Emancipation Day is being marked on Thursday in New Brunswick and across Canada.
It was on this date in 1834 that the British parliament passed a motion to officially abolish slavery.
About 800,000 African slaves were freed throughout British colonies, including Upper Canada and Lower Canada.
New Brunswick MLAs passed a motion to officially recognize Emancipation Day in 2022.
“This is a historic day for New Brunswick and all those of African descent who call our beautiful province home,” Arlene Dunn, who was the province’s immigration minister at the time, said in a news release.
New Brunswick joined provinces like Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in recognizing the day.
The federal government has recognized Emancipation Day since March 24, 2021.
In a social media post on Thursday, the New Brunswick government encouraged residents to take time to honour the heritage of the Black community and to recognize its valuable contributions to our society.
