Dozens of Black New Brunswickers and their families converged in downtown Fredericton on Saturday for what organisers describe as the largest group photograph of African, Black and Caribbean people in the province’s history.
Outside the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, photographer and event organiser Gary Weekes captured a portrait of about 80 people who had travelled from across the province, from the West Coast and even the United States to take part in the gathering. The photograph is part of the Still Here Emancipation Celebration, a weekend initiative intended to bring together and celebrate Black families with deep roots in New Brunswick.
Photograph and purpose
Organisers framed the image as both a family reunion and a public declaration: participants wanted to record and assert that they are "still here" and "still Black" in a province where Black communities have lived for centuries. The portrait aimed to document multiple generations and highlight connections across families living in different parts of the country.
“As we learn more things, the geography of this area is full of stories of Black people, Black excellence, and agency, and I hope more people come to be interested and embrace it,”
The remark came from Graham Nickerson, who lives near Fredericton and said the Still Here celebration may represent the largest gathering of related Black family members he has ever seen. Nickerson shared that some of his family history stretches back to the 1700s in the Grand Bay–Westfield area and that he discovered more of his local roots while researching Black land grants.
Who attended and why it matters
Participants ranged from children to elders, and several families travelled long distances to appear in the portrait. Organisers and attendees described the event as an opportunity to commemorate family histories, to record presence in public spaces and to foster awareness of Black experiences in New Brunswick—stories that organisers said are woven into the province’s geography.
For many, the photograph served as a tangible record that may be used in family histories, community archives or future public exhibits. The gathering also formed part of wider emancipation programming taking place that weekend.
Practical snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Still Here Emancipation Celebration (group portrait) |
| Location | Outside Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton |
| Approx. attendance | About 80 people |
| Organiser / photographer | Gary Weekes |
Local history and connections
Speakers and attendees noted that Black communities have long-established ties across New Brunswick. In some cases, family histories in the province extend back several generations. Research into Black land grants, family names and local records continues to reveal the depth and longevity of those connections, participants said.
Those personal discoveries motivated some to travel to Fredericton for the portrait. The gathering allowed families to meet descendants of relatives they had only known by name in documents, to compare histories and to capture a shared moment of recognition.
What organisers hope follows
Organisers of the Still Here celebration said they hope the portrait and related events will spark broader interest in the province’s Black histories and encourage public engagement with stories of Black presence and contribution in New Brunswick. They also intend the work to be a basis for further documentation and celebration of family histories.
- Celebration: mark the presence and heritage of Black families in New Brunswick
- Documentation: create visual and oral records for future reference
- Community building: reconnect relatives and reinforce intergenerational ties
The portrait on Saturday was, for participants, both a personal milestone and a public statement: a reminder that Black people and Black families remain a living and visible part of New Brunswick’s past, present and future.
— New Brunswick correspondent
