Icon Michael Maison Margiela, Brandon Hay & Legendary Twysted Miyake-Mugler in collaboration with Evergreen Brickworks welcome everyone to the 4th instalment of the Black Liberation Ball!This Black Liberation Ball will be BIGGER AND BETTER, as we gather inside the renowned Evergreen Brickworks. It’s giving…. FULL PRODUCTION, in a TOP-TIER venue.
Shoutout to Professor Paul Martin at Centennial College for this amazing course “Decoding Blackness In Canada”, where I learned so much more about Canada! Check it out if you’re interested in learning
Saturday February 28, 2026
Black Liberation Ball 4
Decoding Blackness In Canada
The Black Liberation is a worldwide movement that looks different, depending on where you are in the world. The story of blackness in Canada is often diluted with American history, but how many know of Canada’s RICH Black Culture that dates as far back as the 1600s? In order to understand the present, we must first dive into the past. Join us at the 4th Black Liberation Ball - “Decoding Blackness In Canada”, as part of the 4th Journey To Black Liberation Symposium.
Special Guest Commentator : Icon Jack Mizrahi Gorgeous Gucci
Co-Commentator : Legendary Father Twysted Miyake-Mugler
DJ : To Be Confirmed
House / VIP Tables are ON SALE :
2 Elite Tables (on stage) - $750
4 Platinum Tables - $600
4 Gold Tables - $500
6 Silver Tables - $400
4 Bronze Tables - $300
CATEGORIES:
Bizarre - The Trash Wars of Halifax
Halifax was once home to thriving Black communities, many formed by those who had escaped slavery. The city later crushed these communities’ spirits by turning their neighborhoods into dumping grounds for the city’s trash... literally. Over time, these vibrant areas were reduced to slums.
Show us how you turn trash into treasure by incorporating unconventional materials, recycled goods, or discarded items into a stunning, fashionable masterpiece. Creativity, transformation, and craftsmanship will reign supreme.
Realness - Citizenship test / Immigration
(BQ Schoolboy - BQ Thug - BQ Prettyboy - BQ Executive - BQ Everyday - Butch - Transman - Drags - Femme Queen)
In the early 1900s, Canada invested millions in immigration campaigns designed to attract European settlers and reshape the country’s image, erasing the realities of non-white migration stories.
For your 10’s; Honor your heritage by embodying the journey of immigration to Canada. Present a look that tells the story of someone who has just arrived in the country and is ready to make it their home forever. Your presentation should clearly communicate why they came… to work, study, escape danger, seek safety, or build a better life.
If you are not an immigrant, choose a culture or country whose people have immigrated to Canada, and tell their story through your research, look, and presentation. Educate yourself on their experience …what they faced, what they contributed, and how they shaped Blackness in Canada.
Be authentic. Be respectful. Tell a story that reminds us that the struggle for belonging has many faces but one shared spirit.
Face - Mrs Viola Desmond / Mint Condition
(BQ - Drags - Femme Queen - Women - Butch - Transman - GNC)
Viola Desmond, often called Canada’s Rosa Parks, made history in 1946 when she refused to leave a whites-only section of a theater in Nova Scotia. Her act of defiance helped spark Canada’s civil rights movement and her face now graces the Canadian $10 bill, a powerful symbol of Black resistance and pride.
In honor of Mrs. Viola Desmond, bring it in shades of purple... the color of the $10 bill. Your look should exude Elegance, Flawless skin, timeless beauty, and a clean, luxurious presentation — mint condition only.
Best Dressed - The Black Loyalist Movement
(Male Figure - Female Figure - GNC)
Did you know that some Black soldiers came to Canada willingly? During the late 1700s and early 1800s, thousands of Black people came to Canada as Loyalists siding with the British during the American Revolutionary War and later the War of 1812. Many were promised freedom and land in return for their loyalty and military service. These communities, some of the first free Black settlements in Canada, laid the foundation for Black presence in places like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Tonight, we honor the Black Loyalists... those who fought for freedom and built new lives on Canadian soil. Bring us a military-inspired look that blends strength, pride, and high fashion. Think structured silhouettes, commanding presence, and regal energy.
