Emancipation Day

Emancipation Day commemorates the abolition of slavery. It is observed on August 1 and is a day of reflection, education and engagement about the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.

Join the City of Mississauga as we acknowledge Canada’s painful history and address systemic racism and discrimination. You can participate in honouring the occasion by:

Attending the Pan-African flag raising organized by the City and the Black Caucus Alliance
Learning about the contributions and achievements of Black individuals in Canada
Staying informed about the City’s ongoing commitment and actions to address racism

Events and activities

Join the City in commemorating Emancipation Day.

Pan-African flag raising event

August 1, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. | Celebration Square

Mayor Carolyn Parrish along with other Members of Council alongside the Consul General of Jamaica, the Black Caucus Alliance and special guests will raise the Pan-African flag at Mississauga Celebration Square (MCS) to honour and recognize Emancipation Day. Members of the public are invited to take part in this event.

Learn more about this event

Lighting the clock tower

August 01, 2024 | 8 p.m. | City Hall

In recognition of Emancipation Day, the Civic centre clock tower will be lit black, red and green.

Learn more about this event

Bradley Museum – Black History in Ontario

Walk through the 1830’s Bradley House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities engaging visitors of all ages in Ontario’s Black History. At this tour, you’ll learn about the Black History of Ontario. You’ll also explore the Black experience in Upper Canada in the 19th Century and local connections to Enslavement and the Underground Railway.

Each tour is an hour long and will run from 12 to 3 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommend to guarantee a spot.

This tour provides information about experiences of enslavement, which may be difficult to hear.

Book a guided tour

Benares Historic House – Cedar Park & Cherry Hill: Mississauga’s Forgotten Black History

Walk through the WWI era Benares Historic House in a fully guided tour using artifacts, images, maps and interactive activities. This new tour explores the lives and experiences of Black families in the Peel region in the 19th Century. It encourages visitors to examine the gaps in our historical record and sharing of local history.

Each tour is an hour long and will run from 12 to 3 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommend to guarantee a spot.

Book a guided tour

Mississauga stories: Generation X Marks the Spot: Black History in Mississauga

February to December

Curator Dayo Kefentse’s Generation X Marks the Spot will be on display at Bradley Museum starting February 1 to December. The exhibition features an audio documentary that looks back at the late 1980s and reveals how young activists with the Black Action Defense Committee (BADC) sparked change after a shooting involving a Black teen (Michael Wade Lawson) in Mississauga. It also features an interview with Ingrid Pellew-Berkley, a former Deputy Chief with Peel Regional Police, about how Michael Wade Lawson’s shooting changed policing in the city.

The project was funded through the Museums BIPOC Community Curator Program.

Plan your visit

Black history reading list

Learn about the contributions and achievements of Black individuals in Canada by checking out the library’s curated reading list.

Reading list

City commitment

Find out what the City is doing to create a more inclusive, equitable and accessible environment.

Anti-Black and Indigenous Resolution 207

In 2022, the City reaffirmed its strong commitment to addressing systemic racism and discrimination by supporting policies and programs that address the inequities that racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, and in particular Black communities continue to experience in Mississauga and committing to the safety and livelihood of its Black residents, naming anti-Black racism as a pervasive threat to the safety and enjoyment of life in the city.

Black Community Engagement Report

The first Black Community Engagement (BCE) report was received by Council on April 20, 2022. The Report, entitled “First Steps: A Community Driven Report on Making Mississauga More Equitable for Black Communities,” is based on the recommendations made by Black community members during community consultations hosted by the Mayor and the Black Caucus between May and June 2021. Post consultation, these recommendations were refined and presented in a report by an independent consultant.