Emancipation Day is being recognized by the federal government this year for the first time, but at least one Canadian community has celebrated it since before Confederation. On March 24, members of Parliament voted unanimously to designate Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day in Canada. It was seconded by Conservative MP Alex Ruff of Owen Sound, Ont., where Emancipation Day has been celebrated since 1862. Ontario has officially marked Emancipation Day since 2008 , and the City of Vancouver followed suit in 2020 . A young girl participates in an Emancipation Day March in Vancouver on Aug. 1, 2020.

Source: CBC News August 01, 2021 07:52 UTC