Past Events
2023
Our 2023 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival celebrated our 189th year of Emancipation throughout the British Commonwealth. The festival brought together musical acts, children's activities, cultural art, food, crafts, and heritage, historical, genealogical, and multi-cultural groups, promoting inclusivity and community integration. The multi-cultural ambience was infused with Canadian R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Ska, Soca and Pop Artists with some of our country’s finest musicians.
This event took place on August 5th, 2023 at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario, Canada (the first city in the world to acclaim August as Emancipation Month).
2023 Downloads (pdf): Festival Poster & Festival Schedule
The 6th Annual Emancipation Art Exhibition took place from June 21st to August 27th of 2023 at the Helson Gallery in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada.
Thank you to all the visitors, participating artists and the many who helped make this art exhibit a successful event.
2022
Thank you for having joined us for a day of total pleasure!!! Exquisite R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Salsa, African Dance and Jazz Fusion complimenting Cultural Crafts, Tasty Treats (Food Trucks and Multi-Cultural Vendors), Community Services, Youth Activities and Workshops.
This free festival was exquisite with multi-cultural crafts, food trucks, art, fashion, accessories, cultural and heritage vendors, youth activities and enormous ambience.
On July 30, 2022 the Halton Freedom Festival showcased musicians including Blackburn –2016 Juno runners up and recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as the best blues band in Canada (2015), enslaved descendants whose father, Bobby “Dean” Blackburn, is recognized on the Mississauga Walk of Fame for bringing R&B into Canada and member of the first black family in Brampton, Ontario; Dejehan Hamilton (MC) aka. Luckystickz (with band) who is Berklee College of Music’s 1st Steel Drum graduate supporting his scholarship in drumming, represents Berklee University globally, has a past playing with Harry Belafonte and is a HBHAS Board Director; and Michael Dunston, renowned vocalist whose group The Lincolns are recognized as the Best R&B band in Canada and Soul Stew (Bamboo’s original home band of 40+ years), We were also pleased to present 11 x Canadian Music Award recipient, Errol Woodward and his Reggae Band to our audiences and the exceptionally talented Neema Children's Project from Uganda - 19 talented orphans dancing, singing and drumming towards fundraising to send school supplies to hospitals and orphanages back home. We are please to have join us this year: Garnetta & Dagroovmasters - a high energy show band that plays and sing the genres of Blues, Classic Soul & Funk, and a reflection of Canada's multicultural society! Garnetta was lead vocalist and drummer for a Toronto’s only female reggae band Sweet Sensation, performing on the same stage with Platinum/Grammy Award artists like Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Gregory Issacs and Sean Kingston, Platinum/Grammy award Soul legends, Percy Sledge, Dorothy Moore and The Manhattans, and Carlene Ling, (aka Vanda Li) Founding Director, Bling Entertainment & “Black African Caribbean Canadian Artists Unite” (BACCAU) who perform for Black Music Month (June) and Black African Caribbean Canadian Appreciation Month.
Freedom Celebration Festival 2022
Video and photography created by @radsportphotography
Spencer Smith Park
Burlington, Ontario
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Noon - 11 p.m.
Burlington, Ontario
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Noon - 11 p.m.
On July 22, 2022 HBHAS was honoured to host the 2022 Halton Freedom Festival, Emancipation Pan African Flag-Raising Ceremony celebrating the 1834 British Emancipation Act which freed all colonial slaves, initiated by Ontario's First Lieutenant Governor, John Graves Simcoe through the Anti-Slavery Act of 1793. It is appreciated that multi-cultures helped transport many of the "freed" slaves to Canada both through the Underground Railroad and throughout the North American continent. The Pan African flag is representative of all blacks of African Ancestry.
The HBHAS is appreciative of being recognized as the first city in the world to acclaim August as Emancipation month. This acclamation took place at our 2018 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival and was acknowledged at a Dr. Julius Garvey presentation in tribute to his father on Marcus Garvey Day, at Toronto's City Hall (2019). The City of Burlington further proclaimed, at the HBHAS flag-raising ceremony in 2021, recognizing August 31st the International Day for People of African Descent in alignment to the UN General Assembly 2020 resolution sponsored by 52 countries, and a proclamation recognizing August 1st as the first Canadian National Emancipation Day.
2022 HBHAS Emancipation Art Exhibition
Video and photography created by @radsportphotography
2022 HBHAS EMANCIPATION ART EXHIBITION
“ART has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can. ART speaks to people in a language they understand.
ART can create hope where there was once only despair. Art is an instrument for peace …” – our most predominant goal and aspiration.
