Emancipation Day celebrations in Kingston will be taking place from July 27 to Aug. 1, with events being supported by a number of local groups, including the Queen’s community. The weekend celebrates the Slavery Abolition Act, passed on Aug. 1, 1834, which marked a significant moment in the fight for freedom for enslaved Africans in Canada. This year’s theme is ‘Thriving in Colour’, representing the resiliency of the Black community in the face of ongoing anti-Black racism and discrimination.  

Among the events taking place is the inaugural Black Block Party at Confederation Park on July 29 from noon to 5 p.m. The event is supported by the City of Kingston, the Downtown BIA, alongside the Faculty Arts and Science, Black Studies, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), Yellow House Student Center for Equity and Inclusion, as well as St. Lawrence College and many local leaders and businesses such as Cher Mere Spa, Dansani Dance Studio, and the Black Entrepreneur Ecosystem.

The Black Block Party will feature and celebrate more than 20 Black-owned businesses that have been highlighted on the growing directory of local Black-owned businesses on the blog, Keep up with Kingston. The blog is run by a Queen’s staff member, Tianna Edwards, Equity Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Yellow House Student Center for Equity and Inclusion.

“The Black-owned business list has been growing steady for the past three years and I thought a block party would be a wonderful way to translate this online resource to real life engagement,” Edwards says.

Jermaine Marshall, one of the core organizers of the Emancipation Day celebrations and the Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisor in the HREO adds: “As a Queer Jamaican, emancipation to me has always been about liberation and the freedom that can be found in sincere celebrations of joy and community, recognizing the past but with a mind to creating a better future. I look forward to sharing smiles and laughter with Queens and Kingston community members in this coming together during the weekend’s events.”

Ontario Street will be shut down from Clarence Street to Brock Street in front of City Hall, with opportunities to shop at the vendors, three of which will be providing cultural foods, with Mo’s Dainty Bite featuring Nigerian eats, and Bay Eats and Jerkebago offering Jamaican and Caribbean fare. Attendees will also be able to participate in pick-up basketball games guided by retired pro Nate Green. There will also be various activities for kids including a bouncy castle, rock climbing wall, face painting, and story times delivered by Ruthy’s Reading Room.

The event kicks off with live musical performances on the Confederation Park mainstage by Danielle Hope Edwards and Kyra Daniels. There will also be a host of featured visual artists, poets and storytellers curated and sponsored by the Queen's Black Studies program, including critically-acclaimed talent such as Jega Delisca, who will be doing all day live portrait paintings, Kofi Frempong, who will be crafting a mural that captures the spirit of the celebration, and spoken word performances by Abena Beloved, Nishi Patel and Maya Spoken.

The evening will wrap up with a dance party extravaganza hosted by AA DJ.

To learn more about the weekend events visit the City of Kingston website.

To learn more about the Black Block Party visit Keep Up With Kingston.