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Third annual Emancipation Day a big deal in Oakville By Carlie Oreskovich SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 13 · Thursday, July 22, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville's third annual Emancipation Day Family Picnic (in recent times) is at George's Square on Aug. 2. Typically a quiet family event sponsored by the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton, this year promises to be an extra special observance, with the acknowledgement of the donation of an early African-American resident's 155year-old Certificate of Freedom to the Oakville Museum. This Freedom Paper was kept by Maryland born, Branson Johnson, noting that he was a "free born" AfricanAmerican. It was given to the museum by Branson's great grandson, Joe Johnson. Johnson was expected to come from his home in Kokomo, Indiana to attend the event and be acknowledged for having made the donation to the museum, however he will not be able to travel. The event is from 1-4 p.m. George's Square is located at Trafalgar Road and Sumner Avenue. In addition to remarks from Mayor Rob Burton, there will be performances by the Halton Caribbean Steel Band, John Campbell, a pianist and gospel singer, Muhtadi African drummers, and the Hope Gospel Choir from Hope Centre in Mississauga. This centre has evolved from Oakville's original American Methodist Episcopalian (AMR) congregation on Lakeshore. According to Veronica Tyrrell, president of the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH), Emancipation Day festivities will also feature: · Caribbean foods; · children's crafts and games; · traditional Zimbabwe sculpting by Chaka Chikodzi; · fair trade jewelry from Kuku Hut, which supports economic development and an orphanage in East Africa; · a book table featuring books on the slave trade; · crafts; · an exhibit of Oakville Black History from the Oakville Museum, which involves 17 items, pictures and text. Originally, the Emancipation Day picnic was a celebration by AfricanAmericans in Canada, first held in 1834, the year after the British Parliament abolished slavery in England and in its colonies. There was a time when the AfricanAmerican population was a significant part of the town, about 30 per cent of the population of Oakville was made up of African-Americans -- specifically 58 peo- ple in 14 families, according to census figures. Many of these people had chosen Oakville as their home. Details of the early Emancipation Day celebrations are contained in Emancipation Day, Celebrating Freedom in Canada, by Natasha L. Henry, published this year. Henry notes Captain Robert Wilson, known as an abolitionist, transported escaping slaves to Canada and Oakville by including them in shipments. As well as Wilson, two other local marine captains, George Hardy Morden and James Fitzgerald, also carried slaves across Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. At the time, the picnic participants would celebrate emancipation by marching about one kilometre northwest of George's Square to the "Mariner's Home" -- Captain Wilson's house -- to honour the man who helped many of them get to Canada. This was done, Henry notes, until only one person took part in the march to Wilson's door. That was in the early 1900s and the day remained unheralded until 2007, when it was resurrected by the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton. HALTON Bridal Now WE'VE ARRIVED Open IN OAKVILLE! Expo Sunday, September 19 12pm - 5pm TakingVendor Bookings Now! Oakville, Your support for our clothing line has been fantastic. Thank you and we look forward to your continued patronage. (at Forsythe, across from Arthur Murray) 100% COTTON · Qualified buyers at your fingertips, eager to learn & ready to buy. · Brides & Grooms looking for expert advice & inspiration. · Make personal 3D contact right from the start. · Showcase your products or services, pass out samples, pick up leads. · Cost effective targeted marketing. 2 FASHION SHOWS! PRIZES! PRESTIGIOUS LOCATION! $25,000 MARKETING PLAN! YOU should be there! For more information, contact McLEAN-SHERWOOD PA R T Y R E N TA L & S U P P L I E S OAKVILLE · 4 Lakeshore West · 905.815.8555 878 2341 905