Nobel Laureate, Nelson Mandela (Paraphrased)
HBHAS 5th Annual
Emancipation Art Exhibit
July 27 - Sept. 11, 2022
Emancipation Art Exhibit
July 27 - Sept. 11, 2022
“Black Art tells the story of history, pain, persistency, humility, family, creativity, harmony, hope, love, and life, as shown through Halton Black History Awareness Society’s annual Emancipation “Freedom” Art Exhibition. The Artists’ portrayals illustrate the transition of life and the spirit of freedom conquered.” Enjoy the artistry and bios of our esteemed contributors to the Emancipation Art Exhibition.
Dennis Scott, Chair, Halton Black History Awareness Society
2021
All 2021 events took place virtually.
The HBHAS 2021 Free Virtual Halton Freedom Celebration Festival, celebrating Emancipation, took place on August 1, 2021 at 5 p.m. This program presented historians, government representatives, community leaders and exquisite entertainers, a number of which are descendants of enslaved peoples, orphaned youths, and freedom/equality activists denouncing racism and promoting cultural knowledge, inclusive integration and authentic equality.
This presentation welcomed everyone to celebrate, through inspiring narratives and exquisite music, 187 years since the British Emancipation Act of 1834 and appreciate the Halton, Hamilton, Niagara area as being where the Emancipation process began; recognizing our first year of Canada's legislated National August 1st Emancipation Day and Burlington, Ontario, Canada being the first city in the world to acclaim August as Emancipation Month.
The virtual festival was live streamed on our YouTube Channel on August 1st, 2021 at 5:00 pm. It featured Blackburn - Michael Dunston and Soul Stew - Neema Project and more. The 2021 year's amazing host was Dejehan Hamilton .
Video
Michael Dunston at the annual 2021 Virtual Halton Freedom Celebration Festival singing "A Change Is Gonna Come".
The HBHAS Emancipation Art Exhibit Celebrating Freedom 2022 took place at Halton Hills Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Ontario from August 1 to September 3, 2022 featuring 12 African Canadian local artists.
On behalf of HBHAS, thank you to all of our 2021 Emancipation Art Exhibition participants. Your works continue to present great Art contributions to our growing audience. Thank you Francesca Durham. HBHAS Art Curator and Judy Daley, Curator, Helson Galleries, Halton Hills, for your leadership and setting up another exquisite presentation. Thank you Dejehan “Luckystickz” Hamilton for your musical accompaniment to our Exhibition, and thank you Richard Durham for your Videography. We look forward to your participation at our live Freedom Festival next year and we’ll be in update as developments proceed. Have a great year and Best of continued successes.
2019
HBHAS Halton Freedom Celebration Festival 2019
Video: 2019 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival
Our 2019 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival brought together musical acts, children's activities, cultural art, food, crafts, and inclusive/ new immigrant/ heritage, historical, genealogical and multi-cultural groups promoting inclusivity and community integration. The multi-cultural ambience was infused with Canadian R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Ska, Soca and Pop Artists.
The 2019 event took place on August 3 at the Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Click here for more information about the 2019 participating artists.
The HBHAS Emancipation Art Exhibit Celebrating Freedom 2019 took place at Halton Hills Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Ontario from July 31 to October 13, 2019 incorporating exquisite Canadian Black Artists expressing and illustrating their Emancipation.
Voices in Black Canadian Narratives
Feb. 9 - March 31, 2019
Curator Lindon Barrett presented Voices in Black Canadian Narratives, an exhibition honouring the work of artists Joan Butterfield, Nicole Alexander, and Ian P. Grant. Each artist brought their own distinct voice to the fabric of Canadian stories and histories.
Voices in Black Canadian Narratives was presented in collaboration with the Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) and the Afro Canadian Caribbean Association (ACCA).
2018
HBHAS Halton Freedom Celebration Festival 2018
The 2018 event took place on August 4 at the Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Video: 2018 Halton Freedom Celebration Festival
The 2018 HBHAS Halton Freedom Celebration Festival consisted of exquisite music and dance acts, youth and children's events, artistic/musical and historical forums, as well as and extensive marketplace of cultural cuisine and memorabilia, historical and community literature and exceptional multi-culture ambiance.
HBHAS Emancipation Art Exhibit 2018
The HBHAS Emancipation Art Exhibit took place at Halton Hills Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Ontario from July 10 to September 1st incorporating Canadian Artists' and Speaker presentations. [Participating Artists for 2018]
"Community, Roots & Culture" Symposium 2018
The annual Speakers' Symposium included historical, genealogical, and cultural speakers, authors, music and spoken word plus a marketplace of historical book suppliers and community / cultural vendors.
The 2018 Speakers' Symposium was hosted at the Art Gallery of Burlington on June 13, 2018.
