OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF ONTARIO

Media Advisory
For immediate release. 2 August 2013

Lieutenant Governor to mark Simcoe Day and Emancipation Day at historic Fort York
TORONTOOn Monday, August 5, the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will attend celebrations at Fort York National Historic Site marking Simcoe Day and Emancipation Day. In Ontario, the August civic holiday is known as Simcoe Day in honour of John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada and founder of the city of York (now Toronto). With Simcoe also came the adoption of the common law, freehold land tenure, trial by jury, and the abolition of slavery in British North America. Emancipation Day (August 1) marks the coming into force of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1834. The Act effectively abolished slavery throughout the British Empire, though the slave trade had been ended in Upper Canada decades earlier by then Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe. His Honour will attend an Emancipation Day reception given by the Ontario Black History Society, deliver remarks at Simcoe Day celebrations, after which Mr. Onley will act as the reviewing officer of a military march-past. For more information about the festivities at Fort York, please visit http://www.toronto.ca/culture/museums/featured-events.htm#fort. Photo Opportunity Who: What: When: Where: Hon. David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor Simcoe Day and Emancipation Day celebrations Monday, August 5, 2013; 12.15pm-2pm Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto Follow LGDavidOnley on Facebook and Twitter Contact: Mr. Tom Connelly Office of the Lieutenant Governor 416-325-7789
www.LGOntario.ca

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