The Office of Equity, Diversity, and the Anti-Black Racism Working Group, in collaboration with AUSU, the Black Student Association, the Institute of Peoples, Territories, and Pedagogies for Peace (IPTP), and Student Life, invite students, faculty, and staff to attend this year’s signature in-person, campus-wide Black History Month events on the Sault Ste. Marie and Brampton campuses. Both events will showcase the creativity and innovation that define Black excellence across generations, accompanied by authentic Afro-Caribbean refreshments.

Students and employees are encouraged to register in advance to attend events:

• Brampton Campus: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxbGLJyxHKcGp_92mcAwtpwEpT9hbdgvm93G5tcK4rwcVonA/viewform

Special guest Víctor Hugo Rodríguez, a renowned musician from Guapi, Cauca, Colombia, and a visiting guest with the Institute of Peoples, Territories, and Pedagogies for Peace (IPTP), will join students on stage to bring international perspectives to conversations on Black diasporic experiences, Black resistance and artistic expressions.

Biography: Víctor Hugo Rodríguez

Víctor Hugo Rodríguez is a celebrated singer-composer from Guapi, Cauca, Colombia, bringing international perspectives to conversations about Black diaspora experiences and artistic expression. His work recognizes the diverse, global nature of Blackness and Black excellence.

Rodríguez’s latest album Pacífico Gran Comarca explores romance, environment, and social justice through nine songs rooted in peacebuilding and territorial identity. His sound blends traditional Colombian Pacific music with Latin American rhythms and Cali’s salsa pulse, merging heritage with contemporary expression.

Rodriguez’s awards include Best Male Singer of Colombian Music (Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra) and semifinalist on La Voz Colombia. He has performed with Martha Senn, Francisco Zumaqué, Maía, the Colombian Symphony Orchestra, Leonor González Mina, and El Grupo Bahía.