Emancipation Day
On August 1, we commemorate Emancipation Day, marking the anniversary of the Slavery Abolition Act coming into effect across the British Empire in 1834. This legislation formally ended the legal enslavement of more than 800,000 people of African descent—though the fight for true freedom, equality, and justice continues to this day.
In Nova Scotia, Emancipation Day holds deep and personal meaning. The province is home to over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities - descendants of enslaved Africans, Black Loyalists, Jamaican Maroons, and Refugees of the War of 1812. For generations, these communities have carried the burden of systemic racism while also contributing to the rich cultural, social, and economic fabric of the province.
Emancipation Day is a time to honour the strength, resilience, and leadership of African Nova Scotian and Black communities. It is also a moment to confront the enduring legacy of slavery, including anti-Black racism, racial inequity, and the structures that continue to deny full participation and dignity to Black people.
Recognizing Emancipation Day is a vital act of truth-telling. It calls on all of us - institutions, governments, and individuals - to reflect on the history of slavery in Canada and take real steps toward justice. It reminds us that the promise of human rights is not fully realized until all people are free from discrimination, marginalization, and oppression.
As we mark this important day, let us listen to the voices of African Nova Scotian communities. Let us learn, reflect, and commit to action. Emancipation Day is not only a historical milestone - it is a call to build a future rooted in equity, accountability, and respect for the human rights of all.
The preceding is a statement from Joseph Fraser, Director & CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
How can you recognize Emancipation Day?
- Participate in events commemorating Emancipation Day across the province.
- Continue the conversation around anti-Black racism and our collective responsibility in building an equitable society for all, regardless of race.
- Create space to acknowledge the history and contemporary issues affecting African Nova Scotians and positive actions for addressing them.
- Support efforts to pursue reparations.
Resources
- The History of Slavery in Canada
- Slave Routes: A Global Vision (UNESCO)
- The Atlantic Slave Trade in 2 Minutes (Slate Magazine)
- News release: Legislation Recognizes Emancipation Day in Nova Scotia
- The Emancipation Day Act (Nova Scotia Legislature)
- African Nova Scotians in the Age of Slavery and Abolition (Nova Scotia Archives)
- Black History in Nova Scotia (Black Cultural Centre)
- Black Before Columbus Came: The African Discovery of America | Odd Salon DISCOVERY
- Canada's slavery secret: The whitewashing of 200 years of enslavement
- Healing the Wounds of Slavery (UNESCO)
- International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (UNESCO)
- Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians (Nova Scotia Archives)
- Motion M-36 Emancipation Day (House of Commons Canada)
- The Atlantic Slave Trade: Crash Course World History #24
- The Atlantic slave trade: What too few textbooks told you - Anthony Hazard
- Slavery Abolition Act, 1833 (The Canadian Encyclopedia)
- The Emancipation Day Picnic | Brock. University
- History From Here: Lakeside Park at Port Dalhousie
- Chloe Cooley National Historic Person
- Richard Preston | Dictionary of Canadian Biography