Happening OBNL 3737 – 2nd Edition – GALA EVENING 2023 – REACTIONS

Montreal – The 37th edition of Happening 37 concluded with a vibrant evening, highlighted by a colorful gala and an atmosphere of collective pride. For three days, leaders, artists, entrepreneurs, and representatives of Black community organizations from across Canada gathered to exchange, learn, and celebrate the successes of their communities.

Among the personalities present, Fabienne Colas – founding president of the Black Film Festivals in Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax, as well as the Fabienne Colas Foundation – praised the collective momentum generated by the event:

“I really like this ecosystem that we are building within our Black communities. Thanks to the support of the federal government and the initiative of group 37 37, our organizations are strengthening their capacities, sharing their experiences, and moving forward together. It’s wonderful,” she said with emotion.

Colas, who arrived in Canada twenty years ago, recalled the journey: “At the time, I felt almost alone. Today, I see a vibrant and resilient community.”

The City of Montreal councillor, present during the evening, described the event as “magical” and addressed a message of inspiration to the younger generations:

“You must never give up on your dreams. It took me 25 years to achieve mine. Believe in your potential and pursue your ambitions to the fullest.”

Réal Barnabé, vice-president of the Fabienne Colas Foundation and its co-founder, emphasized the importance of such gatherings:

“It is necessary. The workshops allow us to address crucial issues for our communities. Through our festivals, we have always seen the importance of creating these spaces for exchange.”

For his part, Franklin, representative of the Blackbirdope organization based in British Columbia, highlighted the national reach of the event:

“It is an example to follow. The workshops on mental health, for example, opened a dialogue too often absent in our communities. We must break taboos and provide concrete tools for leaders and families.”

Throughout the workshops, sensitive topics such as mental health, organizational governance, growth strategies, and leadership were highlighted. These discussions provided organizations with practical means to strengthen their teams and better respond to community needs.

“We succeeded in breaking the linguistic divide,” explained one of the organizers. “This edition was 100% bilingual, with as many workshops in French as in English. This marks an important step towards true inclusion.”

At the end of the three days, emotion was palpable. The Vice-President of Social Innovation for group 37 37 emphasized:

“It’s a great success. To see Black pride and beauty celebrated in such a unifying setting is priceless. We leave with the feeling of a job well done, but above all with the drive to already prepare next year’s edition.”

Many participants expressed their gratitude toward the federal support and the organization of Happening 37, which helped highlight the richness of Black talents and initiatives in Canada.

The final word came from a participant who summarized the spirit of the gathering:

“Every day, we strive to have a positive impact. Here, we proved that together, we can change the trajectory of our communities.”