Government of Canada recognizes Black history in Canada with four new historic designations

These new designations illustrate some of the collective and personal experiences of Black Canadians who have fought for freedom, justice and equality.

GATINEAU, QC, July 31, 2020 /CNW/ - Canada's national historic persons, places, and events need to reflect the rich and varied heritage of our country. National historic designations encourage us to acknowledge the struggles and conflict that have led us to the Canada of today, and help us reflect on how to build a more inclusive society for today and future generations.

For the past 400 years, Black Canadians have faced – and continue to face – prejudice, inequalities, and systemic barriers to full and equal participation in society, dating back to the enslavement of African people in Canada. In many parts of the Commonwealth, the first day of August commemorates the abolishment of the Slavery by the British Empire in 1834, this day is also known as "Emancipation Day". Since then, our society has made strides to combat issues that Black Canadians face but more is needed to create an equitable country for all. 

Parks Canada is committed to ensuring that Canadians have opportunities to learn about the full scope of our history, including the tragic and shameful periods that are part of our collective past. Commemoration is about recognizing the many diverse aspects of our history and committing to do better in the future.   

Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Jonathan Wilkinson, announced four new designations under the National Program of Historical Commemoration. The new designations recognize the national historic significance of two persons: Richard Pierpoint and Larry Gains and two events: The Enslavement of African People in Canada and the West Indian Domestic Scheme as they relate to Black history in Canada.

These new designations help to shed light on the collective and personal experiences of Black Canadians and their struggles for freedom, equality and justice.  The new designations include:

• The Enslavement of African People in Canada (c. 1629–1834): Between c. 1629 and 1834, there were more than 4,000 enslaved people of African descent in the British and French colonies that later became Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. Children, women, and men were reduced to property that could be bought and sold, exploited for their labour, and subjected to physical, sexual, psychological, and reproductive violence. Britain outlawed participation in the Atlantic slave trade throughout its Empire in 1807. However, it wasn't until the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 that the British parliament prohibited enslavement, effective August 1, 1834. In the years that followed, all people of African descent in Canada were legally free, but they were not equal: they have faced systemic racism, racial segregation, prejudice, and inequality in Canadian society, the roots of which can be traced back, at least in part, to the many, complex legacies of enslavement.

• Black Loyalist Richard Pierpoint (c. 1744–1838): Richard Pierpoint, born in the Kingdom of Bundu, a region located in present-day Senegal, was captured, forcibly transported across the Atlantic to the Americas and then sold into slavery as a teenager. After 20 years of enslavement in the British Thirteen Colonies, he regained his freedom by fighting for the British during the American Revolution and settled in Upper Canada by 1791. During the war of 1812, he was involved in the creation of "the Colored Corps", composed of men of African descent who helped protect Upper Canada by taking part in the fighting and repairing fortifications in the Niagara region. He unsuccessfully petitioned the Lieutenant Governor in 1821 for passage back to Africa, and died in 1838 on his farm in the Township of Garafraxa. In recent years, the life of Richard Pierpoint has been recognized as one of the more well-known examples of the early contributions and hardships of Black Loyalists.

• Heavyweight Boxer Larry Gains (1900-1983): Born on December 12, 1900 in Toronto, Ontario, Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Gains was one of the most talented boxers in the first half of the 20^th century. Despite racial discrimination he gained prominence in the 1920s and 1930s by winning the Canadian, British Empire, and World Colored Heavyweight Titles. It was difficult for Gains to find top-level fights in North America, where racial discrimination limited his opportunities. Moving overseas was a common strategy for Black fighters at the time who hoped that, in Europe, they would have their athletic achievements assessed on an equal basis with their white opponents. Gains left Canada in 1923 to pursue his professional boxing career in Great Britain and Europe. In February 1927, he won his first professional title when he became the Canadian Heavyweight Champion. A year later, he won the World Colored Heavyweight title and in 1932 became the British Empire Heavyweight Champion. His career was limited due to racial discrimination, as non-white athletes were barred from competing for the English Heavyweight Title and promoters maintained an unofficial colour barrier for the World Heavyweight Title, both championships for which he was a legitimate contender.

