North is Freedom - Pictures by Yuri Dojc - Black History Month in Brampton, Ontario

North is Freedom – Black History Month events in Brampton all month

The Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) in Brampton and the Ontario Black History Society soft launches this weekend North is Freedom, an evocative new photo exhibition celebrating the descendants of former American slaves who fled to Canada in the years before the American Civil War.

In portraits of 24 descendants of freedom seekers– the great-great-grandchildren of once-enslaved African Americans – Toronto photographer Yuri Dojc explores Canada’s end of the “Underground Railroad,” a clandestine network of "conductors" and “stations” that helped some 30,000 men, women, and children follow the “North Star” to freedom.

The Black freedom seekers settled across Canada but most of them came to places in Ontario, such as Windsor, Chatham, Buxton, the Niagara Peninsula, Owen Sound, Oakville, Mississauga and Toronto.

Future generations remained and North is Freedom tells their stories.

The Heritage Singers, performer Liberty Silver, will be at the formal opening of the exhibition at the downtown Brampton Museum next Sunday February 24^th.. 

Running from 1.30 pm. to 4 pm., this Black History Month event is free to the public.

PAMA is presenting authors, storytellers and performers throughout the long weekend, including the Family Day Holiday on Monday February 15th.

Yuri Dojc

Running from 1.30 pm. to 4 pm., this Black History Month event is free to the public.PAMA is presenting authors, storytellers and performers throughout the long weekend, including the Family Day Holiday on Monday February 15th.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Coming Events

- Saturday, Feb 16 at 2 pm: join award-winning author Karolyn Smardz Frost on opening day for a talk and book signing. Including in the cost of PAMA admission. Registration is required at pama.peelregion.ca.

- Sunday, Feb 17: enjoy PAMA’s Family Sunday FUNday. Storytelling with Sandra Whiting at 1:30 pm and Family Art and Stories at 3:30 pm. Including in the cost of PAMA admission.

- Monday, Feb. 18 from 10 am - 4pm (free admission event): don’t miss PAMA’s annual Family Day event with lots of great create activities and family storytelling with Diana Brathwaite and Chris Whiteley: Sugar & Gold, Story of Underground Railroad in Canada. Performances at 10:30 a.m. and repeated at 2 pm. 

- Sunday, Feb. 24 from 1:30 - 4 pm (free admission to this event): Winter Exhibitions Reception with guest speakers, performance by the Heritage Singers Canada, Liberty Silver and light refreshments. 

North is Freedom is sponsored by the TD Group and runs until June 30.

North Is Freedom: Sherry and Pamela Houston