Portraits: Stories of Black Canadian Military Service
JUNE 27 – SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
From pre-Confederation conflicts through to the war in Afghanistan, Black Canadians have had a proud tradition of military service. They have fought and died for freedom abroad, even as they have struggled against discrimination at home. Portraits – Stories of Black Canadian Military Service, a new travelling exhibition developed by the Canadian War Museum in partnership with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and the Niagara Military Museum, celebrates the contributions of Black Canadians in the military through compelling accounts of service and sacrifice from across the country.
“The breadth and depth of Black Canadian military service throughout history is unfortunately not well known,” said James Whitham, Director General of the Canadian War Museum. “By sharing this exhibition across Canada, we hope to deepen the public’s appreciation of the military contributions of Black Canadians.”
Originally developed with the Niagara Military Museum for presentation at the Canadian War Museum in 2022, this text- and image-based exhibition takes a regional approach to explore how Black Canadians have had an enduring presence in the nation’s military history.
Portraits highlights the contributions and experiences of several Black men and women from Nova Scotia and southern Ontario — two historic centres of Black migration to Canada — as well as other parts of Canada. An introductory timeline provides context for the involvement of Black Canadians in key conflicts. In each zone, the stories are presented in chronological order.
Visitors will recognize familiar names and events, such as the story of William Hall, one of Canada’s first recipients of the Victoria Cross. They will also discover many lesser-known stories of service and sacrifice, like that of Connie and Kathleen Brown, twin sisters who served during the Second World War.
Portraits – Stories of Black Canadian Military Service was developed by the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa in partnership with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, Halifax and the Niagara Military Museum, Niagara Falls.
