Pan-African flag raising to mark Emancipation Day

The Pan-African flag will be raised at the Owen Sound Campus on Monday, July 29, to recognize Emancipation Day (Aug. 1). 

In March 2021, the House of Commons officially designated August 1 as Emancipation Day in Canada, marking the day in 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 took effect across the British Empire. While it has been less than 200 years since the British Empire ended slavery in its former colonies, including Canada, many Canadians remain unaware that Black and Indigenous peoples were once enslaved here. 

What may be lesser known in our region is that Emancipation Day was first celebrated in 1836 in Owen Sound, the northernmost endpoint of the Underground Railroad. Since 1862, the annual Emancipation Festival has been held at Harrison Park in Owen Sound. This year, the festival will take place from August 2 to 4. You can view the event schedule here. The festival honours those who made this journey possible and welcomes individuals interested in history, family, culture, and community. 

We will host the Owen Sound campus flag raising at 9 a.m. by the flagpole. The flag will remain up until Friday, August 9.