Deputy Mayor Amber Morley, Chair of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, will raise the Black Liberation Flag tomorrow at Toronto City Hall as August is proclaimed as Emancipation Month in Toronto. She will be joined by Dr. Eric Pierre, Honorary Consul of Haiti in Toronto , and members of Toronto’s Black arts and culture community.
Date: Friday, August 1
Time: Noon to 12:45 p.m.
Location: Courtesy flagpole, Podium Roof, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.
The flag raising ceremony will include performances by drummer Quammie and dancer Emilie, an Afro-Indigenous welcome from Reggie MacDonald, libation by Elder Eric Joseph and music from DJ Olynk. This year’s theme, “Nou La” or “We are here”, celebrates the Haitian community and Black Francophone excellence.
Additionally, the Black Liberation Flag will fly on August 1 at all Toronto Civic Centres, and the Toronto Sign will be lit daily through the month of August in red, black and green.
The Mayor of Toronto has proclaimed August 1 Emancipation Day since 1998 and Emancipation Month in August since 2019. The Mayor also proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015 to 2024). The Emancipation Month proclamation is available on the City’s Proclamations webpage.
Throughout August, Toronto residents can participate in a range of events that honour Black Torontonians, with City and community-offered programming to acknowledge the legacy and history of slavery in Canada and celebrate its abolition. Learn more about Emancipation Month at the City of Toronto.
August programming highlights
Emancipation Train Ride
Date: July 31 from 10:30 p.m. to midnight
Location: From Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station (TTC Line 1), located at 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr., to Union Station, located at 55 Front St. W.
Blackhurst Cultural Centre will lead an Underground Freedom Train Ride. Participants are encouraged to wear past Train Ride t-shirts, wear their country’s colours and bring the flag they choose to represent. This year’s theme is Ability in Action.
More information about the train ride is available on Eventbrite.
Emancipation Walk and Celebration
Date: August 1 from 10 a.m. to noon
Location: Meet at Blackhurst Cultural Centre, 777 Bathurst Ave and walk to Christie Pits Park, 750 Bloor St. W.
Blackhurst Cultural Centre will lead a celebratory walk to Christie Pits Park. Along the route, there will be performances.
More information about Blackhurst Cultural Centre and programming is available on their website.
Emancipation Month at Scarborough Museum
Date: August 1 to August 31
Location: Scarborough Museum, 1007 Brimley Rd
Scarborough Museum proudly presents a vibrant month of programming featuring music, visual arts, storytelling and food in collaboration with diverse Black residents of Scarborough, including local black artists, Black-led organizations, and Black youth and seniors. There are different activations planned for through the month, including food activations and community workshops.
More information about programming at the Scarborough Museum is available on the City’s website.
Bois Caïman Ceremony
Date: August 14 from 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Black Creek Community Farm, 4929 Jane St., North York
A traditional Haitian ceremony that remembers the spiritual ceremony that preceded the war for independence.
Visit the 2025 Bois Caïman Ceremony web page for more information.
Melanin Market
Dates: August 15 from 2 to 9 p.m.
August 29 from 2 to 9 p.m.
Location: Sankofa Square, 1 Dundas St. E.
A free, public event that features BIPOC entrepreneurs, artists and performers. This year’s market will feature vendors from the Black Francophone community, celebrating the Haitian theme of Emancipation Month 2025.
More information about Melanin Market is available on the Sankofa Square website.
Sankofa Day at Sankofa Square
Date: August 23 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: Sankofa Square, 1 Dundas St. E.
A free, full-day celebration to honour the African Diaspora through Indigenous and African ancestral ceremonies, live performances, art installations, and an awards ceremony celebrating changemakers, fostering remembrance, healing, and a vibrant future.
More information about Sankofa Day is available on the Sankofa Square website.
Liberté à Travers La Culture
Date: August 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.
Enjoy a full-day celebration of Haitian culture, featuring music, food and performances, hosted by Centre Haitien D’Action Humanitaire (CEHAH).
More information is available on the CEHAH Facebook page.
“Every year, Emancipation Month recognizes the significance of the abolition of slavery, while honouring the City’s Black communities for their resilience, rich cultural heritage, and contributions to the vibrancy of Toronto. We invite residents to explore programming throughout the month of August, confronting the past so we can change the future, as we continue our work of building a more equitable, inclusive City where everyone can thrive.”
– Deputy Mayor Amber Morley (Etobicoke-Lakeshore), Chair of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee
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