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Simcoe and Emancipation Days Celebrated This year for the second time since The Honourable David C. Onley became Ontario’s 28th Lieutenant-Governor in 2007, he marked Simcoe Day at Fort York. In Toronto the holiday carries the name of John Graves Simcoe, the city’s founder and Onley’s predecessor as the province’s first lieutenant-governor. Elsewhere in Ontario it is sometimes called Civic Holiday. In 2011 the date, August 2, almost coincided with Emancipation Day, which is always on August 1, so both celebrations were combined at Fort York. Emancipation Day recalls the day in 1834 when the Slavery Abolition Act came into force, ending involuntary servitude in the British Empire. It is observed extensively throughout the former British colonies in the West Indies. Interestingly, forty years earlier Simcoe had a personal and far-sighted role in abolishing slavery in Ontario. In 1793 he threw his influence behind the introduction in the provincial parliament of An Act to prevent the further introduction of Slaves and to limit the term of contracts for servitude within this Province. While it was watered down in passage, and blunted by later legislation, it did succeed in stopping slaves from being brought to Upper Canada and made sure that any children born into slavery would be given their freedom at age 25. Joining Lieutenant-Governor Onley and an estimated 1500 spectators were Dr. Rosemary Sadlier, president of the Ontario Black History Society, Senator Don Meredith, Councillor Michael Thompson (Toronto-Ward 37), and David O’Hara, administrator at Fort York. After a vice-regal review of troops
from the Queen’s York Rangers, Fort York Guard, and visiting squads from Fort George and Fort Erie, the dignitaries made brief remarks that were followed by demonstrations of military drills and cannon-firings. The events and spirit of the occasion were captured in a stunning series of images by the Star’s staff photojournalist Richard Lautens. A slide show of it can be seen here: http:// photogallery.thestar.com/1033328
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