Photo, courtesy of the artist

Suitable Climate by Donovan Hayden, brings to light the overlooked history of Black settlers in Western Canada. This compelling historical fiction follows the Cook family, a Black American family that settles in Western Canada in the early 1900’s. Intertwined with their journey is a contemporary story of a father and son rediscovering this hidden legacy. Both families grapple with the enduring struggles of claiming their rightful space, the unyielding spectre of racism, and uncovering moments of joy in a world often designed against them. Suitable Climate boldly challenges the narrative that Black people are foreign to Canada, celebrating the profound impact of Black settler communities on our present-day understanding of Black Canadian identity.

Join us for a relaxed staged reading that honours the past and shapes the future.

Donovan Hayden – Playwright
Marcel Stewart – Director
Brenden McMurtry-Howlett – Dramaturg
Kira Allen – Producer