A powerful three-day community celebration is planned for Windsor this weekend, 191 years after the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in the British Colonies, including in Canada.
The Black Council of Windsor Essex has a list of events planned to mark the anniversary.
On Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., the public is invited to the Caribbean Centre for a fashion show featuring local designers, African and Caribbean cuisine, vendors, and stand-up comedy, which is new this year.
Everyone is welcome at Sandwich First Baptist Church on Sunday for a church service, barbecue lunch, and a gospel concert. The meet-up at Windsor's only historically Black church is the only one left in its original building, which was built by those seeking freedom in 1851.
The celebration moves to Jackson Park on Monday for a "family gathering," where attendees are encouraged to bring their own food and drink. There will be a demonstration by NorthStar Cheer and walking tours hosted by the Essex County Black Historical Research Society.
The Emancipation Jubilee was revived five years ago, but celebrations have been held every August 1 in Black communities across Canada since the 1830s. Before the revival, the celebration was held every year in Windsor, too.
"The Emancipation Jubilee is not just a remembrance of the past, but a celebration of the thriving, diverse Black community in Windsor today," said Chair of the Black Council Leslie McCurdy.