August 1st was Emancipation Day in Canada – but what does this mean?

By Sylvie O’Rourke and Dick Budge

Emancipation Day commemorates the end of slavery in the British Empire which occurred with the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. To take in the celebration, Seeker Photojournalists Sylvie O’Rourke and Dick Budge attended Upper Canada Village where a celebration was held on the Crysler Hall grounds. Since the spring of 2024 this building has been the permanent home of the Black History exhibit.

First-rate entertainment included (above) drumming and dancing by the Sankofa Cultural Group, composed of Ghanaian youth from Ontario, Empress Nyiringango, a Rwandan Canadian singer-songwriter, Ngoma of Africa, a group of Ugandan dancers, and poetry by Abena Beloved Green, a 2017 Canadian Poetry Slam finalist and author of “The Way we Hold On.”

The performances were interspersed with a series of powerful speeches. Obasola Bamigbola, (in photo above right), Upper Canada’s Black History Program Officer, opened the ceremony with a welcoming address and introduced each speaker.

Milton Kooistra, (in photo above left) Upper Canada Village’s Lead Historian, spoke of the legal end of slavery on August 1, 1834, but pointed out that “while slavery may have ended in law on that day, but the journey towards freedom, dignity, and equality was far from over.” He continued to speak about the importance of facing the truth and confronting our history, a necessary step to reconciliation.

Cornwall Councillor, Fred Ngoundjo said that years ago in our country, black men did not have basic human rights, but that “today a black man is standing here in front of you as a City Councillor, speaking.” He acknowledges that a lot has been done but there is still a lot to do.

Dr. Clyde Ledbetter, Jr., a doctor of African World Studies, spoke about emancipation and the unfinished project of liberation on Turtle Island, and how despite the Slavery Abolition Act, exploitation continued. “We can no longer teach history like this,” he said, speaking of the need to teach the truth of what really happened.

Senator Bernadette Clement, spoke of her roots in the area and how she always loved coming to Upper Canada Village, but that she never saw herself reflected tin the exhibits there. “When I heard in 2023 that they were going to have a permanent exhibit celebrating black history in this country, in this region, I drove here immediately.”

Outside the village gates, the celebration continued with Ottawa-based modern-day vendors. Solo Suyah provided grilled and roasted meats with Northern Nigerian spices, with sides of aromatic rice and vegetables. Chakou Collection offered African-Inspired pieces, featuring African dolls. Aromariss sold soaps and body care products made from scratch with essential oils. ACAO (African Canadian Association of Ottawa) also had an information booth.

For full schedule of the day go to: https://www.uppercanadavillage.com/…/emancipation-day…/