Information Launch
At present, Mayor Olivia Chow proclaimed August as Emancipation Month in Toronto.
All through the month of August, the Metropolis of Toronto will provide programming to acknowledge the legacy and historical past of slavery in Canada and to have fun its abolition. The Metropolis has proclaimed August 1 Emancipation Day since 1998 and Emancipation Month in August since 2019. The Metropolis additionally has proclaimed the Worldwide Decade for Folks of African Descent (2015 to 2024) since March 2019.
The Mayor’s Emancipation Month proclamation is on the market on the Metropolis’s Proclamations webpage.
On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 got here into impact throughout the British Empire, emancipating greater than 800,000 enslaved Africans in British-controlled areas world wide together with Canada.
In 2021, the Authorities of Canada formally designated August 1 as Emancipation Day throughout Canada. Starting as we speak and working till Thursday, August 31, Toronto residents can take part in a variety of occasions that may empower and have fun Black Torontonians with a flag-raising ceremony and programming at some Toronto Historical past Museums together with artwork sequence and exhibitions.
August programming highlights
Black Liberation flag-raising ceremony
Date: At present, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Courtesy flagpole, Podium Roof, Toronto Metropolis Corridor, 100 Queen St. W.
To launch Emancipation Month, the Metropolis is internet hosting an in-person, flag-raising ceremony and group gathering which is able to embrace elevating the Black Liberation flag, remarks from Metropolis representatives and Black group leaders and a efficiency from saxophonist Rudy Ray.
At present, the Black Liberation flag can also be being raised on the Etobicoke, East York Scarborough and York Civic Centres. The flag will probably be raised in North York on Friday, August 4, in a ceremony with particular visitor Dr. Julius W. Garvey, whose father, Marcus Garvey, designed and popularized the Black Liberation flag. At present, the Toronto Signal is illuminated within the Black Liberation flag colors of crimson, black and inexperienced.
Occasion data is on the market on the Metropolis’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism webpage.
Emancipation Stroll
Date: At present, midday to 2:30 p.m.
Location: From Blackhurst Cultural Centre, situated at 777 Bathurst St., to Christie Pits Park, 750 Bloor St. W.
Blackhurst Cultural Centre will lead a stroll for the group to have fun emancipation and what its means to the group. Pannists and different performers will probably be stationed on sidewalks alongside Bloor from Spadina to Christie.
The stroll takes place at key intersections on Bloor Road West, from Avenue Street to Christie Pits Park. Extra details about the stroll is on the market on the Blackhurst Cultural Centre web site.
A dialog with Dr. Julius W. Garvey
Date: Friday, August 4, 1:30 p.m.
Location: Mel Lastman Sq., 5100 Yonge St.
Dr. Julius W. Garvey will elevate the Black Liberation flag and communicate with attendees on the North York Central Library, Concourse Occasion Area, situated at 5120 Yonge St. Dr. Garvey, son of civil rights activist Dr. Marcus Garvey, will probably be joined by group chief Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant the place they’ll talk about a variety of points together with Dr. Garvey’s expertise along with his father and current day activism throughout the Worldwide Decade for Folks of African Descent. Extra details about the occasion is on the Metropolis’s web site
Freedom Market at Fort York
Date: Saturday, August 26, from 11 a.m. to six p.m.
Location: 100 Garrison Rd.
In celebration and assist of Black entrepreneurs, the Freedom Market at Fort York is being held and contains Black-owned companies, artisans, meals and leisure. Extra details about the Freedom Market at Fort York is on the market on the Black Owned Toronto web site.
Emancipation Month programming at Toronto Historical past Museums
Emancipation Day at Fort York
Date: At present, 4 to eight p.m.
Location: 100 Garrison Rd.
Hosted by the Ontario Black Historical past Society, today celebrates the historic and cultural legacy of Emancipation Day for Toronto’s numerous Black communities with a day of performances, meals, music, artwork and displays.
Extra data is on the market on the Metropolis’s web site.
Assume Like a Champion (TLAC)
Date: Each Sunday in August from 2 to three:30 p.m.
Places: At numerous Toronto Historical past Museum websites
This program combines Jully Black’s The Energy of Step efficiency with discussions on empowerment and freedom. Tickets could be bought on the Metropolis’s web site.
Black culinary tradition in early Toronto neighbourhood tour
Date: Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, 20, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Location: 82 Bond St.
This tour at Mackenzie Home explores the affect of the Black group on meals tradition from the 1830s to 1860s. Tickets could be bought on the Mackenzie Home web site.
Spoken Phrase
Date: Saturday, August 19, 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: Zion Schoolhouse, 1091 Finch Ave. E.
A workshop led by R.I.S.E. Edutainment artist David Delisca will introduce youth and grownup individuals to spoken phrase poetry. Members are inspired to seek out inspiration on this particular historic area and to delve into their relationship with instructional establishments to create their very own work of self-expression. Superior registration is required.
Woman Energy’d
Dates: Sundays, August 6, 13 and 20, 2 p.m. A drum circle may also be held on Sunday, August 27, 2 p.m.
Location: Colborne Lodge, 11 Colborne Lodge Dr.
This occasion celebrates West African and Caribbean cultures by dance by youth performers.
Artist Mentorship Showcase: “Gélédé Queens”
Dates: Wednesdays to Saturdays in August, 11 a.m. to five p.m.
Places: Market Gallery, 95 Entrance St. E.
This occasion, hosted by Destinie Adelakun, will showcase a multimedia expertise impressed by the West African pageant Gélédé.
Extra data on Emancipation Month programming at Toronto Historical past Museums and occasion registration is on the market on the Metropolis’s web site.
Entry to all 10 Toronto Historical past Museums is free for everybody. Extra data is on the market on the Plan Your Museum Go to webpage.
Quotes:
“Emancipation Month is a celebration of the power, resilience, and spirit of Black communities. It’s a time to replicate on the hard-won progress in the direction of freedom and fairness – to honour Black resistance and wrestle within the pursuit of justice – whereas acknowledging that there’s extra to do. In Toronto, we re-affirm our dedication to eradicating anti-Black racism by tangible motion and funding in communities. Collectively, we’re constructing a metropolis the place racial justice and equality are foundational rules.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“It’s 2023 and Blackhurst Cultural Centre is really excited to have fun with all Canadians on Emancipation Day. This yr’s theme for Blackhurst is ’planting seeds’. As we glance again and keep in mind the seeds we now have planted, we’re proud to have planted 10 years’ price of seeds with the TTC and the Metropolis of Toronto and we stay up for seeing what is going to grow to be in the way forward for the seeds we’re planting as we speak.”
– Itah Sadu, Co-Proprietor Blackhurst Cultural Centre
“Black Owned Toronto is worked up to be partnering with the Metropolis of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit for such an incredible occasion and celebration. The Freedom Market at Fort York will probably be an awesome closing occasion for Emancipation Month 2023 that really brings the group collectively. We’re working with some wonderful native distributors and would love for everybody to return out and assist!”
– Kerin John, Black Owned TO
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