CBC Radio Show "Here and Now Toronto" with Farrah Merali - Michael Ekeng and Mark Williams

The "We Are Canada" exhibit, featuring 
photographs and essays, opened up to the
public on Saturday

Students across the Greater Toronto Area are recognizing inspiring Black
professionals in a variety of fields in a new exhibit to mark Black History Month.

The We Are Canada exhibit opened Saturday to celebrate the essays and
photos taken by students showcasing leaders of the Black community in different
areas of work. 

"We Are Canada gives students the opportunity careers, career progression and
become inspired by what they see," said Angela Henry, director of communications
for the Lifelong Leadership Institute.

"And also gain the understanding that Black people have been involved in areas
of work across many positions in Canada."

Participating students are part of the leadership by design program, which has been
run by the Lifelong Leadership Institute for 10 years, said Henry at the exhibit's premiere.

She said it was inspiring to see students push their boundaries and do something
"that scares them a little."

Student Bemi Esisi said her takeaways from the project was the importance of good
communication and having passion for your work.

"Being Black in Canada, sometimes you don't see yourself represented. So getting
to see what my future could look like is really inspiring," said Esisi.

"These opportunities are really important for [students.] It allows us to showcase our
voice, our place in the world and that we can be more than what people expect from us."

'Overjoyed' to learn from a role model: student

Oakville grade 11 student Michael Ekeng said he was eager to find a way to mark
Black History Month this year.

He said he was “overjoyed” when he got to be a part of the We Are Canada exhibit
and through that met Toronto Symphony Orchestra CEO Mark Williams.

“It was unbelievable, what are the chances,” he told CBC Radio’s Here and Now.
“I was so overjoyed that I would finally have something to push for Black History Month.”

Ekeng said it was fascinating to learn from Williams that he was the first Black CEO
of a major orchestra.

Williams said the interview experience was just as much of “a gift” to him. He said
as a person of colour that has “achieved,” there’s a sense of responsibility in giving
back to the community any way you can.

“Anything I can do to shine a light on the work that Black Canadians are doing,
I’d love to be a part of that,” he told CBC Radio’s Here and Now.

Williams added he was grateful to go from learning about Black history as a youth
to now being able to inspire young people in the future.

"During the interview I had this moment, where I realized the roles had shifted and
it really made me grateful … to give something,” he said.

For Ekeng, he said he learned from Williams to always try new opportunities
and “put yourself out there.”

“Especially as a Black individual, where those are so limited you just need to 
jump at what comes to you,” he said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arrthy Thayaparan is a Toronto-based multimedia journalist. She's interested 
in health, climate and community stories. She has previously worked at Reuters
and CBC Vancouver. You can contact her at arrthy.thayaparan@cbc.ca