July 29 2022

“While slavery has been abolished, anti-Black racism still exists across our country. It is our hope that Emancipation Day is used as a catalyst for more people to join the ongoing fight against anti-Black and Indigenous racism and discrimination.” — Bert Blundon, NUPGE President

Ottawa (29 July 2022) — On March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to officially designate August 1 as Emancipation Day. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire.

August 1 marks Emancipation Day in Canada

Canadians are not always aware that Black and Indigenous Peoples were once enslaved on the land that is now Canada. Those who fought enslavement were pivotal in shaping our society to be as diverse as it is today.

Therefore, each August 1, Canadians are invited to reflect, educate, and engage in the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.

Emancipation Day celebrates the strength and perseverance of Black communities in Canada.

“We enourage our members to learn more about the struggles of Black and Indigenous Peoples in Canada,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE President. “While slavery has been abolished, anti-Black racism still exists across our country. It is our hope that Emancipation Day is used as a catalyst for more people to join the ongoing fight against anti-Black and Indigenous racism and discrimination.”

“The legacy of enslavement reverberates across Canada,” said Jason MacLean, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer. “We must dedicate our union and ourselves to fight for equity, diversity, and inclusion in at home, in our work and in our communities every day.”