GUELPH – The Guelph Black Heritage Society will host a celebration in honour of Juneteenth on June 28 from 1 to 3pm at the Heritage Hall (83 Essex Street, Guelph).
This event will feature live music by Dr. Mike and The Nurses, kids crafts with Art by Gaia, refreshments and the premiere of the exhibit Tattooed Stories: Black Identities, Resistance and Cultural Expression.
Juneteenth is a 160-year-old commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
It is observed on June 19 to memorialize the day in 1865 when, in Galveston, Texas, many enslaved Black folks were informed of the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery.
This official enforcement actually came late, as it had been well over two years since the signing of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
While Juneteenth marks a significant day in Black history and a day of remembrance, it is also an opportunity to honour and celebrate Black history, heritage and culture, officials say.
“Of all Emancipation Day observances, Juneteenth falls closest to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when the sun, at its zenith, defies the darkness in every state, including those once shadowed by slavery,” stated Henry Louis Gates Junior.
This event is presented with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Admission is free, with a suggested donation $10 per person. Proceeds will go towards the Heritage Hall Heart and Soul Campaign.
Heritage Hall Heart and Soul Campaign
Financial sustainability is a key driver for Guelph Black Heritage Society.
“It’s our goal to diversify our revenue sources to sustain our building, continue existing events, activities and educational programs, plus create, develop and support new ones in response to community need and demand,” officials state.
The Heritage Hall Heart and Soul Campaign is a significant fundraising effort to expand and revitalize resources and programming at the GBHS.
“It’s a compelling opportunity for individuals, businesses and government to partner to create a place where art, culture and inclusiveness converge … a place that meets and exceeds the expectations of every visitor … a place that every resident of Guelph can point to with pride,” officials state.
“Investors in Heritage Hall hold the power to inspire creative energy, nurture the spirit and advance the cultural prosperity of Guelph and our region.
“If you are passionate about the place where you live, work and play, the Heritage Hall Heart and Soul Campaign is a worthy investment … and a meaningful way to foster and build a rich legacy in the city of Guelph.”
The Guelph Black Heritage Society (GBHS) is a registered charity and tax receipts will be issued for donations greater than $25.
Established in 2011, the mission of the Guelph Black Heritage Society is to restore and maintain Heritage Hall, originally known as the British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church, built in 1880 by formerly enslaved Black individuals and their descendants who arrived in the area via the Underground Railroad.
The building is a cultural, historical and social community centre serving to promote Guelph and Wellington County’s distinctive place in Southwestern Ontario’s rich Black heritage.
Lantern Ale
Lantern Ale is back at Royal City Brewing Company (199 Victoria Road South, Guelph).
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the GBHS.
Lanterns, prior to and during the American Civil War, were used as beacons by “safe” houses along the Underground Railroad, which was a network of people and paths that helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom and to the Queen’s Bush settlement just north of Guelph.
The lantern was not only a sign of a safe haven but a symbol of hard-won freedom.
