Costa Leclerc Design

This February 17, 2026, we welcome the Year of the Horse and say goodbye to the Year of the Snake. This past year encouraged us to let go of old stories and habits, offering a chance to reflect and reset.

With this new sense of momentum and clarity, we step into the Year of the Horse. Best described as a time to move forward despite fear of obstacles, focusing on action instead of remaining still.

As we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, we hope you find the courage to follow your dreams and remember to pause and breathe along the way.

To mark Black History Month, I would like to highlight a historical figure who remains too little known: Mathieu da Costa.

An interpreter and navigator in the early 1600s, he joined French expeditions to North America and worked with Samuel de Champlain. Fluent in several European and Indigenous languages, he played a crucial role as a mediator between peoples.

Historical records indicate that he was of African descent, likely connected to Portuguese Atlantic networks. He is considered one of the first documented Black men to have set foot on the territory of New France.

Following the routes toward Huronia, it is very likely that he spent time in what would later become Ontario. This means that Black history is not an addition to the story of French Ontario — it is part of its foundations.

From the Atlantic world of the 17th century to today’s African Francophone migrations, the Francophonie continues to evolve and renew itself.

Remembering this history is also about recognizing the plurality of our origins and the richness of our shared journeys.