Emancipation Month recognizes the struggle for human rights and the rich contributions made by Peoples of African descent. Recognizing Emancipation Month in August acknowledges an abhorrent period in our history and our ongoing commitment to eliminate discrimination in all forms. August 1, 1834 marks the day that the Slavery Abolition Act, 1833 came into effect emancipating more than 800,000 enslaved Africans across the British Empire, including Canada. Here in Toronto, we recognize the entire month of August as Emancipation Month and celebrate the rich contributions that Peoples of African descent have made to our city and country.

Confront the Past, Change the Future

Learn about the legacies of the trans-Atlantic slave trade & slavery and how you can support ongoing efforts to address its contemporary impacts such as anti-Black racism and discrimination. Participate in screenings, speaker’s series and more from now through December 31, 2025.

Information will be updated regularly on a dedicate page for Confronting the Past, Change the Future.

A 3-panel composite of artworks created in celebration of Emancipation. On the left a Black women holds a lantern. In the middle, three Black women dance on a stage in front of a crowd, on the right, two Black children run towards a starry sky with the solar system framing them.
Artwork by Kanisha Dabreo (Artistic Perception), AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives 2024

Undocumented Residents Day

August 20, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Toronto City Hall Council Chamber, 100 Queen St W

Join this free event as Mayor Olivia Chow proclaims the City’s commitment to inclusivity and support of Undocumented Torontonians. The event will feature a panel discussion, co-hosted by Debbie Douglas from the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and Loly Rico from the FCJ Refugee Centre, highlighting the invaluable contributions of undocumented Torontonians and the City’s commitment to Undocumented residents through AccessTO.

A reminder to arrive early as all individuals entering City Hall will need to pass through security screening.

Visit the Rotunda at City Hall on August 19 and 20 to view a display of materials highlighting the realties of the lived experiences of Undocumented Torontonians.


Film Screening: Joseph

August 23, 5:30 to 9 p.m. 

North York Central Library  

On International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, attend a free screening of Joseph, a film about a Jamaican doctor searching for an identity. Trained in Western medicine, the doctor must overcome family conflict and self-doubt to discover his African origins. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the film will start at 6 p.m. and runs approximately 90 minutes. Discussion, food and entertainment will follow at 8:00 p.m. at the North York Auditorium (next door to the library).

Registration is required.

Register


Year Round Exhibits and Events

Subscribe or follow the City of Toronto’s CultureTO and Toronto History Museums channels for the latest news about events and exhibits that happen year round honouring and celebrating both the past and present contributions of Toronto’s Black community to the city.

Browse Exhibits & Events Calendar

Breaking Barriers

Embrace the theme of liberation this August at Toronto History Museums. Dynamic family-friendly cultural experiences featuring dance, poetry and song highlight stories of freedom and justice within the many diverse communities that now call Toronto home.

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WHEREAS this month we celebrate abolition from enslavement for Canadians of African descent in Canada. For over 400 years, people of African descent endured and survived the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which operated within French and British colonies that would later become Canada.

The Slavery Abolition Act, 1833, which officially came into effect on August 1, 1834, confirmed Canada as a free territory for enslaved Africans. August 1st is now known as Emancipation Day and the month of August is Emancipation Month, a time to celebrate the strength and perseverance of Black communities.

During Emancipation Month, we also acknowledge the continued struggle for equity and justice for people of African descent. The deeply rooted legacies of colonialism in public institutions particularly in the areas of employment, education, justice, and social participation continue to impact Black communities. To achieve true justice, we must all work to eliminate systemic discrimination and advance racial equity.  We can work together to help create a city that implements equity, diversity and inclusion for all residents.

The City of Toronto remains intent on eradicating anti-Black racism, implementing systemic change with the historic Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, and further in the current development of the new 10-year Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism. Through partnerships with organizations and agencies dedicated to addressing anti-Black racism, the City of Toronto is committed to promoting the well-being of all communities.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Olivia Chow, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim August 2024 as “Emancipation Month” in the City of Toronto.

The month of August marks many significant milestones in the struggles and successes faced by people of African descent on a journey that led to the abolition of slavery.

1608 – First Black Person in Canada

The first Black person thought to have set foot on land now referred to as Canada, was Mathieu Da Costa, a free man who was hired as an interpreter for Samuel de Champlain’s 1605 excursion.

1628 – First Known Enslaved Person Recorded in Historical Records

Olivier LeJeune, who was 6 years old, was the first recorded enslaved person, from the country now known as Madagascar.