• West Indian Domestic Scheme, 1955-1967: The West Indian Domestic Scheme, launched in 1955, was a targeted immigration program that permitted approximately 3,000 women from the Caribbean to come to Canada to work as domestic servants as a path to eventual citizenship. This program offered a very limited route for Caribbean immigration to Canada at a time when discriminatory government policies restricted non-white immigrants from settling in Canada. While the program was discontinued in 1968, some of the women who participated went on to make significant contributions to Canadian history and helped to build vibrant Caribbean communities in Montréal and Toronto. One of the best known participants in the West Indian Domestic Scheme is the Honourable Jean Augustine, who migrated to Canada from Grenada in 1960 before going on to become the first Black Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons in 1993 and eventually appointed to a Cabinet post in 2002. As Parliamentarian, Jean introduced a motion to declare February as Black History Month, which ultimately passed and is widely celebrated to this day.

The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.

The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,150 designations have been made nationwide. To nominate a person or historical event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application 

Quotes

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am very pleased to commemorate the national historic significance of the Enslavement of African people in Canada, the West Indian Domestic Scheme, Richard Pierpoint, and Larry Gains. Black history is Canadian history. These historic designations shed light on racism in Canada through stories of personal and collective tragedies, injustice and hardship that have been experienced by Black Canadians over centuries to the present day. I encourage all Canadians to learn more about these designations and the important contributions these represent of Black Canadians to Canada's heritage."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada

"As part of our collective effort to remove the systemic barriers preventing Black Canadians as well as many racialized and religious minority communities from participating fully and equitably in our society, we must confront the hard truths that are part of our history. Today's announcement is a step towards acknowledging our past and current injustices, foster healing, and bring about the long-term changes necessary to eradicate racism and discrimination in all its forms."

The Honourable Bardish Chagger,

Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

"As we reflect on our history over the last 400 years, we can see the many contributions of Black Canadians as integral to the building of our nation and its history. Black Canadians have made and continue to make significant contributions to the cultural, social, and economic prosperity of Canada. Today's announcement acknowledges past tragedies and injustices but also highlights the perseverance, resistance, resilience, and strength of Black Canadians throughout our history. These designations will help raise awareness of Black history in Canada and the unique challenges faced by Canadians of African and Caribbean descent."

Greg Fergus,

MP for Hull-Aylmer and Chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus

Quick Facts

• Canada officially recognizes the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, which began in 2015 and will be observed until 2024. The International Decade promotes greater global recognition of and respect for the cultures, history and heritage of people of African descent.

• Parks Canada is committed to working with Canadians in our efforts to tell broader, more inclusive stories in the places that it manages. In support of this goal, the Framework for History and Commemoration, outlines a new, comprehensive, and engaging approach to sharing Canada's history through diverse perspectives, including shedding light on tragic and difficult periods of Canada's past.

• Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of  Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada regarding the designation of places, persons and events of national historic significance under the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

• To date, based on recommendations from the HSMBC, the Government of Canada has designated over 2,150 national historic sites, events, and persons. Each of these designations contributes its own unique story to the greater story of Canada, and helps us better understand our country and our identity. To nominate a person or historical event in your community, please visit the Parks Canada website for more information: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application

Related Documents

Backgrounder - Black Loyalist Richard Pierpoint (c. 1744–c. 1838)

Backgrounder - Heavyweight boxer Larry Gains (1900-1983)

Backgrounder - The enslavement of African People in Canada (c. 1629–1834)

Backgrounder - The West Indian Domestic Scheme, 1955-1967

Related Links

Parks Canada Agency

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

Framework for History and Commemoration

SOURCE Parks Canada