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While the museum is now closed for the season, we are still open for groups of 15 or more by appointment.
The Atlantic slave trade and the ensuing enslavement of millions of people of African descent led to a long history of resistance that resulted in the development of thriving Black communities in Ontario. With abolitionist and Person of National Historic Significance Josiah Henson’s life as a backdrop, we’ve captured inspiring stories that speak to the early African-Canadian experience in Ontario.
Featured video
Black Voices (In)Justice: Supporting Black Youth Representation in the Legal Profession
Black Voices (In)Justice: Supporting Black Youth Representation in the Legal Profession — a special Black History Month program co-hosted by the Ontario Heritage Trust and Aird & Berlis — is now available on demand.
During this informative and engaging session, you will hear from law students, law educators, lawyers and legal sector representatives as they discuss the profound impact that Mary Ann Shadd Cary had on the fight for equality. Presenters also examine diversity in the legal sector from historical and contemporary perspectives.
The program includes:
- an overview of the trailblazing life of Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-93) and her fight for equal rights and justice
- a message from the Chief Justice of Ontario, the Honourable Michael H. Tulloch
- paths for entering law school and the legal sector
- the importance of mentorship and fostering inclusion for Black communities
- insights from Black professionals working in the legal sector about their challenges, successes and opportunities
- question-and-answer session with guest speakers
Original live air date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Webinar archive: You can access the webinar archive here (password: BLACKHISTORYMONTH2023).
Discovering Dawn
Historian Marie Carter and Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History Programs Assistant Jackie Bernard visit landmarks associated with the Underground Railroad and British American Institute in the town of Dresden – once a thriving destination for refugees from slavery.
Emancipation Day 2021
Each August Civic Holiday weekend, the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History celebrates Emancipation Day with various speakers, performers, exhibits and cuisine that reflect the Black cultural experience in Ontario. Explore the 2021 virtual Emancipation Day celebration.
Exhibit snapshots
Curator Steven Cook and Programs Assistant Jackie Bernard introduce you to the gallery spaces and structures on the grounds of the two-hectare (five-acre) Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History property.
Ontario’s Black heritage
Since the first recorded arrival of a Black person in Canada in 1608, people of African descent have made lasting and continuing contributions to the development of Canada and the Canadian identity. We celebrate their roles in the building of this nation.