How Nova Scotia is marking Emancipation Day

Nova Scotia will officially observe Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day for the first time this year.

The day marks the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833by the British parliament. The acttook effect on Aug.1, 1834, and marked the end of slavery in British territories.

The House of Commons in Ottawa voted unanimously onMarch 24, 2021, todesignate Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day.

It did not make Emancipation Day a public holiday.

The federal government said the day should be a time forCanadians "to reflect, educate and engage in the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination."

Nova Scotia held a virtual launch of Emancipation observances on July 28.

Learning and reflection

In a news release,Ksa Munroe-Anderson, Nova Scotia's deputy minister of communities, culture and heritage, credited the ongoing efforts of community voices for making Wednesday's ceremony possible.

"Emancipation Day is a time of learning and reflection, not just for people of African descent, but for all Nova Scotians," she said in the release.

In-person activities

A number of Emancipation Day activities, both in-person and virtual, are scheduled throughout Nova Scotia.

A Pan-African flag was raised at the Grand Parade in Halifax on Friday and on the day itself. Anothercelebration will be held there on Sunday at6 p.m.

A flag was also raised in Truro on Friday and a flag raising ceremony is scheduled at the Boylston post office in Guysborough on Emancipation Day.

In-person Emancipation Day celebrationsare scheduled inAmherst, Dartmouth, Guysborough, Truro and Yarmouth.

Events related to the observance will take place throughout the month of August.

A comprehensive list of in-person and virtual Emancipation Day eventscan be found on a website set up by theThe Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia.

FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2021 is a youth-led celebration of spoken word, dance, theatre and music, as we gather together to celebrate freedom. Join CBC Arts on Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. ET onCBC GemandYouTube.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.

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