Black & Here Community Centre

In May 2025, REP Here in Canada and the BC Black History Awareness Society embarked on an ambitious partnership to create a new kind of community space in downtown Victoria.

Located at the prominent corner of Douglas and Johnson Streets, the Black & Here Community Centre was developed in response to a long-standing need for accessible, welcoming, and culturally relevant gathering spaces for newcomers, Black communities, and other equity-deserving groups. More than a physical space, the Centre represents a shared commitment to belonging, creativity, community connection, and civic participation.

Designed as a flexible, multi-purpose hub, the Centre will host arts and cultural programming, creative workshops, exhibitions, performances, community conversations, training opportunities, storytelling initiatives, and special events. It will also serve as a home for collaborative projects that bring people together across cultures, generations, and lived experiences.

The Centre reflects a simple but powerful belief: when people have opportunities to gather, create, learn, and share their stories, stronger and more connected communities emerge.

As the first initiative of its kind in the region, the Black & Here Community Centre aims to be both a community gathering place and a catalyst for new ideas, partnerships, and possibilities. Together with our partners, supporters, artists, volunteers, and community members, we are building a space where people feel welcome, represented, and inspired to participate fully in community life.

The Black & Here Community Centre will open its doors to the public at 1327 Douglas St. in August 2026. Everyone is welcome.

Learn more at blackandherecentre.ca

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