A committee in Windsor is asking the public to submit any stories, memories, reflections, and historic photos connected to Emancipation Day Celebrations in the city.
"This is the perfect time to ask Windsorites and all those who remember these celebrations to share your stories, memories, and reflections with those working to honour this cherished history," said Mayor Drew Dilkens.
City Council approved the development of a monument to commemorate the history of Emancipation Day Celebrations in Windsor in 2012.
Unfortunately, the project hit a roadblock when fundraising in the community failed to reach its goals. Two years ago, Joi Hurst stepped up and revived the project in 2023.
A new public fundraising campaign is planned, and work on the new monument is expected to start next year.
Windsor's Emancipation Day celebrations started around the turn of the last century and continued through to the 1970s. Upwards of 250,000 people would line the streets of Windsor for a large parade that would travel to Jackson Park along Ouellette Avenue. The event has been resurrected since.
"Emancipation Day commemorates the Slavery Abolition Act that abolished slavery across the British Empire, including here in Canada, where thousands of people of African and Indigenous heritage had been enslaved," said Hurst. "That is why we talk about freedom when we talk about Emancipation Day, and why we have long celebrated all that it stands for."
If you have historical photos of past celebrations or have a story or memory to share, you can email WindsorEmancipationMonument@gmail.com until October 1. Submissions will be incorporated into the design process for the monument.