The Black Academy is a Canadian academy for the recognition of talent and fostering of Black Canadians in various industries. It is a division of B.L.A.C.K. Canada (Building a Legacy in Acting, Cinema + Knowledge), an organization founded by Canadian actors Shamier Anderson and Stephan James in 2020.
The organization has partnered with Insight Productions to launch an annual Legacy Awards ceremony to honour Black Canadian achievement in film, television, music, sports, and culture, which launched in 2022.Victoria Ahearn, "The Black Academy to launch Black-focused awards show in Canada". Global News, January 28, 2021. The awards ceremony was held on the last Sunday of September and have already secured a commitment from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to broadcast the ceremony for at least the first three years, from 2022 through 2024.Victoria Ahearn, "CBC to air The Black Academy’s upcoming awards show, starting in fall 2022". Toronto Star, May 31, 2021.
The first Legacy Awards were broadcast on September 25, 2022,Greg David, "CBC UNVEILS 2022-23 PROGRAMMING SLATE". TV, eh?, June 1, 2022. with the honorees announced as Andre De Grasse, Kayla Grey and Fabienne Colas.Jackson Weaver, "Andre De Grasse, Kayla Grey, Fabienne Colas to receive inaugural Legacy Awards". CBC News, September 23, 2022. The honorees in 2023 were Tonya Williams, Director X, Jully Black, and Lu Kala,Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Legacy Awards unveils honourees for 2023 edition". Playback, August 29, 2023. with the 2024 ceremony honoring Kardinal Offishall, Cameron Bailey and Weyni Mengesha."TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey among 2024 Legacy Awards honourees". Toronto Star, September 19, 2024.
The Legacy Awards were discontinued in 2025,Alex Nino Gheciu, "Canada’s all-Black awards show The Legacy Awards ends, shifts to interview series". CityNews, December 10, 2025. with the CBC instead collaborating with Anderson and James on The Legacy Lounge, a new talk show profiling and interviewing Black Canadian figures to air during Black History Month.Andrew Tracy, "Inaugural honourees set for CBC’s The Legacy Lounge". Playback, January 29, 2026. The series will feature interviews with businessman Wes Hall, actress Amanda Brugel, singer Fefe Dobson and social media stars Basement Gang.
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