February is Black History Month

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

Pierrefonds resident Catherine Thomas hopes West Islanders will take the opportunity to celebrate Black History Month this weekend.

Thomas, the president of the Association Camperrinoise de Montreal – named after Camp Perrin, a town in southern Haiti – decided to put together an event to celebrate black culture and history at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, because she says the West Island has become more and more diverse over the years.

“I thought, why not do something in my corner?” Thomas said.

From Friday through Sunday, the walls of the cultural centre will be adorned with paintings by the Reminiscences painters – Micheline Michel, Alix Rey, and Eddy Royère – who draw inspiration from the people, scenes, and their memories from Haiti.

“It’s memories from the old days,” said Rey, a retired neuropsychiatrist who grew up in Haiti and lived in the United States and Mexico before settling in Laval four years ago. “When Catherine invited me, I thought it was an opportunity to get something started for Black History Month (in the West Island).”

Sculptures, masks, and books will also be on display, and artist Khalil Enthoniades will be on hand producing drawings and portraits for the exhibit’s guests.

Thomas said the association has planned Friday as a student-day, and will be showing a video about black history and culture to complement the displays. A dance presentation is scheduled for Saturday as well.

Louis Rachiele, who is in charge of hall rentals at the Pierrefonds Cultural Centre, said the exhibit will be a chance for the local population to experience the richness of black culture without going too far from home.

“We’re trying to get into the same types of events we see in Montreal so that you don’t have to go all the way downtown to see them,” he said. “This is our little part in Pierrefonds.”

The exhibit opens Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will continue Saturday, from 1 to 9 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Pierrefonds Cultural Centre is located at 13850 Gouin Blvd. For more information, call 514-624-1103.