On Sunday, February 2, Peterborough actor, playwright and musician Beau Dixon was honoured by The City of Peterborough and an appreciative community audience as the highlight of this year’s Black History Month Proclamation Ceremony.
Beau’s plays and performances have brought previously untold stories of Canada’s black history to stages across the country — including over 5,000 students at school performances. They’ve also won him multiple theatre awards.
At Emmanuel United Church Peterborough, Beau captivated the audience with excerpts from his play Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story and heartfelt performances of “Redemption Song” and “A Change is Gonna Come.”
This is only the second year The City of Peterborough has formally proclaimed Black History Month. It is doing these proclamations justice. The event was hosted by the Community Race Relations Committee of Peterborough (CRRC) and included historian Rosemary Sadlier (who was instrumental inbringing Black History Month to Toronto, Ontario and Canada), steel drum music by Winston Fredrick, stunning African dances by Mayelin Lovet, and a performance of “Freedom Song” by the TISA – Trent International Students’ Association Choir.
— with Charmaine Magumbe and 6 others.
Photos: Ben Wolfe