A Living History Lesson: BBPN Youth Visit the New Brunswick Black History Society
By Sheila Kazvini – Summer Technical & Communication Analyst
Djomo Aaron – NB SEED Business Analyst
Some of the best learning doesn’t happen in a classroom. In August, BBPN’s YETAP leadership group, including Sheila Kazvini and Djomo Aaron, visited the New Brunswick Black History Society (NBBHS) in Saint John, and came back with two different stories from the same afternoon.
Meeting Dr. Ralph “Tiger” Thomas
The visit began with a gift of appreciation from BBPN to Dr. Ralph Thomas, co-founder and Program Director of the NBBHS. From there, Dr. Thomas led the group through the legacy of Black New Brunswickers, including Constance Timberlake, a Saint John woman who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, and Georgina Whetsel, one of New Brunswick’s early Black businesswomen. The group also learned about the society’s own roots, which grew out of civil rights organizing that began in Nova Scotia before the group later formed its own organization in New Brunswick.
Pierre, from the Black History Society, guided the group through the rest of the tour, including posters for an upcoming hike retracing the 2.8 km Tomlinson Lake trail, the same route freedom seekers once walked in the 1800s. The hike takes place Saturday, October 3.
Stories That Stay With You
Toward the end of the visit, Dr. Thomas shared stories from his own working life in 1970s New Brunswick, including a moment when he was disrespected on the job and chose to respond with dignity rather than anger. That same person later promoted him to night shift supervisor. “The moral of the story,” Sheila recalls him saying, “is to respect ourselves and to not take those kinds of words from anyone.”
For Djomo, the visit surfaced harder truths too. Stories the group heard described the unequal treatment Black Canadians faced in earlier decades, including barriers to military service and mismatches between promised jobs and the work people were actually given once they arrived. “These stories helped me understand that discrimination was not limited to one particular area of life,” he says. “It could influence where people could work, how they were treated, and the opportunities available to them.”
An Unexpected Connection
Not every lesson was historical. During the visit, Djomo also met Mr. Paul, a 55 year old boxer, who took the time to teach him a few techniques of the sport. “It showed me that the Black History Society is not only a place where people learn about the past,” Djomo reflects, “but can also be a place where people connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.”
Why It Matters
Both students left with the same core lesson, said in different ways: preserving history isn’t just about dates, it’s about understanding what people lived through, so the next generation understands why equality, human rights, and inclusion still matter today. As Djomo put it, “I left the New Brunswick Black History Society with a greater appreciation for the importance of equality, perseverance, community leadership, and preserving history for future generations.”
Interested in the New Brunswick Black History Society’s October hike or upcoming events? Follow BBPN for details on how to join.
