Negro Community Centre of Montreal
Photograph
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look at the image of the educator with her students.
What activity do you think they are doing?
What activities might we do today that are similar to this one?
THINK
Oscar Peterson is a world-renowned pianist who helped to cement Canada’s place in the international jazz community. Conduct research to learn more about his life and the impact he has had on Canada’s music industry.
Details
Date circa 1949
Materials - Photograph
Historical Context
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- This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
- The NCC was established in 1927 in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood.
- The NCC was formed by the Union United Church, which was created by the Coloured Women’s Club.
- The NCC was known for its expansive and dynamic services and launched the careers of a number of famous Black musicians.
- It was demolished in 2014 after the city’s urban renewal projects in the 1960 and 1970s displaced many Black families, but in 2023, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to revive it.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
In the 1880s, anti-Black racism was widespread in Canada. In 1905, to combat ongoing discrimination and provide Black Montréalers with a community hub, a group of Black women formed the Coloured Women’s Club. This developed into the Union United Church (UCC) in 1907 and the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in 1927. The NCC was housed in the UUC basement but eventually expanded into a larger building.
The NCC offered a daycare, after-school and seniors’ programs, tutoring, job training, and an arts school. Black musicians such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson studied there and became worldwide talents.
However, the government’s urban renewal projects removed Black families from the area. The building lost funding, deteriorated, and closed in 1989. In 2014 the city demolished the building.
In 2023, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to build a community centre and social housing on the former NCC site.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
In the 1880s, anti-Black racism was widespread in Canada. During the smallpox epidemic in Montréal, the government refused to provide Black Canadians with adequate health care. In 1905, to combat ongoing discrimination and to provide Black Montréalers with a community hub, a group of Black women formed the Coloured Women’s Club. This developed into the Union United Church (UUC) in 1907 and the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in 1927. The NCC was housed in the UUC basement and in the 1950s expanded into a larger building.
The NCC offered a daycare, after-school and seniors’ programs, tutoring, vocational training, and a renowned musical- and performing-arts school. Notable Black musicians such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson studied there and became celebrated worldwide talents.
However, the government’s urban renewal schemes in the 1960s displaced Black families from the area. With a weakened community presence, the building lost funding, deteriorated, and closed in 1989. After the NCC filed for bankruptcy in 2014, the city demolished the building.
In 2023, however, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to build a community centre and social housing for Black residents on the former NCC site to maintain the Centre’s legacy.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
- This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
- The NCC was established in 1927 in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood.
- The NCC was formed by the Union United Church, which was created by the Coloured Women’s Club.
- The NCC was known for its expansive and dynamic services and launched the careers of a number of famous Black musicians.
- It was demolished in 2014 after the city’s urban renewal projects in the 1960 and 1970s displaced many Black families, but in 2023, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to revive it.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
In the 1880s, anti-Black racism was widespread in Canada. In 1905, to combat ongoing discrimination and provide Black Montréalers with a community hub, a group of Black women formed the Coloured Women’s Club. This developed into the Union United Church (UCC) in 1907 and the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in 1927. The NCC was housed in the UUC basement but eventually expanded into a larger building.
The NCC offered a daycare, after-school and seniors’ programs, tutoring, job training, and an arts school. Black musicians such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson studied there and became worldwide talents.
However, the government’s urban renewal projects removed Black families from the area. The building lost funding, deteriorated, and closed in 1989. In 2014 the city demolished the building.
In 2023, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to build a community centre and social housing on the former NCC site.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
In the 1880s, anti-Black racism was widespread in Canada. During the smallpox epidemic in Montréal, the government refused to provide Black Canadians with adequate health care. In 1905, to combat ongoing discrimination and to provide Black Montréalers with a community hub, a group of Black women formed the Coloured Women’s Club. This developed into the Union United Church (UUC) in 1907 and the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in 1927. The NCC was housed in the UUC basement and in the 1950s expanded into a larger building.
The NCC offered a daycare, after-school and seniors’ programs, tutoring, vocational training, and a renowned musical- and performing-arts school. Notable Black musicians such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson studied there and became celebrated worldwide talents.
However, the government’s urban renewal schemes in the 1960s displaced Black families from the area. With a weakened community presence, the building lost funding, deteriorated, and closed in 1989. After the NCC filed for bankruptcy in 2014, the city demolished the building.
In 2023, however, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to build a community centre and social housing for Black residents on the former NCC site to maintain the Centre’s legacy.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
Summary
- This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
- The NCC was established in 1927 in Montréal’s St. Antoine neighbourhood.
- The NCC was formed by the Union United Church, which was created by the Coloured Women’s Club.
- The NCC was known for its expansive and dynamic services and launched the careers of a number of famous Black musicians.
- It was demolished in 2014 after the city’s urban renewal projects in the 1960 and 1970s displaced many Black families, but in 2023, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to revive it.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
Essential
This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
In the 1880s, anti-Black racism was widespread in Canada. In 1905, to combat ongoing discrimination and provide Black Montréalers with a community hub, a group of Black women formed the Coloured Women’s Club. This developed into the Union United Church (UCC) in 1907 and the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in 1927. The NCC was housed in the UUC basement but eventually expanded into a larger building.
The NCC offered a daycare, after-school and seniors’ programs, tutoring, job training, and an arts school. Black musicians such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson studied there and became worldwide talents.
However, the government’s urban renewal projects removed Black families from the area. The building lost funding, deteriorated, and closed in 1989. In 2014 the city demolished the building.
In 2023, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to build a community centre and social housing on the former NCC site.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.
In-Depth
This is a photograph of Black Montréalers leaving the Negro Community Centre (NCC).
In the 1880s, anti-Black racism was widespread in Canada. During the smallpox epidemic in Montréal, the government refused to provide Black Canadians with adequate health care. In 1905, to combat ongoing discrimination and to provide Black Montréalers with a community hub, a group of Black women formed the Coloured Women’s Club. This developed into the Union United Church (UUC) in 1907 and the Negro Community Centre (NCC) in 1927. The NCC was housed in the UUC basement and in the 1950s expanded into a larger building.
The NCC offered a daycare, after-school and seniors’ programs, tutoring, vocational training, and a renowned musical- and performing-arts school. Notable Black musicians such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson studied there and became celebrated worldwide talents.
However, the government’s urban renewal schemes in the 1960s displaced Black families from the area. With a weakened community presence, the building lost funding, deteriorated, and closed in 1989. After the NCC filed for bankruptcy in 2014, the city demolished the building.
In 2023, however, the Centre for Canadians of African Descent announced plans with the city to build a community centre and social housing for Black residents on the former NCC site to maintain the Centre’s legacy.
Scroll through the objects to see other objects related to the Negro Community Centre.