Concordia opens archive documenting historic Negro Community Centre

Concordia University has formally opened an archive of materials from the Negro Community Centre, which closed in 2013 and was a major part of Montreal’s Black Community. Concordia history students took part in researching the archive’s photos and documents to understand specific aspects of the centre. “One of the reasons why you could have people like Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones come out of the neighbourhood is that you had a real commitment to the youth who lived here,” said Désirée Rochat, community educator and a research assistant for the project. “The fight against Apartheid, connections with the Civil Rights movement, or other social justice movements. It's interesting because it's a very local history, but with international connections.” CBC