Pride of Dreams - Ottawa Black History Mural
OC transpo Public Art
Crafted with a strong Pan-African palette, Pride of Dreams celebrates vision, resilience, and the power of possibility through a series of interconnected stories. From a young boy imagining the future at a computer to trailblazers in entertainment, music, and sport, the work highlights how determination can turn aspiration into impact.
It features Stefan Keyes, who turned his dream of being in television and entertainment into reality. It recognizes Angelique Francis, a JUNO Award–winning artist whose talent and drive continue to inspire. It honours Charmaine Hooper, who rose to the highest level of sport representing Canada on the women’s national soccer team, embodying discipline and barrier-breaking courage.
The Barber Street sign anchors the piece in history, honouring Paul Barber, an enslaved man who dreamed of freedom and a life in Ottawa and, against all odds, built that life, family, and future here. Nearby, the Brown’s Cleaners sign symbolizes the entrepreneurial spirit of Jamaican-born Hebert “Pops” and Estelle Brown, whose business became both a success story and a community hub that supported new immigrants finding their footing in a new country.
Together, these stories show that dreams don’t just inspire, they build communities and transform lives.
Seeing this work travel through the city, like graffiti on trains in the early Hip-Hop era, reminds me why I create: to reflect people back to themselves with pride, colour, and presence.
Thank you to OBAK, Black History Ottawa, Oc Transpo and the city of Ottawa for their trust!
You can read the various articles bellow:
