'A beautiful story of resilience': Black community marks Emancipation Day in Montreal

Members of the Montreal Black community are coming together to mark Emancipation Day on Sunday afternoon, saying it represents both a celebration of freedom and a commemoration of one of the darkest chapters of Canada'shistory.

The event, organized bythe Cte-des-Neiges Black Community Association, one of the oldest of its kind in Quebec, will feature speeches, music, spoken word performances at the Corona Theatre and be followed by a historical walk through Old Montreal.

TiffanyCallender, executive director of the association, said they partnered with music festival POP Montreal to make the event happen, in honour of the first Canada-wide day marking theSlavery Abolition Act of 1833.

"We thought it was important in Montreal to give the credence and the opportunity to anchor this event in recognition of the abolishment of slavery by the Britishempire," said Callender.

The legislationended slavery in the coloniesonAug. 1, 1834. Like Juneteenth in the U.S., this is the first year that the date for Emancipation Day has been recognized as a federal holiday.

Callender said that while events like Juneteenth have gained international recognition, less attention has been paid to the Black experience north of the border.

"In Canada we have our own story, we have our own voiceand Ibelieve that we often do not give ourselves the chance to hyper-focus on the contributions of Black Canadians and their experiences," said Callender.

"We are known as a country that's inclusive and diverse, but that should not negate the opportunity to give the specificityaroundthe experienceof Black Canadians."

WATCH |TiffanyCallender explains what Emancipation Day means to her:

Head of Montreal Black community group shares what Emancipation Day means to her

3 years ago

Duration 1:46

Tiffany Callender says the day provides a chance to learn about the Black experience in Canada and build bridges based on understanding.

Callender said that events like these help to educate people about the history of slavery in Canada, which they may not have learned about in school.

"I think it gives us a chance to be honest as a Canadian community, to look at the horrors and the different elements that are dark in our story," she said.

"But then it's also a beautiful story of resilience, where this community then went forward to produce some of the most brilliant minds and large contributions to this country.And that story is still not told as efficiently as it can be and as explicitlyas it should be."

While the event looks back on a sombre reality, Callender says the accomplishments of the Black community since Emancipation are also cause for celebration.

"We are the descendants of the ancestors who made it through the darkest period of human historyin the last 400 years, one of them absolutely. And then also, we are here. And we are their dream.We are theresult of being able to grow and shape Canada and its culture."

'It's important to know where we come from'

The event on Sunday is hosted byAlberto Syllion, an active member of the Montreal Black community and a member of the charitable motorcycle club theHilarious Riders.

Syllion said he jumped at the chance to be part of the event.

"To have the honour to host,the first year that it's officialthat it's the Emancipation Day,it's a real honour for me," he told CBC.

He said the educational element of the event and spreading awareness around it is more important than ever.

"Personally, I think every part of history is important, even the dark side," he said. "Ithinkit's important to know where we come from and what we fought for."

Syllion said in a time when many people are uninformed about the history of slavery in Quebec, it's necessary to shine a light on it.

"Most people think that slavery only happened in the United States, in the Caribbean, but we have a whole history of slavery here. Our hands are also dirty," he said.

"By trying to not acknowledge those facts, it'sa memory genocide."

Educating peopleand keeping the stories of Black Montrealers alive is a central part of what Rito Joseph does, as he leads historical walking toursthrough Montreal.

Joseph will be leading a walk following Sunday's event, with a stop at Place D'Youvillein Montreal where in 1834, people gathered to celebrate the abolition of slavery.

He told CBC that the walk following the live show will bea symbolic march in the name of the ancestors who first set foot on Montreal soil.

Joseph said growing up, he didn't learn much about the history of Black people in Montreal or Quebec, and it was only later that he started to become curious.

He said highlighting this history, and bringing it to the attention of young people especially, is essential.

The Emancipation Day event in Montreal takes place at the Corona Theatre starting at 4 p.m. The walk begins at Place D'Youville at 6:30 p.m.

Watch the Free Up! Emancipation Day one-hour special streaming on CBC GEM. Hosted and created by Ngozi Paul,the special will feature Black Canadian artists who express what freedom means to them through music, poetry, performance and dance.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.