February 28, 2023 Gatineau, Quebec Parks Canada
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, helps connect Canadians to their shared history. National Program for Historical Commemoration designations weave together the stories of who we are and connect us to the past, enriching understanding of ourselves, others and this country.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointment of Mr. Aly Ndiaye (a.k.a. Webster) as the Quebec representative for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC).
Ndiaye, a hip-hop artist, historian, activist and speaker, was born and raised in Québec City. His father is Senegalese and his mother is from Quebec. He has always been proud of his origins and describes himself as a SénéQueb. He regularly gives lectures on a variety of topics including the history of the Afro-descendant presence and slavery in Quebec and Canada since the time of New France. He is also one of the pioneers of Quebec's hip-hop movement. Active since 1995, his art is a tool to convey his cultural and intellectual background in the most creative way.
Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change on the national historic significance of places, persons and events that have contributed to Canadian history. Parks Canada supports the work of the Board by providing professional and administrative services, including conducting the historical and archaeological research necessary to evaluate applications.
In cooperation with Parks Canada, the Board ensures that items of national historic significance are recognized and that these important stories are communicated to Canadians through the National Program of Historical Commemoration.
