This virtual event organized by Artistic Director Verese Vassell-Bowen will feature a variety of performances to commemorate the day, including: contemporary and traditional gospel music, spoken word, and dance. The goal of this event is to educate the community on the Juneteenth holiday and celebrate with performances from Canadian artists.

Juneteenth is a 156-year-old commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. We observe it on June 19th to memorialize the day in 1865 when, in Galveston, Texas, many enslaved Black folks were informed of the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. This official enforcement actually came late, as it had been well over two years since the signing of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. While Juneteenth marks a significant day in Black history and a day of remembrance, it is also an opportunity to honour and celebrate Black history, heritage and culture.