On Monday, Aug. 4, the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH) held its yearly picnic outside the Oakville Museum to celebrate Emancipation Day. The event brought the community together for a lively and joyful afternoon.
Emancipation Day celebrates the end of slavery in the British colonies in the 1830s and is marked for remembrance, reflection, and recognition of the ongoing struggle for human rights and the dismantling of systemic racism.
Local residents attended the picnic, including all senior members of the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton, new President Sheldon Williams, Mayor Rob Burton, and Oakville MPs Sima Anand and Anita Anand. Vice-President Richard Pinnock said it’s a time to reflect on the past and look to the future, and he believes it’s important to help young people reach their goals.
Pinnock said Oakville and Halton have many great opportunities for young people, and the CCAH wants to help them reach their full potential, whether that means becoming mayor, premier, prime minister, or anything else they dream of. The picnic offered free activities for guests, including music performances, art displays by Black artists, a drum line lesson, and a show by the CCAH’s steel pan band. The Oakville Museum also gave guided tours explaining the town’s role in the Underground Railroad. Everyone enjoyed the day, celebrating the end of slavery while taking part in the fun events.
