New monument to be unveiled in Emancipation Park in Brampton

A new monument will be unveiled in Brampton’s Emancipation Park on Thursday.

The unveiling marks Emancipation Day, a celebration that began on Aug. 1, 1834, the end of more than 250 years of enslavement throughout the British Empire.

Brampton council voted to rename 407 Sports Park, Emancipation Park in 2020.

The park renaming came during anti-Black racism protests in North America in 2020. Brampton council unanimously supported the renaming as a symbol of their commitment to confront historic and systemic Black racism.

Astrosankofa Arts Initiative, in collaboration with the City of Brampton, put out a call for submissions to create a permanent outdoor memorial artwork in the park, located at 7599 Dixie Rd.

Toronto-based artist Kanisha Dabreo had the winning submission and was commissioned to create two 10-foot-tall installations, Astrosankofa Arts Initiative said in a post on Instagram.

The installation is called “Fah Who Dis AstroBlack Joy”, which is a patois/creolized take on the ancient Akan symbol of freedom called “Fawhodie,” Astrosankofa said.

Dabreo worked on the project in collaboration with Komi Olafimihan, Jason O’Brien and Just J. Art.

 

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Mayor Patrick Brown, Regional Councillor Rowena Santos and community members will attend the official unveiling of the new monument on Thursday at 5:15 p.m.

“The new monument symbolizes the vibrancy, resilience and cultural heritage of Black-identifying Canadians,” the City of Brampton said in a press release. “Residents and visitors are invited to learn, celebrate and reflect on their journey toward freedom and equality.”