1689 – Louis XIV Authorizes Slavery in New France

King Louis XIV formally authorized slavery in New France.

Spring 1734 – Marie-Joseph Angelique Tortured and Hanged

Enslaved Black woman Marie- Josephe Angélique was accused of setting fire to the house of her “owner” in Montréal. Although it remains unclear whether Angélique actually set the fire, she was tortured and hanged for her “crime.”

1776 – Black Loyalists Reach Nova Scotia

The British promised freedom, land and rights to enslaved persons and free Black people who settle in Nova Scotia, in exchange for service during the American Revolution, 1775–1783.

July 26 to 27, 1784 – Canada’s First Race Riot Rocks Nova Scotia

The Black Loyalists were among the first settlers in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. They established their own community, Birchtown. Hundreds of White, disbanded soldiers started a riot when they found themselves competing for jobs with Black neighbours who were paid less for the same work.

1790 – Imperial Statute

The Imperial Statute of 1790 effectively allowed settlers to bring enslaved persons to Upper Canada. Under the statute, those enslaved only needed to be fed and clothed.

January 15, 1792 – The Black Loyalist Exodus

In the face of widespread discrimination and due to difficulty in supporting themselves, almost 1,200 Black Loyalists left Halifax and relocated to Africa (Sierra Leone).

June 19, 1793 – Upper Canada’s Lieutenant-Governor Anti-Slave Trade Bill

Attorney General John White introduced Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe’s anti-slavery measure and it passed. While the bill did not ban slavery completely, it marked its gradual prohibition.

1794 – The Petition of Free Negroes

Richard Pierpoint and other Black veterans petitioned the government of Upper Canada to grant them land adjacent to each other rather than disperse it amongst White settlers. The Petition of Free Negroes, as it was known, aimed to create a Black community where members would help and support each other. The petition was rejected for unknown reasons.

July 22, 1796 – The Maroons Land at Halifax

A group of almost 600 freedom fighters called Maroons landed in Halifax. They came from the Jamaican community of escaped enslaved people, who guarded their freedom for more than a century and fought off countless attempts to re-enslave them. Once in Nova Scotia, they helped build Citadel Hill, were part of a militia unit, cleared woods for roads, and were employed as general labourers.

1800 – Canada’s Second Back to Africa Movement

After several years of neglect, poor conditions and intolerance, several hundred Jamaican Maroons abandoned Nova Scotia and set sail for Freetown, Sierra Leone.

1812 to 1815 – The ‘Coloured Troops’ and the War of 1812

Thousands of Black volunteers fought for the British during the War of 1812.

1825 – Prince Edward Island Abolishes Slavery

1815 to 1860 – The Underground Railroad

Canada’s reputation as a safe haven for Black people grew during and after the War of 1812. Between 1815 and 1860, tens of thousands of African- Americans bravely sought refuge in Canada via the legendary Underground Railroad.

August 28, 1833 – British Parliament Abolishes Slavery

Slavery was abolished throughout the British colonies by an Imperial Act that took effect on August 1, 1834. Many Canadians continue to celebrate August 1 as Emancipation Day.

1850 – Fugitive Slave Act

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was enacted by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850. It greatly influenced the migration of African- Americans into Canada. It was repealed on June 28, 1864.

February 26, 1851 – Formation of the Anti-Slavery Society of Canada

The number of abolitionist sympathizers grew in Canada in the 1850s–1860s. The Anti- Slavery Society of Canada was formed “to aid in the extinction of Slavery all over the world.”

1851 – The Victoria Pioneer Rifles

In 1851, James Douglas became the first appointed Black politician in Canada and then took over as governor of the colony of British Columbia. He invited African-Americans to emigrate from California to Victoria to establish Canada’s first and only all-Black police force.

1911 – Anti-Black Campaign

By 1909, hundreds of Black people from Oklahoma moved to the Canadian Prairies, where they were met with severe discrimination. In 1911, a few newspapers in Winnipeg even predicted that the Dominion government would move to exclude “Negro immigrants.”

1914 to 1918 – Black Canadian Involvement in the First World War

In 1916, military officials authorized the creation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. This battalion made up of exclusively Black soldiers was not permitted to fight. Instead, they served in France with the Canadian Forestry Corps.

1939 to 1945 – Black Canadian Involvement in the Second World War

The Canadian military initially rejected Black volunteers, but many were later accepted into the Regular Army and officer corps. On the home front, the all-Black Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was one of the greatest success stories of the war years.

