Senate adopts Senator Gerba’s motion to recognize May 25 as World Africa Day

On June 2, 2026, the Senate of Canada adopted a motion moved by Senator Amina Gerba to officially recognize May 25 as World Africa Day in Canada. The Senate Journals record the motion as seconded by Senator White.

What the motion says

The motion asks the Senate to recognize May 25 to mark three things: the importance of relations between Canada and African countries; the essential contribution of African and Afro-descendant communities to Canadian society; and shared values of solidarity, diversity, peace and international cooperation. It encourages the Government of Canada and public institutions to mark the day each year, as a first step toward officially incorporating it into the calendar of national days recognized by the federal government.

Why May 25

In her speech, Senator Gerba explained that May 25 commemorates the 1963 creation of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union. She tied the timing to Canada’s first Africa Strategy, adopted in 2025, arguing that recognizing the day means moving from intention to action.

In a May 26 Senate statement on Africa Day, she also recalled that the AfCFTA brings together 54 countries and that Africa — home to more than 1.5 billion people, about one in five people on Earth — is projected to account for one in four by 2050.

Why it matters for the CACT community

Symbolic recognition has practical uses. A fixed national date gives chambers of commerce, cultural associations and businesses an annual moment to convene buyers, showcase African and Afro-Canadian entrepreneurs and put trade on the public agenda. The motion is a Senate step, not yet a government designation — the next milestone to watch is whether Ottawa acts on it.