Emancipation Day plaque coming to the Cathedral Church of St. James

With Canada set to mark Emancipation Day on Thursday, a plaque that celebrates the freeing of enslaved people across British North America190 years ago was unveiled at Toronto's historicCathedral Church of St. James on Sunday.

The plaque was unveiled by theHistoric Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, which falls under Parks Canada. It will soon be installed outside the church that dates back to the early 1800s.

The unveiling was attended bythe Liberal MP for Richmond Hill, Majid Jowhari, who introduced the motion in the House of Commons in 2021 thatdesignated Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day acrossCanada. Aug. 1, 1834 was the day whenBritain's Parliamentabolished slavery in the British Empire in 1834.

"I invite you to bring your friends, your families to visit the plaque here," Jowhari said Sunday. "When you do so, take a moment to celebrate the strength and the perseverance of African Canadians. Just as Emancipation Day is a time to remember and honour the past, it is a signal to continue to work to create fair, inclusive, and equitable society for all."

Stephen Hance, the rector of the church, said when its first building opened for services in 1800, it was attended by both slave owners, as well as free Black people who had come from south of the border. He said recent research into the church's records showed a large number of Black families were part of its history.

"We are proud that our history is intertwined with the story of abolition in Canada," Hance said, adding that the rector of the church in 1812 was a known abolitionist.

ThoughStephen Fields, the sub-dean and vicar of the church, acknowledged at the ceremony that its history is nuanced. He said it is a fitting place for the plaque to be erected.

"However, it has seen periods where the Black community was marginalized or overlooked," Fields said. "In recent years, the cathedral has opened its doors to welcome the celebration of Black people in our dances and wider community."

With the plaque being installed on the church grounds, Fields said it should serve as a reminder that its leaders must remain steadfast in their fightfor justice and equality.

"We are committed to leveraging these assets to enhance our experience to address and correct grievances of the past and to ensure that our Cathedral evolves into a space where all members feel valued and respected.