Metro Vancouver's Black population is growing and seeking more ways to connect

Statistics Canada data show Metro Vancouver's Black population rose 38% from 2016 to 2021, and community groups, cultural centres and businesses are expanding events and services to help people connect while facing funding, licensing and geographic challenges.

Metro Vancouver's Black population has grown in recent years, and local residents and organizations are working to increase opportunities for connection. Statistics Canada figures and interviews with community leaders and business owners have drawn attention to both new gatherings and ongoing barriers. Historical changes in the city's neighbourhoods and inconsistent support for programs are part of the context. Community groups and small businesses continue to host events while pursuing longer-term space and resources. Key facts: - Metro Vancouver's Black population increased from 29,830 in 2016 to 41,180 in 2021, a 38 per cent rise, according to Statistics Canada. - Across British Columbia, the Black population rose about 42 per cent to roughly 61,760, representing about 1.3 per cent of the provincial population. - Vancouver's historic Black neighbourhood, Hogan's Alley, was largely removed in the 1970s for viaduct construction; the City of Vancouver has agreed to transfer a community land trust for land near Main, Gore, Union and Prior streets but provided no timeline. - Local organizations cited in the reporting include the Hogan's Alley Society, the Centre for Integration of African Immigrants, and the Black Block Association, while businesses such as VanSuya in Surrey host events and social gatherings. - Interviewees note persistent challenges including dispersed settlement patterns, inconsistent government funding for programs, and licensing or capacity limits for event spaces. Summary: Rising numbers have been accompanied by more visible events and services that help people meet, while structural factors such as historic displacement, geographic dispersion and unstable funding continue to shape how community forms. Plans for a Hogan's Alley-related land trust and a cultural hub have been announced but timing is undetermined, and community groups and businesses are continuing local activities as they seek more stable support.