Emancipation Day

Join Us @ Aurora Town Hall at 6.00 pm ET

Emancipation Day Announcement & Acknowledgement!

Following the House of Commons' unanimous vote to designate August 1st as Emancipation Day across Canada, we once again take this time to celebrate, educate, and reflect on what freedom means. A day that recognizes the contributions people of African & Caribbean descent have made and continue to make in Canada.

Milton Hart

Chair; Aurora Black Caucus

Michael Corniffe

Vice Chair; Aurora Black Caucus

George Harper Sr.

Board Member; Aurora Black Caucus

Benito Palomino

Treasurer; Aurora Black Caucus

Matthew Hart

Aurora-Newmarket Youth Director

Hon. Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

Tony Van Bynen

Member of Parliament, Newmarket

Leah Taylor Roy

Member of Parliament, Aurora/Oak Ridges/Newmarket

Majid Jowhari

Architect of Emancipation Day & Member of Parliament, Richmond Hill

Hon. Doug Ford

Premier of Ontario & Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Hon. Michael D. Ford

MPP & Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism

Dawn Gallagher-Murphy

MPP Aurora/Newmarket

Hon. Michael Parsa

MPP & Minister of Children, Community and Social Services & MPP

Mayor Tom Mrakas

Mayor of Aurora, ON

Jerisha Grant-Hall

Chair, NACCA Newmarket

Phiona Durrant

Chair, Aurora Black Community

Jaylah A. Hall

Volcalist | Canadian & Black National Anthems

Order of Events August 1, 2024 @ 6:00pm
5:55pm Call to Order and Attention George Harper Sr., Co-Master of Ceremonies ABC Board Member & Co-Master of Ceremonies
5:58pm Welcome Message Benito Palomino, Co-Master of Ceremonies ABC Board Member & Co-Master of Ceremonies
6:00pm Treaty & Land Acknowledgement Matthew Hart Aurora-Newmarket Community Youth Leader
6:00pm Opening Remarks Milton Hart Chair, Aurora Black Caucus
6:05pm Canadian National Anthem Jaylah A. Hall Local Vocal Talent, Youth Leader & Activist
6:10pm Hon. Justin Trudeau's Announcement Prime Minister of Canada
6:15pm Hon. Doug Ford's Announcement Premier of Ontario
6:18pm Tony Van Bynen's Announcement MP, Newmarket

Order of Events

August 1, 2024 @ 6:00pm

5:55pm

Call to Order and Attention

George Harper Sr., Co-Master of Ceremonies
ABC Board Member & Co-Master of Ceremonies

5:58pm

Welcome Message

Benito Palomino, Co-Master of Ceremonies
ABC Board Member & Co-Master of Ceremonies

6:00pm

Treaty & Land Acknowledgement

Matthew Hart
Aurora-Newmarket Community Youth Leader

6:00pm

Opening Remarks

Milton Hart
Chair, Aurora Black Caucus

6:05pm

Canadian National Anthem

Jaylah A. Hall

Local Vocal Talent, Youth Leader & Activist

6:10pm

Hon. Justin Trudeau's Announcement

Prime Minister of Canada

6:15pm

Hon. Doug Ford's Announcement

Premier of Ontario

6:18pm

Tony Van Bynen's Announcement

MP, Newmarket

Order of Events August 1, 2024 @ 6:00pm
6:20pm Emancipation Day Address Mayor Tom Mrakas, Town of Aurora
6:40pm The Importance of Emancipation Day Hon Leah Taylor Roy MP, Aurora/Oak Ridges/Richmond Hill
6:50pm The Importance of Emancipation Day Hon Mahjid Jowhari MPP, Richmond Hill
7:00pm Provincial Emancipation Address Dawn Gallagher-Murphy MPP, Aurora/Newmarket
7:10pm Message of Reflection Phiona Durrant President, Aurora Black Community
7:20pm Message of Reflection Jerisha Grant-Hall Founder & Chair, NACCA Newmarket
7:30pm Closing Remarks Michael Corniffe Vice Chair, Aurora Black Caucus
7:30pm Vote of Thanks & Wrap George Harper Sr. General Secretary, Aurora Black Caucus