Glorious and Free 2025: Highlights from Emancipation Day in Canada
The Standard’s 5th Annual Emancipation Day in Canada, marked both history and the ongoing struggle for freedom. This Glorious & Free round-up looks at the campaign, the legacy of leaders like Dr. Rosemary Sadlier and Rosemary Brown, and how communities across Canada keep freedom alive today.
August has been a month of remembering, listening to voices that too often go unheard and sharing stories that stick with us. Glorious & Free 2025, gave us space to reflect on Emancipation Day and what it still means for Black communities in Canada. We honoured a history that still shapes us, while asking a simple question: what does freedom look like today?
To help answer that, we asked our members to share what freedom means to them. Their words showed that freedom is lived in many different ways, never the same for everyone.
Why Emancipation Day Matters
The Roots of Emancipation Day in Canada
On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire, including in Canada. It legally ended slavery but did not deliver instant freedom. Many adults were forced into unpaid “apprenticeships” for years after.
Despite hardship, Black Canadians held on to the day. As far back as the mid-19th century, communities gathered in Windsor, Amherstburg, and Owen Sound for festivals, parades, and picnics that mixed joy with remembrance.
Federal recognition only came in 2021, when the House of Commons unanimously declared August 1 as Emancipation Day. That milestone followed decades of advocacy, but it was community perseverance that kept the day alive long before Ottawa acknowledged it.
Glorious & Free 2025 Campaign: What Was It Really About?
This year’s Glorious & Free campaign focused on Black women's labour, leadership, and resistance: work that’s too often overlooked. The campaign reminded us that emancipation is not a single moment but a daily work for rest, justice, cultural preservation, and real systems of change.
Instead of settling for empty gestures, the campaign pushed for honest reflection. It asked us to think about freedom as something we practise in our homes, workplaces, and communities and not a trophy handed down by others.
The Stories That Keep Emancipation Day Alive
Dr. Rosemary Sadlier
Photo via Dr. Rosemary Sadlier
A Voice that Changed Canada
Dr. Rosemary Sadlier has been one of the defining voices in bringing Emancipation Day recognition to life. As past president of the Ontario Black History Society, she led the charge for municipal recognition in Toronto in 1994, provincial recognition in Ontario in 2008, and finally national recognition in 2021 after years of collective advocacy.
She also played a central role in establishing Black History Month in Canada in 1995, ensuring that Black history would be formally taught and celebrated. Through her work, we see how steady, consistent effort can change how a nation remembers its history.
Dr. Rosemary Sadlier is a cherished member of the Standard community, remembered for her inspiring words as a past speaker. A true trailblazer and generous supporter, she continues to strengthen and uplift our work.
Rosemary Brown
Photo by The Canadian Press/John Goddard via The Canadian Encyclopedia | Rosemary Brown at the opening of the first national conference of Women of Political Action, June 16 1973
Breaking Political Barriers
Rosemary Brown made history in 1972 when she became the first Black woman elected to a provincial legislature in Canada, representing British Columbia. She didn’t stop there, she even ran for the leadership of a federal party, stepping into spaces where Black women had rarely been seen before.
Throughout her life, Brown took on systemic sexism and racism, in housing, education, and employment. Her tireless work didn’t go unnoticed; she received both the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia for her lifelong commitment to justice and equality.
Other Women Who Shaped Freedom
Mary Ann Shadd Cary was another trailblazer. In the 1850s, she became one of the first Black women in North America to run a newspaper, using it as a platform to fight for freedom, education, and opportunity for Black communities.
Carrie M. Best also carved out her own space in history. In 1946, she launched The Clarion in Nova Scotia, one of the province’s first Black-owned newspapers, challenging segregation and giving voice to stories that otherwise might have been ignored.
Emancipation Day 2025 Celebrations Across Canada
How Did The Community Celebrate?
Communities across Canada marked Emancipation Day in 2025 with meaningful events celebrating culture and history.
In Dresden, Ontario, the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History hosted its annual Emancipation Day celebration on Saturday, August 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day featured music, author talks, food demonstrations, exhibits, and cultural performances that honoured community roots.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia, the provincial commemoration included a flag-raising ceremony at Province House at 9 a.m., followed by a public event at the waterfront at 11 a.m., under the theme “Harbouring Freedom: Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future”. Additionally, Mount Saint Vincent University hosted a panel discussion reception as part of its Exploring Emancipation series on August 14.
Find out more about the events here:
Beyond formal institutions, community celebrations brought history to life through immersive experiences. In St. Catharines, guided "Walk to Freedom" tours traced Underground Railroad routes, connecting participants with the stories of those who sought refuge in Canada. In Oakville, walking tours highlighted early Black residents and the town’s heritage. These community-driven acts show that freedom is sustained not just through policy, but through remembering, walking, and storytelling.
More details here:
Why This All Matters Today
Emancipation Beyond Symbolism
Emancipation Day is about real action: fighting racism, closing education gaps, and pushing for change that matters. Organizations across Canada have used the day to call for real action, not just memory.
The day also connects to global efforts. The United Nations proclaimed the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025–2034), a call for recognition, justice, and development that situates Canadian work inside a worldwide push for reparative and systemic change.
Parks Canada has also recognized Emancipation Day celebrations as a National Historic Event, underscoring that these community traditions are part of Canada’s national story.
So, What’s On the Rise for the Rest of 2025?
Glorious & Free 2025 was something truly special. It made us look back, honour the past, and dream about a better tomorrow. Listening to our community and sharing the stories of women like Dr. Rosemary Sadlier and Rosemary Brown keeps emancipation alive as something we live and carry forward every day.
Emancipation Day is a call to action. Share these stories, tell them to someone new, and play your part in shaping a world where freedom is a daily experience. That’s how we keep history alive and make it matter.
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