Our Identity
Who
We Are
A Black-led, Black-serving, Black-focused nonprofit rooted in British Columbia — celebrating African and Indigenous heritage through arts, culture, and community.
Our Story
Built From Community,
For Community
Founded in British Columbia, Great Lakes Networking Society of BC is a registered nonprofit that uses arts, culture, education, and community programming to bring people together, promote equity, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
Through festivals, storytelling, and community-based initiatives, we celebrate diversity, strengthen belonging, and advance social justice for underserved communities across Greater Vancouver and beyond.
Our name draws from the Great Lakes region of East and Central Africa — a vast, life-giving landscape that has shaped the cultures, languages, and histories of millions. It reflects our deep roots in African heritage and our commitment to carrying those roots forward in a new home.
Our Identity
Black-Led. Black-Serving.
Community-Centred.
These are not just words — they are the foundation of every decision we make, every program we run, and every partnership we build.
Black-Led
Our organisation is founded, directed, and governed by Black community members. Leadership that looks like the communities we serve is not optional — it is essential.
Black-Serving
Our programs, services, and resources are designed to meet the specific needs of Black communities in BC — grounded in cultural competence and lived experience.
Black-Focused
We centre the stories, voices, challenges, and triumphs of Black people in our programming, advocacy, and public presence — without apology.
Black-Mandated
Our mandate is defined by and accountable to Black communities. We exist to serve them and our decisions are guided by what best advances their wellbeing.
"We are dedicated to building inclusive and empowered communities through culturally grounded programs that celebrate diverse heritages, amplify underrepresented voices, and promote creativity across Greater Vancouver and the global civil society."
— Great Lakes Networking Society of BC Mandate
Our Journey
A History of Service
From a small community gathering to one of Greater Vancouver's leading cultural nonprofits — our story is one of growth, resilience, and deep community roots.
Founded in BC
Great Lakes Networking Society of BC was established by community members determined to create a cultural home for African communities in British Columbia. Small gatherings grew into a registered nonprofit with a bold mandate.
Harambeecouver is Born
The launch of the Harambeecouver Afro Arts and Reconciliation Festival marked a turning point — bringing together thousands of Vancouverites to celebrate African culture, music, dance, food, and community.
Education & Advocacy Programs
Expansion into SKILLZ Training Workshops, Swahili language preservation, economic sustainability education, and anti-racism advocacy — reflecting our growing mandate and community trust.
Navigating COVID-19
Despite the pandemic, we adapted swiftly — partnering with Fraser Health to support COVID-19 vaccination outreach within African-descent communities, and shifting programs online to maintain connection.
Reconciliation & Partnerships
Deepening our reconciliation work with Indigenous communities, launching Canada-Africa Week, and expanding the Nakhatanda Seniors Resilience Program to serve elders across Greater Vancouver.
Growing Stronger
With 4 annual signature festivals, 10,000+ community members reached, and programs spanning arts, education, food security, and economic empowerment — we continue building the future our communities deserve.
Who We Serve
Our Community
We serve Black and African-descent communities across Greater Vancouver and British Columbia — from recent newcomers finding their footing to second-generation Canadians reconnecting with their heritage.
We walk alongside Indigenous communities in a shared commitment to reconciliation, cultural preservation, and healing — recognising the deep historical connections between African and Indigenous peoples as communities who have both experienced colonisation.
We welcome allied communities — anyone who believes in equity, belongs to our circle. Our festivals and programs are open invitations to learn, celebrate, and connect across difference.
What We Do
Our Areas of Impact
Through four interconnected pillars, we address the whole person and the whole community.
Arts & Culture
We believe culture is the soil from which community grows. Through the Harambeecouver festival, Canada-Africa Week, and year-round arts programming, we provide platforms for African and Indigenous artists to share, celebrate, and preserve their heritage.
Education & Empowerment
Knowledge is power. We run skills training workshops, anti-racism education, Swahili language preservation, and economic literacy programs that equip community members with tools for self-determination.
Social Justice & Advocacy
We speak truth to power. From FGM awareness to food security, from reconciliation to income inequality — we advocate for policies and systems that address the root causes of inequality in BC and beyond.
Community Wellbeing
Healthy communities need nourishment — physical, emotional, and spiritual. We work on food security, seniors support, girls' empowerment through sport, and sustainability programs that care for people holistically.
Territorial Acknowledgement
We Are Grateful to Be Hosted on This Land
Great Lakes Networking Society of BC lives and works on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish People, including the territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Stó:lo and Tseil-Waututh Nations.
Musqueam
Nation
Squamish
Nation
Stó:lo
Nation
Tseil-Waututh
Nation
As an organisation dedicated to reconciliation, we honour this acknowledgement not as a formality but as an ongoing commitment to relationship-building, allyship, and solidarity with Indigenous peoples — both in BC and across the continent. We recognise that our work for the African diaspora is deeply connected to the work of decolonisation that Indigenous communities continue to lead.
Karibuni — You Are Welcome Here
Whether you want to attend a festival, volunteer your time, support our work, or simply learn more — there is a place for you in our community.