OFFICIAL OPENING
Join us as we celebrate the official opening
of the park dedicated to commemorating
the Town’s Black History and
the 225th Anniversary of the Act to
Limit Slavery in Upper Canada.
ceremony to include
Welcoming remarks by Honorary Chair Wilma Morrison, O.Ont,
Oscar Peterson’s “Hymn to Freedom” by vocalist Alana Bridgewater
and pianist Robi Botos.
PLUS
An excerpt of Shaw Festival’s Oh! What a Lovely War performed by actor Allan Louis.
ABOUT VOICES OF FREEDOM
Voices of Freedom gives expression to the silenced and forgotten stories of people of African descent, enslaved, freed, and free, whose sacrifices, labour, skills, and talents contributed to the development of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Voices of Freedom permanently inscribes these Black men and women on the historical and cultural landscape of the town.
Voices of Freedom honours their struggles, resilience, and contributions to our town, the province, and to our country. Key pieces of the cultural heritage of Niagara-on-the-Lake and our national history will be preserved. Voices of Freedom enhances the cultural and redemptive value of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a significant historic site and supports educational aims of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent.
This important public space will provide opportunities for engaging visitors with ideas and historical information on both emotional and intellectual levels. A strong experience of place will foster a broader dialogue on important social issues, in essence supporting a metaphorical passage forward that builds on historical events.
“Early Freedom Seekers, such as my great-great grandparents, escaped from slavery, found freedom in Canada, and set down roots in Niagara. We are excited about how Voices of Freedom will demonstrate their changed lives and how their new voices gave them freedom to live as they wished.”
