Next year the Amherstburg Freedom Museum celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
And throughout the nearly five decades, the message of celebrating emancipation has been a constant.
“Our black history matters. The world is starting to recognize what we do,” said museum president Monty Logan.
Addressing the nearly 100 golfers Saturday morning at the Walter Perry Emancipation Golf Tournament at the Coachwood Golf and Country Club, Logan encouraged everyone to help keep the museum going.
“The reason we do this event is to support the on-going efforts of the Freedom Museum. Your contributions keep the museum open.”
Saturday’s event was the 10th tournament. Last year the winning foursome was Gary Jean, Jake Kelterborn, Jeff Turner and Will Switalski. This year Steve Drouin joined Jean, Turner and Switalski as champions.
Winning the 50/50 draw was Chris Szpak while the putting contest was won by Tory Homes and Monique Hurst.
It has been a busy few weeks as of late for the Amherstburg Freedom Museum as it recently held its Emancipation Day Celebration Dinner and Dance in which E. Andrea Moore was honoured as the recipient of the Legacy Hero Award.
Speaker of the House MP Greg Fergus was at the museum recently, joined by Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk.
The golf tournament was an opportunity for participants to reflect on days when Emancipation celebrations came with a lot of activities in Windsor.
“I remember Mr. Perry would put on a parade and BBQ at Jackson Park. It was a great day,” recalled Chance Chase.
Taking a few practice putts before he hit the links at Coachwood, he remembered those celebrations vividly.
“We would walk up Ouellette to Jackson Park. It was a good time. That was when I was nine or ten years-old and I still remember it.”
August 1 is the official designated Emancipation Day in Canada. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect in the British Empire.
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum is a curated archive that preserves and shares the town’s stories of the Underground Railroad. It is located a 277 King St. and can be reached at 519-736-5433. More information is at www.amherstburgfreedom.org.
Tenth annual Walter Perry Emancipation Golf Tournament held
By Fred Groves
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