On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect after being passed by the British Parliament. The Act began the legal abolition of slavery that impacted people of African descent who were enslaved in British colonies, including Canada. In 2021, Members of the Canadian Parliament voted unanimously to officially recognize August 1st as Emancipation Day in Canada. CUPE locals and members are encouraged to educate themselves on Canada’s history of slavery and the impacts of anti-Black racism in our country. Learn more about this important date and what you can do in the ongoing fight to dismantle and get rid of anti-Black racism on CUPE National Emancipation Day webpage.
