The old 7-Eleven at Douglas and Johnson is now BC's first Black arts centre

The 7-Eleven at 1327 Douglas is gone, and in its place there's a stage with an accessible ramp, three bathrooms and a community mural. On August 1st it opens as the Black & Here Community Centre, the first Black arts and culture community centre in the province.

The BC Black History Awareness Society has run programming in Greater Victoria since 1994 without ever having a room to call its own. To get this one, they teamed up with REP Here in Canada, a non-profit that supports newcomers and refugees. The two organizations split the rent, and split the difference on a name.

August 1st isn't a random date. It's Emancipation Day, marking the 1834 abolition of slavery across the British Empire. Executive director Jamila Douhaibi points out the freedom wasn't clean or immediate, and says that's exactly why the centre matters.

The grand opening runs at 7 p.m. with DJs, bands and catering, after a private ribbon-cutting with elders and board members. Early programming ideas from members include a tea for elders, a Friday-night choir and after-school study sessions for youth.