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Document Black History in Canada with ArcGIS StoryMaps

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Author Angela Alexander

This month is dedicated to celebrating and reflecting on Black History in Canada. Find out how you can use ArcGIS StoryMaps to create your own resource or have your students document the contributions and struggles of Black people in Canada.

February is Black History Month, a time to reflect and learn about the contributions of Black Canadians. Using ArcGIS StoryMaps, students and teachers can document Black History in Canada. By adding text, images, videos, and other media, you can create an interactive resource that you can share for people to engage and learn from.

The following resources can be used to build your story map that focuses on an event or person that is important to Black History in Canada.

ArcGIS StoryMaps resources

Discover Story Maps
Use this tutorial to build your first ArcGIS StoryMap.

ArcGIS StoryMaps Gallery
Explore examples of great story maps created by the international Esri community of users.

Black History in Canada resources
This is not an exhaustive list of resources. Feel free to use others that you find.

Black History in Canada, The Canadian Encyclopedia
Find information about prominent Black Canadians or events to create your story map.

The Underground Railroad, The Canadian Encyclopedia
Learn more about the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network of abolitionists (people who wanted to abolish slavery).

A stone monument called the Tower of Freedom Underground Railroad It depicts the refugees' arrival into Canada and their overwhelming emotion upon encountering freedom. It features four life-size bronze figures on the south side of a granite monolith: Two women with a baby and a man standing behind with his arms outstretched in praise.

Underground Railroad monument called the Tower of Freedom in Windsor, Ontario honours the flight of enslaved African Americans to freedom in Canada.
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Black History in Canada, Education Guide, Historica Canada
The purpose of this revised Guide is to enhance your students’ critical awareness and appreciation  of the Black Canadian experience, grounded in Lawrence Hill’s award-winning historical fiction,  The Book of Negroes, the remarkable journey of Aminata Diallo and the historic British document known as the “Book of Negroes.”

Black History in Canada, Radio-Canada
Radio-Canada marks Black History Month with a varied program on all platforms. This site includes exclusive content and recent archives on the realities facing Black citizens in Canada.

Black History in Canada resources, Government of Canada
There are many organizations and educational resources across the country devoted to the promotion and awareness of Black Canadian history.

Slavery to Freedom, Ontario Heritage Trust
Discover resources for your Black History journey.

New to ArcGIS?

If you are new to ArcGIS Online, educators can request an account for themselves and their students at k12.esri.ca/#access.

Check out the following beginner resources to get started with ArcGIS Online:

Let’s get started with ArcGIS Online
Resources to support educators getting started with ArcGIS Online.

This post was translated to French and can be viewed here.

About the Author

Angela Alexander is a K-12 Education Specialist in the Esri Canada Education and Research group. She has over 15 years of experience working with educators across Canada. Angela focuses on producing geographic information system (GIS) and curriculum-specific resources, and conducting and creating custom workshops for educators. She manages the GIS Ambassador Program and is the Technical Chair for the annual Skills Ontario GIS competition. Angela also writes monthly posts for the Esri Canada Education and Research blog, highlighting K-12 educators and partners, new ArcGIS resources and GIS-related events.

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