Each year, Black History Month, provides us with the opportunity to come together and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black communities across Canada. This year, we celebrated the 30^th Anniversary of Black History Month in Canada with the theme: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations – From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”

As Chair and Vice-Chair of IPAC‑NCR, we wish to recognize the invaluable contributions of Black leaders, scholars, and professionals in shaping public policy, public administration, and service delivery. We also proudly acknowledge the Black members of our Board, whose dedication to public service and commitment to building a better Canada strengthen our work every day.

IPAC‑NCR remains deeply committed to ensuring that Black voices and perspectives are included in the critical conversations that shape our public institutions. We recognize that Black public servants are subject matter experts across a wide range of fields; their expertise must be sought consistently - not only on issues related to equity and inclusion.

As part of this year’s Black History Month celebrations, we partnered with the Ombuds Office at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the Federal Black Executives Network (BEN/REN), and Deloitte’s Black Employees Network to host a panel discussion titled “Exploring the Application of Artificial Intelligence.”

Moderated by our Vice‑Chair, the discussion brought together senior Black public service executives and a leading Black academic to explore how Artificial Intelligence can be leveraged responsibly and ethically. The conversation highlighted the importance of ensuring that Black communities are positioned to benefit from advancements in AI while also playing a central role in discussions about how the Government of Canada may use AI internally and in service delivery to Canadians.

As we look ahead, IPAC‑NCR’s commitment to meaningful allyship remains steadfast. We will continue to feature diverse voices and perspectives at our events, ensure our Board reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of the public service, and actively support Black professionals through meaningful engagement and collaborative problem‑solving.

We encourage you to join us - not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year in celebrating and uplifting Black excellence in all its forms.

Happy Black History Month!