BGLOs in Canada?

[SoTrue1920]

Hi people,

I just moved to Vancouver, BC from Atlanta, GA. While there's not a sizeable Black population in Vancouver, there are in other cities (Toronto, Halifax, Edmonton, Winnipeg), yet I've never seen any BGLOs represented on-line, in publications, or in person.

If you're a member of a BGLO, do you know of any chapters that have been chartered in the "Great White North"?

[gphi2k]

Originally posted by SoTrue1920:
Hi people,

I just moved to Vancouver, BC from Atlanta, GA. While there's not a sizeable Black population in Vancouver, there are in other cities (Toronto, Halifax, Edmonton, Winnipeg), yet I've never seen any BGLOs represented on-line, in publications, or in person.

If you're a member of a BGLO, do you know of any chapters that have been chartered in the "Great White North"?

I had never heard of the term bglo and someone informed me i probably wouldn't have because I live in Canada and there are no chapters represented up here. Crappy but true.

Leslie

[WenD08]

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. does not have any chapters in Canada. there have been some young ladies who have expressed interest so hopefully we'll get up there. also, there is a Black Canadian sorority. the name escapes me. i believe they're in Toronto or thereabouts.

[Siobhan]

Originally posted by SoTrue1920:
Hi people,

I just moved to Vancouver, BC from Atlanta, GA. While there's not a sizeable Black population in Vancouver, there are in other cities (Toronto, Halifax, Edmonton, Winnipeg), yet I've never seen any BGLOs represented on-line, in publications, or in person.

If you're a member of a BGLO, do you know of any chapters that have been chartered in the "Great White North"?

Hey, I live in Van and attend UBC, we don't have any BGLO's or any other ethnic fraternities or sororities. We are all members of NIC/NPC groups.


[This message has been edited by Siobhan (edited February 28, 2001).]

[Serenity]

also, there is a Black Canadian sorority. the name escapes me. i believe they're in Toronto or thereabouts.

That's Gamma Phi Delta, Sorority, Inc. They have a website: http://gphid.com



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Sigma Lambda Upsilon: Sincerity, Loyalty, Unity http://www.sigmalambdaupsilon.org

[Lil_G]

Canada is a much more mulitcultural society, because of this you will not see very many organizations based on ethnicity. Typical of greeks in Canada is that we pride ourselves on being more diverse. Montreal actually has the highest percentage of blacks in canada but you don't see any al-black fraternities at mcgill or concordia.
You should check out the fraternities at your school, it's the least you can do.

- Nick

[welwyn]

I agree with Lil_G...because Canada doesn't have the history of segregation the US did, diversity is more of a Canadian cultural thing. Separate fraternity systems for people based on their ethnic background would just seem strange here, since Canadian GLOs tend to have really diverse memberships. I think it would be weird to have an all-white chapter! If you're interested in UBC Greek stuff, their website is http://www.ams.ubc.ca/greek. BTW, welcome to Canada!

[Siobhan]

I'm gonna keep adding to this diversity/multicultural thing Especially in Vancouver we are very multicultural and all the fraternities and sororities at UBC are made up of all different ethnic/racial groups, including blacks. Because we pride ourselves on being so mutlicultural everyone joins the same orgs because we don't need to separate ourselves racially/culturally I hope that last sentence made sense.

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Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Gamma Chapter
University of British Columbia
Sigma 1996

[mccoyred]

I do not personally know of any NPHC orgs with chapters in Canada, however there may be local BGLOs represented.

I do not like the tone of the 'multi-cultural/diversity' explanation of why there seem to be no BGLOs in Canada.

Historically, many Blacks settled in Canada from the US and other areas (ie Caribbean). Mostly to escape slavery in the US or because they migrated from other British possessions. However, I am not comfortable with the assumption that there is no racism (or other social/political forces) in Canada that hastened the formation of BGLOs in the US.

Please don't forget that the British Empire was/is one of the biggest enslavers and dehumanizers in history. While there may be no open racial conflict in Canada today, they are still not totally accepting of all people. Dare I mention the ongoing movement in Quebec province to become independent of Anglophone Canada?

I do not profess to be an expert on Canada, however I refuse to believe everything is all hearts and flowers in 'the Great WHITE North'; especially when few images of Blacks, positive or negative, are exported to the US. Does this mean that Blacks don't exist or that they are not important enough for their images to be exported? If everything is so multicultural/diverse, why don't we see that reflected?

I am not trying to project American values on a Canadian system but as an informal student of world history, I am trying to make sure that everything is viewed in its proper historical context.

Peace


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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

[gphi2k]

Originally posted by mccoyred:

I do not like the tone of the 'multi-cultural/diversity' explanation of why there seem to be no BGLOs in Canada.

I KNEW there would be repercussions to what the other Canadians said.

There IS a difference between race relations in Canada and that is a reality of our cultures. I am not by any means saying that Americans are racist and Canadians aren't. But if you look at the histories of our countries, you will find they are very different. Canada is and always has been a more complacent country. As someone said earlier, it would be strange to have race specific GLO's here. It just wouldn't mesh with the greater culture. If that makes any sense...

