The City of London acknowledges that anti-Black racism is systemic in Canada and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to address and challenge it in all its forms.
On November 26, 2024, City Council approved the 2025-2029 Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, which outlines steps the City will take to improve municipal programs, policies, and procedures to address anti-Black racism. The plan aims to ensure full and meaningful participation of the Black community in services, events, and life in London.
With Council’s approval of the action plan, an implementation strategy outlining key outcomes, performance indicators, and timelines is under development.
Action Plan recommendations
The plan outlines 61 recommendations for the City of London, aimed at addressing systemic barriers and promoting equity across municipal programs and services.
Key actions include increasing economic opportunities through enhanced supports for Black-owned businesses, prioritizing the recruitment and retention of Black individuals in leadership roles, developing housing and transportation policies that support equity-denied communities, and offering recreation programs inclusive of Black communities.
In addition, the plan includes 27 recommendations directed at external organizations such as police services, school boards, healthcare institutions, post-secondary institutions, and business sector support organizations. These recommendations focus on advancing systemic changes to improve representation, eliminating barriers, and fostering equity within these key sectors.
A plan shaped by London’s Black communities
The plan was shaped through collaboration with over 300 Black residents, leaders, community organizations and business owners in London.
Surveys, focus groups and one-on-one interviews engaged diverse groups, including seniors, youth, women, Muslims, Francophones, 2SLGBTQIA+ members, newcomers, and individuals with disabilities. These efforts aimed to understand perspectives on anti-Black racism, experiences with municipal services, business development, and other areas of focus. The insights and recommendations provided by the community informed the plan’s objectives, actions, and accountability measures.
As a Corporation, we acknowledge our role in addressing anti-Black racism and are committed to implementing the recommendations suggested to us. We seek to do better by being better; and will be looking to the community to steer us on the right path to better serve Black Londoners. As the plan continues to unfold, we look forward to growing our relationship and collaborating with the community to identify the best approaches to implementing the suggested recommendations.
We are thankful to all Black Londoners, individuals, groups, and organizations, for taking time to participate in these meaningful dialogues and for providing the input needed to drive this work. We recognize the challenging nature of these conversations and are truly grateful for your keen interest and ongoing support in the creation of this draft action plan.
The history of London’s Black communities
The presence of Black people in Ontario dates to the early 19th century. In Southwestern Ontario, it is reported that several Black settlements, including Wilberforce (near Lucan), Chatham, Dawn, and Elgin, existed prior to the 1850’s.
Many of these Southwestern Ontario cities, including London, were terminus points of the Underground Railroad, and became home to enslaved persons who had escaped from the United States. In London, the Fugitive Slave Chapel (the first African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and the First Convention of the Canadian League for the advancement of Colored People are two of the historical facts that well establishes the presence and activities of Black persons.
As of 2021, Canadian census data showed that there were 18,780 people living in London, Ontario who identified as Black (Statistics Canada, 2021) making the community the third largest visible minority group within the city.
The Black community in London is diverse in terms of origin, culture, and ethnicity. While a significant number of Black Londoners immigrated from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora, there are members of the Black community whose immigration history cannot be traced and are either the descendants of enslaved or freed persons who settled in London and Middlesex County beginning in the 1800s.
Several languages are spoken within the community, including Akan, Creole, Yoruba, Swahili, Somali, Amharic, Hausa, French, and English. Religions often practiced within the community include Christianity, Islam, and Bahaism.
Despite many being in London for generations, Black people continue to experience anti-Black racism, i.e., the prejudice, attitudes, beliefs, stereotyping and discrimination that is directed at people of African descent. Anti-Black racism, largely rooted in a unique history of enslavement and entrenched in political, social, and economic spheres and institutions, often manifests as unequal access to programs and services, low rate of participation and representation in political and institutional decision-making processes, low social recognition valuation and appreciation of their diversity, low income, and poorer health and social outcomes.
Prioritizing Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression
In 2020, London’s City Council made a resolution that acknowledged that anti-Black racism exists in London, made a commitment to eradicate racism and oppression, and established Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression as a 6th priority of City Council’s Strategic Plan. Through Council direction, the City’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Division was subsequently established.
The mandate of the Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Division is to create and sustain action-focused, positive, and lasting systemic change in the City of London so that race or membership in an equity denied group does not predict one’s access to opportunities or ability to engage whole heartedly in the London community. A primary role of the Black Community Liaison Advisor is to strengthen the relationship between the City and Black communities within London.
City Council then directed the development of an Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, demonstrating the City’s commitment to prioritize issues facing Black communities, reduce barriers to participating in City services, and make London more welcoming, supportive, and safe for Black communities.
The intention of the plan is to provide recommendations and measurable actions on how the City of London can better deliver and support services that meet the needs of Black Londoners. Through this action plan, the City looks to strengthen its relationship with London’s Black communities through ongoing collaborations and meaningful dialogues, while developing and implementing community-centered approaches to eliminate anti-Black racism.
In addition to addressing the inequities experienced by Black communities in London, the 2025-2029 Anti-Black Racism Action Plan is part of the City of London’s preliminary efforts towards the attainment of the International Decade’s goals within our municipality.