We are Looking for Volunteer Classrooms!!
Guelph Black Heritage Society
The purpose of the Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) is to preserve the historical significance of the former Guelph British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church building by creating a cultural, historical and social centre within Guelph and Wellington County. The Guelph BME Church building has been renamed Heritage Hall.
We are honoured to announce that we are bringing our Black Heritage Reclaimed program to all Ontario teachers for use in September 2026. 3 Classroom-ready units that bring Black Canadian history to life through compelling storytelling and authentic audio narratives, aligned to Ontario curriculum.
– Richard Pierpoint – 1800
– Melissa Smith Hesson – 1900
– Denise Francis – The Present
Sample Audio Narrative: “Arrivals at Heritage Hall”
– Thirty seconds that model the storytelling voice used in class.
– Optional AR enhancements are available where supported.
– The core program works without special hardware.
Introductory webinar: Thursday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET
No cost to educators.
Join the Spring 2026 Pilot | How it works
Authentic. Community reviewed.
- Aligned to Ontario expectations. Grade 7, 8 & 10
- Structured for inquiry and reflection.
- Designed with educators and GBHS.
What the Program Delivers
Three units with ready-to-teach lessons, rich narratives, and assessment tools.
Audio brings primary voices into class. Materials are turnkey and accessible.
- Ten sequenced lessons per unit with pacing guides
- Audio narratives that open each lesson and centre lived experience
- Teacher rubrics, quick checks, and student Thoughtbook templates
- Ontario expectations mapped to each activity plus UN Sustainable Development Goal links
Curriculum at a glance
Grade 7 – Richard Pierpoint
Loyalist, veteran, land petitions, and the making of communities in Upper Canada.
Grade 8 – Melissa Smith Hesson
Civic action, health, and leadership through a local lens that scales to Canada.
Grade 10 – Denise Francis
Contemporary perspectives that link history to present-day decision making.
How it works
Onboard in One Hour...
Attend an intro webinar. Download the unit. Set up audio narratives and Thoughtbooks.
Start with Story...
Each lesson opens with a short narrative that invites curiosity and empathy.
Move from Awareness to Action...
Lessons follow a clear path that echoes Six Levels of Cultural Consciousness.
The Guelph Black Heritage Society preserves and celebrates Black heritage through Heritage Hall and a full calendar of programs.
The British Methodist Episcopal Church, built in 1880 by formerly enslaved people, is now a living centre for education and culture.
Spring 2026 Provincial Classroom Pilot
- We are recruiting ten classrooms per grade across Ontario.
- The pilot is no cost to teachers.
- Volunteer classrooms receive advice and implementation support.
- Introductory webinar on Thursday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m.
- Downloadable unit packages and slide decks
- Office hours during implementation
- Short feedback forms to improve the final release for Fall 2026
Register for the November 21 webinar | Preview a unit sample
Key dates
- Webinar – Nov 21 2025 @ 8:00 p.m.
- Pilot onboarding – Jan to Feb 2026
- In-class pilot – Mar to May 2026
- Final release – Fall 2026
What Educators Receive
- Unit overview and pacing guide
- Audio narrative pack with transcripts
- Assessment tools and rubrics
- Thoughtbook templates for reflection
- Expectation maps for Ontario curriculum and SDGs
- Optional AR notes
Download sample package (Ready December 1, 2025)
About GBHS
Program Lead
- Denise L. Francis
- Program Coordinator and founding board member of GBHS.
- Recipient of the City of Guelph Mayor’s Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
- Dedicated to meaningful teaching of Black Canadian history.
Ready to pilot Black Heritage Reclaimed
Register for the November 21 webinar and bring the program to your class in Spring 2026.
Register for the webinar | Contact GBHS
© Guelph Black Heritage Society
Designed for accessibility. Works without special hardware.