Introducing: Leslie Lorraine McCurdy
"Actor, Playwright, Dancer, Choreographer, Singer, and Mentor; recipient of the 2014 and 2000 Mayor’s Awards for "Artist of the Year" and "Outstanding Performing Artist” of Windsor Ontario respectively, Bachelors of Fine Art in dance with teaching certification from the University of Michigan and former choreographer and teaching assistant to Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Presenting: Things My Fore Sisters Saw - a one-woman play, where you will meet four women of African Descent who affected change in Canada: Marie-Joseph Angelique, a slave who was said to have burned down "half" of Montreal from whom we have the first slave narrative in North America; Rose Fortune, the first "policewoman" in North America who helped "freedom seekers" settle in Annapolis Royal Nova Scotia; Mary-Ann Shadd, the first North American woman to publish and edit a newspaper, amongst other things; and Viola Desmond who refused to give up a seat to segregation well before the celebrated Rosa Parks and who was recently named as the new face of the Canadian $10 bill. Experience the theatre production of how each of these women affected change in the Canada of their time and ours."
“I witnessed a performance that was beyond belief, completely mesmerizing, and almost indescribable in terms of the emotions it brought out in me…Ms. McCurdy’s performance is one of the most amazing, compelling and thoughtful that I have ever had the good fortune of witnessing…something to be experienced by everyone…one will walk away changed forever!”
Elizabeth A. Fellows, Birmingham, Michigan
2017
Black History Month Event (Feb. 2018) - “Honour Before Glory”
In commemoration of Black History Month and the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War 1, Griffin House National Historic Site proudly presented the film, “Honour Before Glory” with special guest Councilor Matthew Green. The event took place at the Ancaster Old Town Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2018.
This highly acclaimed one hour docudrama featured Canada’s one and only all Black Military Battalion that was first formed in WW1. The film payed homage to the Black soldiers in the No. 2 Construction Battalion who showed that the measure of man is made through the courage in his heart and not by the colour of his skin.
Black History Speakers' Forum 2017
Friday, August 4, 2017
Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON
This event included historical, genealogical, and cultural speakers, music and spoken word plus a marketplace of historical book suppliers and community/cultural vendors. Freedom Festival 2017 - Speakers Poster (pdf).
Festival Celebration 2017
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, Ontario
Exquisite musical and dance acts, youth and children's events, artistic/musical and historical forums, and an extensive marketplace of cultural cuisine and memorabilia, historical and community literature and exceptional multi cultural ambiance.
Art Exhibition 2017
The HBHAS Colours of Ontario - Four Seasons Art Exhibit took place at the Town of Halton Hills Cultural Centre - Helson Gallery, 9 Church St., Georgetown, from August 23 to September 2, 1917
More 2017...
Februrary 1, 2018Learned and celebrated Canada's rich and vibrant Black history and heritage that Black Canadians brought to this area through personal stories about growing up in the "last retreat of the Underground Railroad" from Dennis Scott, founder and Chair of the Halton Black History Awareness Society.
2016
Incorporation Launch & Fundraiser Friday, October 21, 2016
Thank you to the Blackburn Band for providing us with great entertainment at the Halton Naval Veterans Association Hall, Burlington. 2016 Juno Nominee, Best Blues Band in Canada, Rolling Stone Magazine (2015), 2010 Maple Blues Award. Website: http://www.blackburnbrothersmusic.com/
Thank you Councillor, Paul Sharman, Burlington Ward 5 and Hamilton Black History Association President, Evelyn Myrie for their words of congratulations, support. and encouragement. The event was total success with Lisa Scott, MC, and Keynote Speaker; Peter Slack, Sound & Recording Engineer and our HBHAS volunteers and committee members. Thank you to all who supported the HBHAS through donations and by attending this inaugural event!
2015
August 3, 2015 LaSalle Park, Burlington.Joseph Brant Day Pan AM / Parapan Am Celebrations
The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) was pleased to present Natasha Henry, http://teachingafricancanadianhistory.weebly.com/) Founder of Fundi Educational Resources, speaking on local Black history and Canada's Emancipation Celebrations.
Natasha Henry Founder of Fundi Educational Resources, Curriculum Development Support Resources Focusing on African Canadian History; Curriculum Consultant, Public & Private School Educator; Workshop Facilitator, Author and Keynote Speaker
Author Natasha Henry “Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada”
“The creation, development and evolution of this distinct African-Canadian practice …shows the significant role Emancipation Day played in many communities, and the continuing significance it has for people from coast to coast” www.dundurn.com
Recipient of the Gold 2014 Moonbeam’s Children’s Books Award for multicultural nonfiction, writer of 2 books on Emancipation Celebrations in Canada and a 3 book series by the Sankofa Black Heritage Collection, Natasha’s presentation will focus on the importance of cultural and historical education in the Private & Public school sectors.
Natasha will be an exceptional and important collaborator towards promoting inclusively through educating our "Community, Roots and Cultures" as a model for diverse community groups.
Please ... help fund this worthy project with a donation!