Performance - Over-policing > Ovah-policing
(Virgin - BQVF - RWT - Drags - Femme Queen - Women - Old Way - New Way - Legends/Icons)
The origins of policing in Canada can be traced back to systems designed to protect the Crown and enforce colonial control — not to protect the people. Today, policing continues to disproportionately target Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities.
Let’s reclaim that narrative. As a statement of defiance, we’re calling on all performers to bring it as Cunty Cops — fierce, unapologetic, and in full control of your story. Transform the uniform into something sexy, subversive, and empowering.
Runway - Black Ice Couture
(Virgin - BQ European - MF All-American - Women - Drags - Femme Queen - FF All-American - Legends/Icon)
Long before the NHL, there was the Colored Hockey League (CHL) — a groundbreaking league founded in Nova Scotia in the late 1800s by Black Canadians. These athletes not only played the game but innovated it, influencing hockey as we know it today. The sport itself has Indigenous roots, making this legacy both Black and Indigenous excellence on ice.
Honor this powerful history by bringing a Runway look inspired by Canada’s great sport, hockey! reimagined through Black and Indigenous creativity. Think sleek silhouettes, icy textures, bold details, and detailed craftsmanship.
Hand Performance vs. Arms Control — “Bias Blindfolded”
Whether we admit it or not, racial bias exists everywhere! even in Ballroom. Sometimes it shows up in how we judge, who we celebrate, or what we expect from one another. Tonight, we strip away those biases and return to pure movement.
Walkers must be fully concealed from head to toe, with no visible skin and white gloves are MANDATORY.
This is about skill, precision, and storytelling through movement alone. Without identity or appearance as a guide, your performance should prove that talent, passion, and presence transcend race, gender, or body.
Body — “Blood: It’s in You to Give”
(Butch Queen - Transman - Women - Femme Queen)
Canada often prides itself on being progressive, however, beneath the surface, discrimination still bleeds through its systems. For decades, gay and queer men were banned from donating blood, a policy rooted in fear, stigma, and misinformation surrounding HIV.
Tonight, we reclaim that narrative. Show us Body that celebrates strength, sensuality, and unity. Your presentation must incorporate a red ribbon, symbolizing awareness, resilience, and equality.
Your look should remind us that no matter our background, orientation, or status...beneath the skin, we all share the same blood.
Trilogy — Pride of the Nation
(Face + Body + Realness)
You are the pride of the people! the embodiment of Black excellence representing Canada on the world stage. You’ve been selected to compete at the first-ever Mr. & Miss Universe Pageant, where your presence speaks for a nation.
Bring a creative presentation look that showcases your patriotism, cultural pride, and personal power, while highlighting Realness, Face, and Body all in one performance. Your look should scream national spirit… whether through symbols, colors, or storytelling — but remain true to you.
This is your coronation moment. You are strength, beauty, and authenticity combined.
Commentator — The Great Canadian Remix
Canada has produced some of the world’s most iconic musical artists from hip-hop and R&B to pop and dancehall. Tonight, we celebrate that legacy through the art of commentary and rhythm.
Choose any song by a Canadian artist and use it as inspiration to create a ballroom chant or remix moment hot enough to light up the floor. Before you drop your remix, we want to hear you perform the original so that it sets the tone for the remix.
Sex Siren — “The Freedom Carnival”
(Butch Queen - Drags - Femme Queen - Women - Butch - Transman - GNC)
In the 1960s, Canada experienced a Great Migration... a wave of Afro-Caribbean people who arrived after immigration reforms lifted racial barriers. They came seeking opportunity, safety, and a new beginning and with them, they brought rhythm, color, and culture that reshaped the face of Black Canada.
Tonight, we celebrate their legacy of liberation and joy through Carnival — the festival of freedom. Bring it in a sexy, vibrant Carnival-inspired look that embodies movement, celebration, and self-expression. Think feathers, jewels, and body confidence... a living tribute to the resilience and beauty of the Afro-Caribbean people who helped redefine Blackness in Canada.
Event Venue
Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada M4W 3X8, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
