Emancipation Month begins with a flag raising and proclamation

Today, Mayor Olivia Chow proclaimed August as Emancipation Month in Toronto alongside Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre), Chair of the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Committee, at a Black Liberation Flag raising ceremony at Toronto City Hall.

The City has proclaimed August 1 as Emancipation Day since 1998 and Emancipation Month in August since 2019. The City also has proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015 to 2024) since March 2019.

Throughout the month of August and into 2025, the City will offer programming to acknowledge the legacy and history of slavery in Canada and to celebrate its abolition.
Today marks the launch of a year-long public education campaign entitled, “Confront the Past, Change the Future” which continues until December 31, 2025.

The campaign focuses on the legacies of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery to advance the human rights of peoples of African descent in alignment with the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent.

Additional Emancipation Month highlights include:

• Members of the public are invited to explore and enjoy Black culinary experiences on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 through stories, workshops and a walking tour. The public can purchase a variety of food and gifts from businesses on August 14 and August 24 at Fort York National Historic Site.
• The City, in collaboration with the Toronto Public Library (TPL), has curated an Emancipation Month themed book list which can be used to help reflect, educate and engage in the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.
• The City is also partnering with TPL to present the film Joseph (2020) about a Jamaican doctor trained in Western medicine who must overcome family conflict and self-doubt to discover his African origins. This film will be screened on Friday, August 23, at the North York Central Library to align with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
• The Toronto Sign will be lit red, black and green – the colours of the Black Liberation Flag – every day for the month of August.

The public can find out more about the City’s Emancipation Month events at toronto.ca/emancipation and can view the Mayor’s Emancipation Month proclamation on the City’s Proclamations webpage.

More information on the City’s work to develop a renewed 10-year Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black racism is available on the City’s website.

Quotes:

“By recognizing Emancipation Month, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing systemic barriers faced by Black communities in Toronto. This month provides a vital opportunity to educate and raise awareness about the legacy of slavery, systemic racism and the ongoing journey towards racial justice. Together, we celebrate Black strength, resistance and resilience, and celebrate the contribution of Black communities in Toronto.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow

“I encourage residents to participate in Emancipation Month and join us in celebrating the raising of the Black Liberation Flag. These activities are part of the daily work the City is doing through its current Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism and its current creation of a new ten-year Action Plan. By learning from the experiences of the past, we can build a better future.”
– Councillor Chris Moise (Toronto Centre)