(AGENPARL) - Roma, 25 Febbraio 2026 - (AGENPARL) – Wed 25 February 2026 City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release
February 24, 2026
Mayor Olivia Chow presents Key to the City to Dr. Itah Sadu
Today, Mayor Olivia Chow presented the Key to the City to Itah Sadu, recognizing her lifelong contributions as an award-winning storyteller, author and cultural leader who has strengthened Toronto’s Black community and enriched the city’s broader literary and cultural landscape. The presentation took place during the Mayor’s Black History Month Reception. The Mayor proclaimed February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Toronto.
Dr. Sadu is an acclaimed children’s author and educator whose work affirms that Black children belong in every story, every space and every future. She is the co-owner of A Different Booklist, an iconic Toronto bookstore specializing in African and Caribbean Canadian literature that has served for decades as a cultural hub, gathering place and learning space rooted in and serving Toronto’s Black community.
Dr. Sadu also serves as Managing Director of the Blackhurst Cultural Centre, known as The People’s Residence, which serves as a beacon for the stories, achievements and cultural heritage of Canadians of African and Caribbean descent. Through storytelling, business leadership and cultural stewardship, she has nurtured roots, embodied resilience and created spaces for youth, artists and families across the city.
For decades, Dr. Sadu’s advocacy and creativity have helped open doors for generations of Torontonians, strengthening representation in literature, elevating Black voices and building community through culture, education and entrepreneurship.
About the Key to the City
The Mayor awards the Key to the City to inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds who embody the spirit and potential of Toronto, and who have contributed significantly to civic life. The Key to the City is Toronto’s highest honour granted by the Mayor to an individual or a group.
More information, including a list of past recipients, is available on the City’s Key to the City web pages: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/awards/key-to-the-city/.
Mayor Chow invites residents to share their suggestions for individuals they believe should receive the Key to the City. To nominate someone who has made a meaningful impact on Toronto, visit: www.mayoroliviachow.ca/keytothecity.
Quotes:
“Toronto is strengthened by leaders like Dr. Itah Sadu who dedicate their lives to culture, storytelling and community. As an award-winning storyteller, author and leader, she has spent decades strengthening our city and elevating Black voices while enriching Toronto’s literary life. On behalf of the people of Toronto, I am proud to present her with the Key to the City.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“I am extremely honoured to be receiving the Key to the City from Mayor Olivia Chow. The City’s generous gesture will be a reminder that my contribution as a builder and leader in Toronto’s Black community has inspired Torontonians. I am especially grateful to be accepting the Key to the City during Black History Month, a time that both celebrates the achievements of Black people and acknowledges the ongoing racism and systemic barriers they face. I am also very proud of helping to build spaces across the city, such as the Blackhurst Cultural Centre, which provide opportunities for artistic and cultural expression.”
– Dr. Itah Sadu, Key to the City Recipient