On November 8, 1946, Viola Desmond took a historic stand against anti-Black racism when she refused to leave the “whites-only” section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Since 2015, her legacy as a Canadian civil rights icon has been recognized each year on November 8 with Viola Desmond Day. In 2018, the Government of Canada honoured Desmond by placing her on the 10-dollar Canadian note.   

On Sunday, November 8, 2026, TIFF and the AGO will commemorate 80 years since Desmond’s pivotal act of resistance by presenting a free screening of Invisible Beauty (2023) — a documentary self-portrait of renowned model, modelling agent, and activist Bethann Hardison, co-directed by Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng. Similar to Desmond, Hardison’s trailblazing work has opened doors for generations of Black communities.  

Screening at TIFF Lightbox, the film was selected by Julie Crooks, Curator of Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora at the AGO, as it closely relates to the central themes presented in the exhibition, Sunday Best: The Power & Glory of Black Style. After the film, Crooks will be joined virtually by Hardison, for a live conversation about the film and the histories of Black self-fashioning from the 1880s to the present. 

As one of very few Black models in the 1960s, Hardison was aware of what her presence represented to consumers of American media. She has spent decades fighting for racial justice in high fashion as a model, an agent, and an activist. Hardison’s self-portrait is full of accolades and stories from famous fans and friends — including Naomi Campbell, Iman, Whoopi Goldberg, Aurora James, Pat Cleveland, Tyson Beckford, Fran Lebowitz, and Zendaya. Invisible Beauty is an inspiring tribute to a fashion icon and a must-see for anyone interested in the way images shape understanding. 

Beginning at 2pm, the special event will open with an introduction and remarks from Crooks, followed by the screening. After the film, Crooks will be joined virtually by Hardison for their conversation. 

Get your tickets for Viola Desmond Day: Invisible Beauty with Bethann Hardison and Julie Crooks here. Sunday Best: The Power & Glory of Black Style is on view now until February 28, 2027, on Level 5 of the AGO.