The Amherstburg Freedom Museum had a special visitor last week.
Speaker of the House of Commons Greg Fergus was in the area and toured the museum. Fergus said he came to the area at the invitation of his colleague Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk and museum president Monty Logan.
Fergus said he learned much about Black history in southern Ontario and had a lot of what he did know confirmed. He learned more about the Underground Railroad, the journey to Canada and how Black Canadians helped prosper and become part of the country’s culture.
Museum curator Mary-Katherine Whelan and assistant curator Lorene Bridgen-Lennie toured Fergus around the Nazrey AME Church, the Taylor Log Cabin and the museum’s exhibit area during his roughly one-hour visit.
“It’s great to learn more about history,” said Fergus.
Fergus recalled his days as a parliamentary page in the House of Commons when Dr. Howard McCurdy served as a Member of Parliament. He said McCurdy was the only Black Canadian in the House of Commons at that time with that number now growing to nine MPs.
McCurdy’s wife, Dr. Brenda McCurdy, is a board member with the Amherstburg Freedom Museum and was part of last week’s tour.
Fergus and Kusmierczyk joined with Windsor West MP Brian Masse and later toured sites in Windsor such as the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the Sandwich Teen Action Group, the Sandwich First Baptist Church and the McDougall St. corridor.
“I shared with him the history of this area and he wanted to see it for himself,” said Kusmierczyk.
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum also hosts a pair of upcoming events. The museum will host its annual Emancipation Celebration Dinner & Dance at the Hellenic Cultural Centre at 3052 Walker Road in Windsor Aug. 2. This event commemorates the 190th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Canada.
The theme is “Jazz Age Jubilee” with guests encouraged to don their finest cocktail or semi-formal attire.
That event includes dinner and dancing with live music from “Trading Places,” a band featuring Jim Walls, Larry Johnson, Chris Nease, Phil Hill and Jamie Dech.
There will also be a silent auction and a 50/50 draw.
The Emancipation Celebration will also feature the presentation of the Legacy Hero Award, this year going to E. Andrea Moore. Event sponsors include the TD Bank Group, TMHC Inc., The Wright Museum, and LiUNA!625.
Tickets are $75 each, available online at amherstburgfreedom.org/emancipation. For more information, or to buy tickets over the phone, please call the museum at 519-736-5433.
The Walter Perry Emancipation Golf Classic is coming Aug. 10, with that occurring this year at Coachwood Golf & Country Club in McGregor. There is a shotgun start of 8 a.m. The entry fee is $150 and people can register at www.amherstburgfreedom.org/golf-classic or by calling 519-736-5433.
Speaker of the House of Commons visits Amherstburg
By Ron Giofu
Comments