March 14, 1944 – Ontario Passes Racial Discrimination Act

Ontario was the first province to respond to the battle against oppression when it passed the Racial Discrimination Act of 1944. It was landmark legislation prohibiting the publication and display of any symbol, sign, or notice that expressed ethnic, racial, or religious discrimination. On April 1 1947, The Saskatchewan Bill of Rights Act passed under Tommy Douglas, marking Canada’s first general law prohibiting discrimination.

April 6, 1954 – Ontario Government Passes Fair Accommodation Practices Act

The Act declared, “no one can deny to any person or class of persons the accommodation, services or facilities usually available to members of the public.” The Act also precluded anyone from posting discriminatory signs.

January 19, 1962 – Fairclough Dismantles Discriminatory Policy

Ellen Fairclough served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and radically reformed the country’s “White Canada” immigration policy, helping to reduce racial discrimination in Canada’s policies.

September 25, 1963 – First Black Person Elected to a Canadian Parliament

Leonard Braithwaite became the first Black person in a provincial legislature when he was elected the Liberal member for Etobicoke, Ontario, in 1963. In 1964, Braithwaite introduced legislation to remove the law that allowed segregated schools to exist.

October 1971 – Prime Minister Trudeau Introduces Canada’s Multicultural Policy

Canada’s multiculturalism policy grew partly in reaction to the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism.

1993 – First Black Woman is Elected to Parliament

Jean Augustine was the first Black woman to be elected to the House of Commons in a federal Cabinet.

1995 – Canadian Sprinter Becomes the “World’s Fastest Human”

Donovan Bailey assumed the title of “World’s Fastest Human” by winning the 100-metre sprint at the World Track Championships in Göteborg, Sweden.

February 24, 2010 – Reparations Paid Following Demolition of Africville

In 1962, the City of Halifax decided to demolish Africville, the historic Black neighbourhood of Halifax. Anti-Black racism combined with a drive for “urban renewal” led the city to threaten eviction of the neighbourhood’s property-owning Black residents if they did not voluntarily sell their properties and relocate. In 2010, the mayor of Halifax apologized for the destruction of Africville and provided compensation, on behalf of the City of Halifax.

2014 – Lincoln Alexander Day Celebrated Annually Throughout Canada on January 21

Lincoln Alexander was elected Canada’s first Black MP representing Hamilton West, Ontario, from 1968 to 1980. In 1979, he was appointed Minister of Labour, becoming the country’s first Black federal Cabinet minister. Lincoln Alexander made history again by becoming the province’s first Black Lieutenant-Governor, serving from 1985 to 1991.

April 2016 – Launch of the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Initiative

The City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism initiative is launched, following protests of Black Lives Matter Toronto and responding to decades of organizing, advocacy and government reports on anti-Black racism’s impacts on the well-being of Black Torontonians.

December 5, 2017 – Adoption of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism

Toronto City Council votes unanimously to adopt the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

May 2018 – Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit’s First Staff Members Begin Working

The City of Toronto’s first staff members begin working to support the implementation of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism.

September 2018 – City of Toronto Launches the Black Staff Network

The Black Staff Network seeks to promote an inclusive workplace that provides professional development and mentorship for Black City staff, forums for members to meet and share knowledge, and provide coaching and networking opportunities.

March 25, 2019 – City of Toronto Declares Official Recognition of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent

March 2020 – City of Toronto Declares the First Monday in March Black Mental Health Day

This serves as an annual day to confront the effects and legacies of trauma from anti-Black racism on the mental health of Black communities.

June 2020 – Toronto Board of Health Recognizes Anti-Black Racism as a Public Health Crisis

The Toronto Board of Health affirms its commitment to continuing to address the social determinants of health by supporting policies and programs that address the inequities that marginalized groups continue to face, with a focus on Black communities and residents, including in the following areas: employment, education, housing, child care, policing and law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and access to health and mental health services.

September 30, 2020 – Toronto City Council Establishes the First Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee

The Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee will provide expert advice to City Council on strategic and emerging issues to ensure City policies, programs and initiatives adequately serve people of African descent in Toronto.

Source: Historica Canada

Toronto Public Library

Browse an Emancipation Month curated reading list of books and resources that can be used to help reflect, educate and engage in the on-going fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.

A Conversation with Dr. Julius W. Garvey

Watch a recorded event from 2023 with Dr. Garvey, the son of civil rights activist Marcus Garvey, joined by community leader Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant discussing a range of issues, including Dr. Garvey’s experience with his father and present day activism during the International Decade for People of African Descent.