In partnership with the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH), the Town of Oakville hosted the annual Emancipation Day Picnic on Aug. 5, delivering a wonderful event for the community.
"Emancipation Day is very important for Oakville because this is where a lot of the slaves came from the Atlantic slave trade," said Sheldon Williams, CCAH President.
The event took place at the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate and featured hot Caribbean food prepared by Chef Romaine Newell. Attendees enjoyed live music, family activities, and learned about Oakville’s early Black history.
"We have four pillars at CCAH, one of the main ones is education. We want people to be educated, to learn something new, read the signs, and learn the rich history that Oakville has in the Black community. This knowledge can help us change the future," Williams continued.
The Emancipation Day Picnic has been an ongoing tradition for CCAH for over a decade. This year saw a great turnout of families, which Williams says is the aspect of the event he is most proud of each year.
"Bringing people together, of all races, ages, and cultures, to celebrate and acknowledge the past is what I'm most proud of," said Williams.
In a statement released by the town, Mayor Rob Burton said, "Emancipation Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon and renew our commitment to advancing diversity, fostering inclusion, and ensuring equity for all members of our community."