Emancipation Day 2023

July 6, 2023

On March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to officially designate August 1st Emancipation Day in Canada. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire. Although the Slavery Abolition Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire (with the exceptions “of the Territories in the Possession of the East India Company”, the “Island of Ceylon” and “the Island of Saint Helena”; the exceptions were eliminated in 1843), only slaves below the age of six were freed. Enslaved people older than six years of age were re-designated as “apprentices” and required to work, 40 hours per week without pay, as part of compensation payment to their former owners. Full emancipation was finally achieved at midnight on July 31, 1838.

Canadians are not always aware that Black and Indigenous Peoples were once enslaved on the land that is now Canada. Even after emancipation, African heritage and history continued to be erased by methods of segregation, murder, and systemic marginalization. Those who fought enslavement were pivotal in shaping our society to be as diverse as it is today.

Emancipation Day is not just about honouring the past, as the legacy of slavery continues to have an affect on the lives of African Canadians today. Emancipation Day is about learning Canada’s collective history — not rewriting that history, but telling a more complete history that includes the history of slavery. Therefore, each August 1, Canadians are invited to reflect, educate, and engage in the ongoing fight against intersectional forms of anti-Black racism and discrimination.

Excerpts taken from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/emancipation-day.html, and https://bcblackhistory.ca/emancipation-day-in-canada-past-present-and-future/

Toronto Caribbean Carnival

The Toronto Caribbean Carnival (August 3-7, 2023) is an annual spectacular display of costumes, music, and culture. In a first, this year, ONA will be part of the celebrations.

The Carnival was first gifted to Canada by the Caribbean Community during Canada’s centennial celebrations. While outsiders might see only scanty costumes, Carnival is rooted in historical rebellion. This Caribbean tradition of parading through the street was linked to the celebration of freedom and emancipation from slavery and in Toronto is celebrated on what has been recognized by the Canadian government as Emancipation Day weekend.

This year, ONA members will join the Toronto Revellers in celebrating the 56th anniversary of the Grand Parade, on August 5, 2023. We will be part of the the Talokan section, led by Jamaal Magloire, Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach and Community Ambassador.

Carnival in the Caribbean has a complicated origin. It's tied to colonialism, religious conversion, and ultimately freedom and celebration. It epitomizes a direct revolt by the Afro-Caribbean people against oppression. The massive enslavement of African peoples in the West Indies for a period of over two hundred years saw brutal conditions, where Afro-Caribbean people were subjected to arduous labour and torturous treatment. Slave communities risked private and secretive dancing fêtes as a way to maintain traditional African customs. With emancipation in 1834, the newly “liberated” plantation workers saw an opportunity to more freely express themselves, and thus masquerading became a representation of the freedom gained and a revolt against the hundreds of years of unimaginable degradation and oppression. Although cultural repression continued well into the 20th century, Afro-Caribbean peoples continued to use music and dance as a strong and non-violent means of commenting on the poor social conditions to which they have been subjected.

The partnership with the Toronto Revellers is one of many opportunities for community engagement as part of our Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Action Plan, specifically Priority 7. Through public-facing initiatives, we hope to leverage our leadership position to work with community-based organizations, and Ontarians, to develop responsive approaches to address racism. We will also work with our networks to bring to light the realities ONA members face in their work environments and strengthen our connections with Ontarians.

Excerpts taken from, Stevens, Karolee (1995) “Carnival: Fighting Oppression with Celebration,” Totem: The University of Western Ontario Journal of Anthropology: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 14.

Other Events

Learn More

Did you know?

  • The first country in the world to observe a public holiday for Emancipation Day was Trinidad and Tobago, when Emancipation Day replaced Columbus Discovery Day in 1985.
  • On August 1, the CN Tower will be lit in red, yellow and green in commemoration of Emancipation Day.
  • Various municipalities hold Emancipation Day events around August 1st. Contact your local municipalities for further details.

Back