Celebrating their 155th anniversary this year, the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival (OSEF) broke a Roxy Theatre record on August 4 for most seats filled at a summer weeknight event, nearly selling out the 400-seat auditorium. With Lawrence Hill as this year’s keynote speaker, guests from across the province gathered to celebrate Emancipation Day with one of Ontario’s most treasured authors.
Ontario and indeed the whole of Canada suffered an incalculable loss with the recent passing of Michael Bliss, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, where for over 34 years he attained much deserved prominence and accolades as an inspiring teacher of Canadian history. The highly esteemed historian was regarded by his peers as a giant in his field — a valuable member of a select group generally hailed as our best recorders of Canadian history — the likes of Donald Creighton, Ramsay Cook, Desmond Morton, and J.L. Granatstein.
Bliss was born during the Second World War in the small Ontario town of Kingsville, population circa 2,500. His nostalgic memories of the 40s and growing up in what he charmingly termed “Mariposa” on Lake Erie as found in his delightful memoir, Writing History: A Professor’s Life* make delightful reading. Shortly after publication it was my privilege to introduce Michael Bliss to a sizeable audience at the Leaside branch of the Toronto Public Library. Everyone present was totally enthralled by his riveting presentation — the expected norm whenever Professor Bliss addressed U of T students — or any other audience for that matter!
Michael Bliss was a modest individual of great intellect and integrity whose books on Canadian business, politics, and medical history brought him international acclaim. Fortunately for both the man himself and the rest of us, Bliss never forgot his boyhood small-town roots. Now that he is gone, I know instinctively that there will be numerous times ahead, when, I shall turn to his final book for reminders of a truly decent man and savour once more both his wit and wisdom. In what is known as a back cover “blurb,” noted Canadian media personality, Andrew Coyne, ended his endorsement of Writing History as follows: “... this is a gently unsparing look at a time, a place and a life well lived.” Well put!
* Dundurn, 2011.
Halton Freedom Festival
The 2017 Halton Freedom Festival (HFF), organized by the Halton Black History Awareness Society, will be held in Burlington, ON, between August 4 and September 2. The festival recognizes and celebrates diverse cultures in appreciation of Canada's Black heritage, history and cultural contributions, and also celebrates the Emancipation Proclamations of Canada and the USA. The HFF will include an art exhibition and a speakers’ forum. OHS board member Janie Cooper-Wilson will discuss Canadian Black history and the importance of communities working together to preserve that history. The OHS encourages you to participate in this great line-up of events at the Halton Freedom Festival!
See the poster above (click to enlarge) or click here for more details.
Owen Sound Emancipation Festival
The 155th anniversary of the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival will be held in Owen Sound, ON from August 4–6. It is the longest continuously running emancipation-related celebration in North America, going back to 1862. The festival is dedicated to learning about, recognizing, and celebrating those who made the journey from slavery to freedom on the Underground Railroad possible. Events at this year’s festival include a speakers’ forum featuring renowned author Lawrence Hill, the Ancestors’ Breakfast, the "North is Freedom" photo exhibit, and more. Daniel Dishaw, Communications and Outreach Coordinator at the OHS, will be attending the festival. The OHS encourages you to participate in these great programs at the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival!
See the poster above (click to enlarge) or click here for more details.
Amherstburg Freedom Museum Emancipation Gala
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum will be hosting their Emancipation Gala on August 4, 2017 in Amherstburg, ON. The Emancipation Celebration recognizes the abolition of slavery in Canada (1833). The event will feature a dinner and dance. OHS president Caroline Di Cocco will be representing the Ontario Historical Society at this year's Emancipation Gala in Amherstburg. encourages you to participate in the celebration at the Emancipation Gala.
See the poster above (click to enlarge) or click here for more details.
