhurst Cultural Centre is located in downtown Toronto, in a neighbourhood that celebrates “a rich African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian legacy.” The bookstore offers a range of free programming, including mentorship programs for Black youth. Store-run tours tell the history of the neighbourhood and amplify the contributions of Black community members. With big plans for future development, including an art gallery, tech hub, and scholar-in-residence program, the owners see the cultural centre as a place where young and old feel they “are at the centre and never at the margins.” As students read this text, they are asked to consider what a cultural hub is and how it serves a community. They then explore the idea of such a space in their own community.