Norval Johnson Heritage Centre

Norval Johnson Heritage Library is a treasure’s trove of rare resources documenting Canadian Black history – a collection of over 1,500 volumes – named in honour of one of the Niagara community’s most outstanding members. 

 A reference library and discovery centre we welcome you to explore!

We house true stories about the 200 year history of Blacks in the building of the communities of Niagara.  Historic materials, books, biographies about slavery, early settlements in Canada, racism and civil rights movements in the United States... contributions of Black Canadians to the world of culture, art, sport, music, literature, education... and greatness.

 A prized feature of our library is its Genealogical resources collection – a valuable research tool for the North American Black community whose ancestors came to and lived in the Niagara Region.
We give voice to a proud people – passing-on awareness of their lives, struggles, achievements – and hope to inspire continuing dialogue of this heritage.