Back to Articles

The Man Behind the Design: A Journey Into the Unknown

  • Feb 09, 2022
  • Canadiana
  • 5 minutes read

Kwame Delfish, a Canadian-born artist, designed the 2022 Underground Railroad coin commemorating Black History Month. The coin honours all those who rode the Gospel Train and followed the stars to freedom. The design is a timeless and tangible tribute to the thousands who risked their lives for the promise of freedom. The story of the Underground Railroad is a tale of desperation, determination and hope; a tale Kwame managed to capture beautifully on one coin—not an easy feat for any artist.

image
image

Kwame Delfish, a Canadian-born artist, designed the 2022 Underground Railroad coin commemorating Black History Month. The coin honours all those who rode the Gospel Train and followed the stars to freedom. The design is a timeless and tangible tribute to the thousands who risked their lives for the promise of freedom. The story of the Underground Railroad is a tale of desperation, determination and hope; a tale Kwame managed to capture beautifully on one coin—not an easy feat for any artist.

image

Kwame Delfish

“I wanted to take the viewer on many trips around the coin to help them understand that this is a continuous fight up until today,”

Kwame Delfish
A legacy of courage: The story of Black Loyalists in Canada

Black history is Canadian history. And one of the most important moments in our history dates back over 200 years ago on the shores of Port Roseway, Nova Scotia. Upon landing in Nova Scotia, Black Loyalists settled in areas such as Halifax, Annapolis Royal, Shelburne, Tracadie and in Birchtown. At the time, this was the largest settlement of free Black people outside of Africa.

Willie O'Ree Willie O'Ree
10 Things You May Not Know About Willie O’Ree

Not only is Willie O’Ree an important figure in the sports community, but a beacon of inspiration for anyone striving to make a difference. Though he was the first to break hockey’s colour barrier, many still do not know much about this impactful trailblazer. Here are 10 facts you may not have known about him.

A Heroine for Human Rights in Canada

Meet the incomparable Viola Desmond, a black Canadian born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who played a pivotal role in the struggle for human rights in the 1940s. On November 8, 1946 police forcibly removed Viola from a movie theatre when she refused to leave her seat in the whites-only section. She was arrested, fined $26 (≈$300 today), and spent a night in jail.