CBC’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud to Headline Black History Month Lecture

Thunder Bay, Ont. — CBC broadcaster and cultural commentator Elamin Abdelmahmoud will headline a Black History Month lecture at Lakehead University as part of the institution’s 60th Anniversary President’s Public Lecture Series.

The event will feature a fireside chat between Abdelmahmoud, host of CBC’s daily arts, entertainment and pop culture program Commotion, and Lakehead University Chancellor Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell.

The conversation is grounded in the theme "Black Identity in Canada and What It Means for Young People in an Ever-Radicalized World" and will examine how culture, media and storytelling shape identity and influence how young people see themselves and their futures.

Abdelmahmoud will reflect on his experience as a newcomer to Canada, having immigrated from Sudan at age 12, as well as his work in media and cultural commentary. The discussion will also address representation and the role of Black voices in Canadian public life.

Dr. Shelton Deverell is an award-winning scholar, broadcaster, television producer, journalist and theatre artist. She is among the first Black women in Canada to be a television host and network executive, the first woman to lead a journalism program at a Canadian university, and a co-founder of Vision TV.

The event is co-presented with and sponsored by the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU).

The President’s Public Lecture Series was launched in honour of Lakehead University’s 60th anniversary and features a series of free public talks held on the university’s Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses. Events alternate between campuses and are also available by live stream and on-demand.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Time: 3 - 5 p.m.
Location: The Outpost, Lakehead Thunder Bay, 955 Oliver Rd + Livestream
Registration: lakeheadu.ca/presidentslectureseries

For more information, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/presidentslectureseries.