And I’m choosing to use Emancipation Day as a time of reflection on what this “moment” means, and what Black liberation means to me. By exploring what freedom means, by practicing expressing those meanings together each year, we seek to cultivate real freedom through the arts – and through the kind of deeper understanding that the arts can offer us.From the start, FreeUp!
This is the time to face our common challenges and struggles – this is why this is the year of the celebration of Emancipation and Liberation Day.Unprecedented times give us the opportunity to explore what we value as a nation in Canada.
OTTAWA – The Green Party caucus unanimously supports the recent motion tabled by Liberal MP Majid Jowhari (Richmond Hill) calling for August 1 to be designated as Emancipation Day in Canada. Emancipation Day 2020 comes with a litany of conflicting emotions. So, as I like to say, we are older than Canada,” said Dorothy Abbott, a board member with the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival and the Ontario Black History Society.“Our ancestors, the people that settled in Owen Sound, are all the descendants of formerly enslaved people.”Leading up to Aug. 1, there are several education opportunities the general public can participate in virtually.One is a webinar that is part of the preparation for the 186th Emancipation Day, called The webinar includes a panel discussion, hosted by Sen. Bernard and Majid Jowhari, MP for Richmond Hill.The public can register for the virtual discussion that takes place on July 23 and will include conversations on racial justice.Bernard says these education opportunities are all part of the necessary work the broader community needs to do in understanding how multi-generational trauma is still experienced today.“Part of what we want to make sure people understand is that, although the world is just now realizing and recognizing anti-Black racism, we’ve been living with it for generations,” she said.Abbott echos that statement, adding that learning about the history of Black enslavement in Canada is a key part of the healing journey.“We want everyone to understand our history, and understand where we’re coming from, and appreciate of the pain that people have been experiencing for years. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It means being able to feel joy — joy that is unencumbered by not being able to pay rent, or not being able to actually move through the world without worrying how you're being perceived by other people, especially cops.” she says. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.
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Hundreds mark Emancipation day in Vancouver
Stream the entire special celebrating black Canadian artists on CBC Gem starting Saturday, August 1 at 1 p.m. Only last week Edward Enninful, the editor-in-chief of British Vogue, said he was racially profi“Promise me one thing. Hundreds of people marched through downtown Vancouver on Sunday to mark Emancipation Day.Emancipation Day, which falls on Aug. 1, commemorates the day slavery was outlawed in the British Empire — including Canada — in 1834.When the Abolition of Slavery Act came into force, it freed an estimated 800,000 slaves of African descent across British-controlled territories.Organizers of Saturday’s rally unveiled a proclamation bearing Mayor Kennedy Stewart’s signature declaring Aug. 1 Emancipation Day in the city.“When we learn about black history its always about slavery in America,” said Black Freedom March organizer Nova Stevens.“Unfortunately a lot of people in Canada are unaware that Canada too has a past of slavery and segregation. The legislation went into effect on Aug. 1, 1834. Even though influencers feel comfortable enough to shill smoothies again, there is a cultural shift happening. Senator calls for Emancipation Day to be nationally recognized ET.
These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As part of the 35th Africville Reunion Tour in 2018, members of the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival and the Ontario Black History Society, travelled to Nova Scotia to learn more about their shared history.