It was a true honour and joy to join Arcelle Appolon, Executive Director of Maison d’Haïti, to announce exciting news for our community. With support from Canadian Heritage, Maison d’Haïti has received funding for its project Lignes de Force: Biennale afro-descendante en mouvement 2025–2026.
Led by Afro-descendant women artists, this inspiring initiative will shine a spotlight on creativity, promote inclusion, and strengthen the presence of Afro-descendant voices in our cultural and artistic spaces. The Biennale will include performances, exhibitions, conferences, and roundtable discussions—creating a platform for artists to connect, express, and celebrate rich Afro-descendant cultures while addressing issues such as discrimination and underrepresentation in the arts.
This funding, provided through Canadian Heritage’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program, reflects our government’s ongoing commitment to combat racism, promote diversity, and ensure that everyone in Canada has the opportunity to see themselves represented in our cultural spaces.
I am proud to support Maison d’Haïti’s first Biennale afro-descendante en mouvement, a project that highlights the incredible talent and creativity of women in the cultural sector while addressing the discrimination they continue to face. For more than 50 years, Maison d’Haïti has been a cornerstone of our community, fostering inclusion, education, and empowerment, and this Biennale represents a vital step forward in celebrating talent, promoting diversity, and building a more inclusive future—right here in Saint-Léonard–Saint-Michel.