SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Celebrate Emancipation Day
Virtually from Monday, July 26 to Sunday, August 1, 2021
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site
Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site commemorates the life of Josiah Henson, a former slave, who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad. Henson rose to international
fame after Harriet Beecher Stowe acknowledged his memoirs as a source for her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Settling in Southwestern Ontario, Henson worked to improve life for the Black community and helped to establish the Dawn Settlement. He would go on
to become an internationally recognized abolitionist, preacher and conductor on the Underground Railroad.
Schedule:
July 26 – Virtual guided tour!
Today
marks the beginning of our #Emancipation Day celebrations!
Register here for a free, live virtual guided tour of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site. Tours available at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Limited availability.
July 27 – Kramer Wimberley
Kramer Wimberley is the lead diving instructor with the organization Diving With a Purpose. He’ll share his
experience of locating and examining sunken slave ships on three continents as part of the television documentary series Enslaved, starring Samuel L. Jackson.
July 28 – Chef Patience Chirisa, Alexandra Kane and George McLeary
Chef Patience Chirisa is a Canadian culinary expert on African cuisine. She is founder of the Wine Dine
Africa cooking show on Rogers TV and Wine Dine Africa magazine. Join her as she demonstrates how to cook fried okra.
Canadian vocalist Alexandra Kane is a mother, business owner and community leader from
London, Ontario with a voice as powerful as the lyrics behind her songs.
Born and raised in London, George McLeary studied musical theatre performance at St. Clair College in Windsor and at HB Beal Secondary.
George has been a part of local theatre in London as well as performed for The Grand Theatre. He now works as Worship and Creative Director at Impact Church.
July 29 – Moses Latigo Odida
The website will also share an interview Steven Cook conducted with filmmaker Moses Latigo Odida about his documentary Why We Protest, which is about
racism in Canada, on July 29. The filmmaker visited Uncle Tom’s Cabin last year “for a historical perspective of the African Canadian presence here,” Cook said.
Independent filmmaker Moses Latigo Odida travelled throughout
Ontario capturing the voices of African-Canadians who shared their experiences with racism. His film, Why We Protest, debuts this year. He has shared an exclusive cut of the documentary that we will be including in our Emancipation Day celebrations.
July 30 – Virtual guided tour
Register here for a free, live virtual guided tour of Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site. Tours available at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Limited availability.
July 31 – Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore, Alexandra Kane and George McLeary
Meet author and poet Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore. Her book, Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have
Shaped Canada, introduces readers to Canada’s Black history through the stories of over 40 incredible Black change makers.
August
1 – Full celebration of all presenters/performers
Emancipation Day is supported by the RBC Foundation and the
J.P. Bickell Foundation.
Stay tuned to our social media channels for more information!
Celebrate Emancipation Day 2021 virtually! - Ontario Heritage Trust