By Stephen Weir

The celebrations of Emancipation Day were designated a national historic event in 2021. Historically, people of African descent in Upper and Lower Canada marked the abolition of enslavement in 1834 with organized celebrations, giving rise to annual events. In the past, Emancipation Day, often called West Indian Day, highlighted the freedom of the largest number of enslaved people in the Caribbean, then referred to by European colonists as the West Indies.

“Today’s plaque unveiling ceremony (Sunday, July 28^th) hosted by Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), commemorates the celebrations of Emancipation Day as events of national historic significance. As systemic racism continues to affect the lives of Black Canadians, I strongly believe that acknowledging our history is essential to moving forward and addressing systemic racism in Canada. This is why I put forward my Private Member’s Motion, Motion 36 in the 43rd parliament, to have the House of Commons recognize Emancipation Day and the slavery that preceded it,” said Majid Jowhari, Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill.

Parks Canada and the HSMBC marked the national historic importance of Emancipation Day celebrations with a ceremony and reception in Toronto. A plaque commemorating this event was installed at the Cathedral Church of St. James, located at 106 King Street East, Toronto. The ceremony and reception took place at Snell Hall, Cathedral Church of St. James, 65 Church Street, Toronto.

Attendees included Jean Augustine, former six-term Parliamentarian; Neil Pakey, CEO of Nieuport Aviation (Billy Bishop Airport); Nadine Williams, her family; and Rosemary Sadlier. Nadine Williams, a Jamaican-Canadian from St. Mary, Ontario, is an accomplished poet, author, and artist. She has published numerous works, including poetry collections and children’s books, and regularly presents at schools and events across Canada. As the resident poet for the Caribbean Consular Corps, she has contributed to recognizing significant Black historical events in Canada and worked with Parks Canada on other memorial plaques.

“I nominated this subject to the HSMBC back in July 2020, and Rosemary Sadler did likewise in August 2020,” said Dr. Sadler, President of the Ontario Black History Society.