Category BlackHistory   Show all

  • Dec 31 to Jan 2: Our Walk to Freedom

    A flyer promoting the event. The flyer has a picture of Ken Johnston wearing a backpack with a quote that says the goal of the walk is to recall the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom. The logos of Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society, Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History, and Comfort Inn are included.


    This December, walking artist Ken Johnston will embark on an 8-day, 90-mile Walk to Freedom from Detroit, Michigan to Dresden, Ontario. His journey honours the winter routes taken by Freedom Seekers who escaped enslavement before what became known as “Heartbreak Day.”

    Ken’s walk retraces historic Underground Railroad pathways, connecting with important museums, churches, and community groups throughout the region.

    Walk to Freedom Itinerary:

    Detroit and Area — December 26:
    Detroit Kwanzaa Walk to Freedom
    Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
    Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity House
    Detroit Underground Railroad Museum
    Hart Plaza
    Tower of Freedom, Windsor

    Windsor-Essex — December 27–29:
    Dec 27 — Tower of Freedom → The Historical Sandwich FIRST Baptist Church → LaSalle
    Dec 28 — LaSalle → Amherstburg Freedom Museum
    Dec 29 — Amherstburg Freedom Museum → Harrow

    Chatham-Kent — December 31 to January 2:
    Dec 31 — Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
    Special Q&A with Ken at 12 p.m. — All welcome!
    Jan 1 — Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum
    Jan 2 — Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History & Dresden Ontario Heritage Trust

    These stops honour the communities that welcomed thousands of Freedom Seekers between 1830 and 1865.

    Fresh from a 165-mile walk from Niagara Falls to Owen Sound, Ken continues to use movement as a powerful tool to bring history to life and inspire conversation — reflecting the legacy of the Underground Railroad and the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom.

  • February 2026: Black History Month in Chatham-Kent

    Black History Month is written in black on top of red, yellow, and green stripes in the background. A silhouette of two people is also in the foreground in black.


    February is Black History Month!

    Each February, we are proud to honour Black History Month, an opportunity to recognize the histories and achievements of Black Canadians and communities.

    Chatham-Kent is home to some of the most successful Black settlements in Canadian history, shaping the Chatham-Kent, and Canada, we know today. In Chatham-Kent, three historic sites are dedicated to sharing these local histories, Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum, and The Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History.


    How is Black History Month being honoured In Chatham-Kent?

    Learn about Black History Month, local historical sites, and events on the Visit CK website.

    Offered by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent:

    Kids Club Featuring Artis Shreve Lane: February 14th, 9:00 - 10:00 AM at the Imagination Station

    Children 6-12 years of age, join CK Museums to celebrate the works of artist and Chatham-Kent native, Artis Shreve Lane. Learn about Artis and create your very own clay sculptures. Register online.

    Let Us March on Til Victory is Won: The Struggle for Racial Equity in Chatham-Kent and Ontario

    Book the travelling exhibit or explore the online exhibit through CK Museums.


    Why do we honour Black History Month?

    Although Black communities have been an important part of Canada’s heritage, the role of Black individuals and communities is often excluded from mainstream recounting of Canadian history. This shared history is important all year, but having a designated Black History Month ensures these stories are told. Black History Month highlights the accomplishments of Black community members and the continued struggles for liberation, equity, and justice.


    How was Black History Month established?

    In Canada, Black History Month was first proclaimed in 1978 by the City of Toronto as a result of advocacy by the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS), including Dr. Daniel G. Hill and Wilson O. Brooks.

    In 1993, the OBHS successfully filed a petition in Ontario to proclaim February as Black History Month. Following that success, Rosemary Sadlier, president of the OBHS, introduced the idea of having Black History Month recognized across Canada to the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.

    In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month in Canada following a motion introduced by Dr. Augustine. The House of Commons carried the motion unanimously.

    In February 2008, Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate, introduced the Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month. It received unanimous approval and was adopted on March 4, 2008. The adoption of this motion completed Canada’s parliamentary position on Black History Month.