St. Catharines Emancipation Day picnic brings community together

Emancipation Day lies just around the corner, but in St. Catharines, the holiday’s annual picnic drew out hundreds of people to Lakeside Park to enjoy some fun in the sun.

It was a scorcher on Sunday, but the heat didn’t keep folks from coming out to celebrate.

The Emancipation Day picnic was packed with community spirit, featuring a vibrant lineup of Black-owned businesses, live music, and food.

Back in the 1800s, St. Catharines served as the final stop on the Underground Railroad for hundreds of freedom seekers who sought to escape slavery.

During this event, that history isn’t just remembered, it’s celebrated.

“So today is a part of our Emancipation Day lineup – it’s the culminating day of the Big Picnic, which historically took place here since 1924, right at Lakeside Park. And we’re here to revitalize and bring back that tradition of Black history and celebration,” said event organizer Erika Smith.

“It kind of dwindled out. It was always a word-of-mouth event before we took it over. So if you’re Black, if you’re a freedom seeker descendant, you knew that at Lakeside Park – it used to be the first Thursday in August that everybody would converge here and celebrate Emancipation Day,” said Smith.

The event featured local vendors, including 21-year-old textile artist Aqeel Duff who hand tufts carpets, and a Juno award winning musician who just happens to be his sister.

“Today is super important. We’re getting to shine light on so many Black businesses across, you know, Ontario who are coming out here to support my brother. He owns a tufting rug business called Duff2Tuff. And, it’s sick. Like we get to basically connect with the community. And I’m just so glad to be part of it. I’m glad to be here to support my brother,” said Juno award winning musician Aquiyla Duff.

“Duff2Tuff is a cool rug tufting business that I made. Honestly, like it just started from my passions and everything I enjoy. Honestly, like it takes a lot of practice and time. But it’s really fun. And just trying it, just doing it. That’s the best advice,” said Aqeel.

Mental health resources were also front and centre thanks to organizations like Future Black Female, a pro-Black wellness collective based out of St. Catharines.

“We are a not-for-profit organization and registered charity based in downtown St. Catharines. We primarily focus on Black female youth, but we’ve opened up our programming for young boys and men as well,” said Monique Maison from Future Black Female.

“I think it’s really important because we don’t have those resources, you know what I mean? We don’t have spaces for Black youth to be happy, to have that Black joy and to have access to the services that we offer,” said Maison.

August 1 marks the official holiday of Emancipation Day.

There will be a number of events across the Golden Horseshoe. But if you’re in the Niagara region, you may want to check out Richard Pierpoint Park where there’ll be a flag raising ceremony.

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