FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA RELEASE
TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM) TO HOST VIRTUAL LECTURE EVENT, FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM: THE RAILWAY WEAVES THROUGH BLACK CANADIANS’ HISTORY
On Thursday, August 19, discover the vital role of Black Canadians within the Railway
August 6th, 2021 (TORONTO, ON): Toronto Railway Museum (TRM), a non-profit organization located in the iconic Roundhouse Park across from the CN Tower, debuts the theme of its fifth lecture in the 2021 Railway Crossings Virtual Lecture Series, Fighting for Freedom: The Railway Weaves through Black Canadians’ History. The event takes place on Thursday, August 19 at 8 p.m. in honour of Emancipation Day in Canada (held annually on August 1). Our guest speaker Kathy Grant, historian and founder of the Legacy Voices Project, will take the audience through Black Canadian stores of yesterday and conduct a journey that will highlight our Black veterans, Sleeping Car porters, Royal Tours, and Emancipation Day.
“This lecture highlights six WWI and WWII Veterans who worked for railways including those who worked on the Royal Trains as Porters. These men were involved in famous raids, invasions, influential legal change, and even witnessed major train crashes!” says Kelly Burwash, manager and curator, TRM. “It will also commemorate Emancipation Day as a moment to dedicate the strength and perseverance of Black communities in Canada.”
Toronto Railway Museum believes that Canada’s history is Canada’s history and to do better, we must learn from our past. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased through Eventbrite here. VIP tickets are $25 with access to Zoom link, plus a live Q&A with Kathy Grant and Toronto Railway Museum Historians. VIP attendees will have the chance to win multiple prizes, including an Ancestry.ca Membership and VIA Rail tickets to Montreal. General admission tickets are $10 with access to live YouTube stream link.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Subscribe to the TRM monthly newsletter here and follow along on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to stay up-to-date on the schedule and themes of the next topics in the series.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards future programming and support the collection, preservation, restoration of Canadian rail artifacts and important historical interpretation at the TRM.
The TRM looks forward to celebrating Canadian history throughout its lecture series offering an affordable family-friendly event made available for everyone to safely enjoy in the comfort of their own home.
Images are available upon request #TRMxFightingForFreedom
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CONTACT
Kelly Burwash
Manager & Curator
ABOUT KATHY GRANT
Born in Montreal to Barbadian immigrants, Kathy Grant is a public historian and founder of Legacy Voices, which ensures Black Canadian History is documented and preserved. Kathy has made educational presentations to municipalities, schools, and community organizations, and works to promote an inclusive approach to storytelling and historical documentation. Kathy was invited by the French Embassy in Ottawa to attend the 95th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and subsequently invited by the War Museum in Ottawa to present her No.2 Construction Battalion/Great War exhibit for the 100th Anniversary of the No.2 on Remembrance Day in 2016. Over the past decade Kathy has undertaken extensive research on the contributions of African Canadians in the First World War and assisted Veterans Affairs Canada in the development of the department’s commemorative resources on the military service of Black Canadians.
Kathy is a 2020 recipient of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women award in the category of “History”. Kathy was selected to work with YAP films as lead historian in an upcoming documentary on Black soldiers who served Canada in the Second World War. The documentary airs on the History Channel Remembrance Day 2021.
ABOUT EMANCIPATION DAY
As said on the Canadian Government website, on March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to officially designate August 1 Emancipation Day. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect across the British Empire. Canadians are not always aware that Black and Indigenous Peoples were once enslaved on the land that is now Canada. Those who fought enslavement were pivotal in shaping our society to be as diverse as it is today. Therefore, each August 1, Canadians are invited to reflect, educate and engage in the ongoing fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination.
ABOUT TORONTO RAILWAY MUSEUM (TRM)
Located in Roundhouse Park, in the heart of downtown Toronto shares stories of Toronto’s railway history. The museum’s exhibits include the original, fully restored and operational 120-foot-long locomotive turntable and a carefully chosen collection of full size railway equipment. The museum also operates a miniature railway and other outdoor exhibits illustrating Toronto’s railway heritage. Exhibits include the original 60,000-gallon water tower, the 650-ton concrete locomotive coaling tower and a collection of historic buildings, including Don Station and Cabin D.
ABOUT TORONTO RAILWAY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION (TRHA)
Established in 2001 to work with the City of Toronto to establish a railway museum at the John Street Roundhouse. The TRHA is incorporated and is a Federally registered charity. Its primary purpose is to promote the development of the TRM.
