Canadiens celebrate Black History Month

MONTREAL -- As part of the National Hockey League's Hockey Is for Everyone program, the Montreal Canadiens will be celebrating Black History Month on Monday, February 21.

Ahead of their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canadiens players will wear black warmup jerseys to pay tribute to the rich heritage and impactful achievements of the Black community, both in hockey and society. For the occasion, the Canadian national anthem will be performed by Cameroon-born singer-songwriter
Clerel
.

"Black History Month is a great opportunity for our Club to reiterate our commitment to provide all players and fans an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment, free from any form of racism or discrimination. We are privileged to be able to offer our support, in February and beyond, to organizations serving the black communities of Montreal, and who work to reduce inequalities in our society, in particular by promoting access to hockey and other sports to marginalized groups," said Geneviève Paquette, vice-president of community engagement for the Montreal Canadiens.
The warmup jerseys that the players will wear before the game on Monday will be adorned with the Pan-African colors, which serve as symbols to represent African Diaspora communities: green, for the richness and the fertility of the land of the African continent; red, for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and that was shed during the fight for liberation; yellow, for the wealth of Africa, that was taken from its people; and black, for the color of the people. These autographed jerseys are already up for auction on
black.bidandraise.com
, and online bidding will run through 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 23. Funds raised through this auction will be donated to
Pour 3 Points
, an organization committed to developing and increasing the positive impact of sports coaches on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, both in sports and in life. Tricolore Sports has also committed to donating 10% of their sales made
online
and
in-store
on Monday, February 21, to Pour 3 Points, to support the creation of environments conducive to the well-being of young people.

"The Montreal Canadiens have a major influence not only in the sport world, but in society as a whole. I am very grateful that this great organization is partnering with Pour 3 Points in order to support the potential of young people from underprivileged backgrounds, and thus contribute together to a fairer society," added Fabrice Vil, founder of Pour 3 Points.

The
Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation
will be hosting in its private suites teenage girls from Henri-Bourassa High School who are taking part this winter in a program offered by
Hockey 4 Youth
in Montreal North. Supported by the Montreal Canadiens through funds raised during Black History Month in 2021, this program allows 21 young girls, some of whom are newcomers, to learn to skate and play hockey at no cost.

The winners of the latest edition of the
Impact Player program
, aimed at highlighting the transformative work of Black individuals who are dedicated to building a better and more inclusive future for future generations in Quebec, will also be honored during the game.
To learn more about the Club's various initiatives, we invite you to explore our
Black History Month page
, where you'll find resources that you can support, learn from and engage with.