Emancipation Day marked in B.C.
Posted August 1, 2023 1:17 pm.
Last Updated August 1, 2023 1:19 pm.
The day to mark the end of slavery in the British colonies in the 1800s is being recognized in B.C. on Tuesday.
Aug. 1 is Emancipation Day, which is when the British Empire’s Slavery Abolition Act came into effect in 1834. It was the first step toward ending slavery throughout the colonies, including Canada.
On Tuesday, Mable Elmore, B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives issued a statement noting there were 4,200 enslaved people in B.C. when the act came into effect, virtually all of which were Black and Indigenous.
“Even though slavery in Canada was abolished 185 years ago, many Black and Indigenous people still experience intergenerational trauma, racism and discrimination rooted in the system of free slave labour that Canada benefited from for far too long,” she said.
Related Story: Aug. 1 officially marks Emancipation Day in B.C., small step to recognize Black history
“Emancipation Day is a time to remember our collective history and celebrate the strengths and perseverance of these communities in Canada.”
When the Slavery Abolition Act was first passed in 1833, it only applied to enslaved people under the age of six. Anyone older was “redesignated” as an apprentice and worked unpaid for up to six years as compensation to their owners. Full emancipation of enslaved people in Canada was not reached until Aug. 1, 1838.
“While the end of slavery in Canada and most of the British colonies was a turning point in history, the harm caused continues to reverberate through the generations. Many Indigenous and racialized people report experiencing incidents of racism or hate crimes,” Elmore said.
“These racialized groups also continue to face systemic barriers in accessing services, housing, employment and justice.”
Last week, a proclamation declared Tuesday as Emancipation Day in Vancouver.
“The City is committed to addressing the historic and ongoing discrimination against the Black and African Diaspora,” Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement. “Racism in any form is not tolerated in Vancouver. It is incredibly important for each individual to take a stand to fight anti-Black racism in all its forms and to work towards a more humane and just future for all.”
In 2021, the House of Commons unanimously voted to designate Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day.
