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Emancipation Day (Canada)

Emancipation Day commemorates when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 became law across the British Empire, including Canada, on August 1st, 1834.

It is a day to educate, reflect, and engage in ongoing conversations about anti-Black racism and discrimination and how it still affects Black Canadians today.

This is a day of importance because helps Canadians to reconcile with our shaded history of slavery and systemic anti-Black racism in Canada, as well as celebrate all the people who strive to make a difference.

How to Observe Emancipation Day

 

Communications Template for Emancipation Day

[Subject: Emancipation Day]

Hi all,

Today is Emancipation Day. Emancipation Day is when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 became law across the British Empire, including Canada, on August 1st, 1834. It is a day to educate, reflect, and engage in ongoing conversations about anti-Black racism and discrimination and how it still affects Black Canadians today.

To keep the conversation going, we encourage you to keep learning therefore, we’ve put together some resources for you to take some time to reflect and educate yourself:

  • Reading material: Celebrating Black Achievements in Canada and Black History in Canada: 1960 to Present.

  • Take a listen to this podcast: Strong and Free a limited series Historic Canadian podcast that delves into Canadian topics from two Black women. Their first episode titled “West Indian Domestic Scheme: Nurturing a Nation” is about the social revolution that began to form in the 1950s, a time when women everywhere were entering the workforce. This podcast episode touches on how Black women really helped further Canada’s workforce and help it progress.

  • Watch and learn: Portraits of Black People: Short audio format videos that give you information about Canadian black history and black Canadians who contributed to the building of Canada and who are making their mark every day.

Thank you all for taking the time to learn and participate in our DEI initiatives. Please feel free to share any insight.

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