As for the British association with Canada....No one said there is no or has never been any racial tension in Canada and that that explains the lack of BGLOs. But the truth in this matter lies in history books. Read them and you will see that what we have said is true. There has simply never been such rampant racism and segregation in Canada.

Suggesting that Quebec's desire to sucede from the country is similar to the race issues in the United States really just shows a lack of knowledge about what the Quebequoi are fighting for and about. But I will tell you this much. It's not the anglophones (greater society) against the Fracophones. Quite the contrary. The Francophones want their own society because they believe they are distintive enough and strong enough to support themselves, and desire to do so. Greater Canada has voted in referendums to keep Quebec, and their 'distinct' society as a part of ours. But that is a whole other subject that would bore everyone. Trust me.

Most of our sorors are very multi-cultural.
Do not be offended when we say that race relations up here are different. It's an inherent truth. While there has been and probably always will be racial tension in any multi-cultural society, the reality is that the tensions were never as great, never as legislated and never as wide spread and potent in Canada as it was in the United States.

But let's not let this thread turn into another heated race topic. Her question was are there BLGOs in Canada, not why aren't there.

Leslie

[mccoyred]

Of course you knew there would be repercussions!

Thanks for the additional info on Canada. I am sure there are other facts that I don't know, but the Quebec thing was the first thing that I thought about. I'll take your word for it about the situation until I have the opportunity to do further research!

However, the previous responses brought up the question of WHY there aren't BGLOS in Canada. I was just responding to the sweetness-and-light tone of those posts.

Originally posted by gphi2k:

I KNEW there would be repercussions to what the other Canadians said.

But let's not let this thread turn into another heated race topic. Her question was are there BLGOs in Canada, not why aren't there.

Leslie

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MCCOYRED
Mu Psi '86
BaltCo Alumnae

Dynamic...Salient...Temperate...Since 1913

[Siobhan]

I absolutely love this topic. No not everything is sunshine and lollipops in Canada when it comes to the integration of the many different races and cultures, racism does exist and can be quite prevelent at times. But as Canadians we are taught and have grown up with the idea/notion of a multicultural society. While we are all Canadians, part of that means respecting and celebrating the diversity of our society. We expect everyone to keep their culture and promote, and that is what adds to the experience of being Canadian. On a very small scale my sorority holds multicultural dinners where each sister brings food from her ethnic background - it makes for a very tasty dinner of British, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, European, and Malaysian food just to name a food. As someone mentioned earlier the thought of an all white fraternity/sorority is just totally strange.

As for the Quebec thing, that's a whole other ball park.

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Delta Phi Epsilon
Delta Gamma Chapter
University of British Columbia
Sigma 1996

[SoTrue1920]

I'm already a member of a BGLO - I'm a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I'm interested in forming a chapter here at some point.

And while Canada is a multicultural society, it's been my experience (so far, and in talking with other Black Canadians) that in respect of some things, ethnic groups can be pretty insular.

Originally posted by Lil_G:
Canada is a much more mulitcultural society, because of this you will not see very many organizations based on ethnicity. Typical of greeks in Canada is that we pride ourselves on being more diverse. Montreal actually has the highest percentage of blacks in canada but you don't see any al-black fraternities at mcgill or concordia.
You should check out the fraternities at your school, it's the least you can do.

- Nick

[Lil_G]

Maybe with reference to explaining BLGO's in Canada we should also point to the weak greek importance in Canada. Simply put, many chapters CANNOT maintain a fraternity based entirely on ethnic or economic status if it wants to succeed. Our numbers are so small that we can't limit our criteria for membership based just on a certain personna - our numbers in attracting rushes is very very small as it is.

Altough i'm not looking to cause any trouble I really think your reference to quebec and francophones was poor to say the least. You've neglected to state that there are many french canadians outside of Quebec (e.g some of my boys). The actual separation of quebec is more along a cultural sovereignty or to "look after itself", and not a full withdrawal from the country.
Anyways, i'm sure that will generate enough responses, i gotta hit the gym and then class

[gphi2k]

Originally posted by Siobhan:
...as Canadians we are taught and have grown up with the idea/notion of a multicultural society. While we are all Canadians, part of that means respecting and celebrating the diversity of our society. We expect everyone to keep their culture and promote, and that is what adds to the experience of being Canadian.

It's that whole mosiac versus melting pot thing we learned about back in grade school. The U.S. is more of a Melting Pot. Canada is very much a Mosiac. It really speaks to the mentality of the people and society who make up the the population of a given place. It is really intersting to compare the two. To look at the lack of BGLOs in Canada as indicative of a greater societal difference between the countries....

Back to this lame boring Quebec question...you can study up on if you want to. You'll learn fun stuff like, Ontario Provincial law (or is Canadian Federal, help me out West Coasters) requires that all packages and signs be in both french and english. And I do mean EVERY. But Quebec law, in hypoctical contrast, dictates that all signs and packages be soley french. No English allowed. Just thought I'd give you some more info on the Quebec thing given that you appeared interested. I guarantee you you're one of the few.

That's it. I'll shut up now.

Leslie

p.s. Siobhan, you're right. i love this topic too. it's nice seeing a Canada centred discussion . I usually feel so lonely