Emancipation Festival 2012

Owen Sound

Photo: C. Ferguson

The Abolition of Slavery Act, effective August 1, 1834, ended slavery throughout the British Empire, people of the African descent celebrated their newfound freedom. This tradition continues today within the Caribbean and some cities along the Underground Railroad in Canada and USA. Owen Sound is the city where the Underground Railroad ended. This is the 150th year of celebrating Emancipation Day in Owen Sound, the oldest of it's kind in North America. This year the city in cooperation with Ontario Heritage Trust held a series of family events in both Harrison and Kelso Beach Park including a dedication ceremony, speakers forum, gospel music, family picnic and a blues concert featuring Eddie Bullen, Liberty Silver, Blackburn, Bobby Dean Blackburn, Michael Dunston & Soul Stew.