Moderator’s Message Marks Emancipation Day with Call to Justice

Today, The United Church of Canada marks Emancipation Day with a heartfelt video message from The Right Rev. Moderator, Carmen Lansdowne, reflecting on the significance of this day and the ongoing journey toward racial justice.

Emancipation Day commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire on August 1, 1834. In the video, the Moderator reminds us that while this was a pivotal moment in history, true freedom and equality for Black people in Canada did not follow immediately. The legacy of slavery continues to shape the experiences of Black communities today.

“We remember the past, but we also recognize the present,” the Moderator says. “Emancipation didn’t end racism. It began a long and continuing struggle for justice, equity, and full inclusion.”

The message calls on all people of faith to reflect, learn, and act—to confront systemic racism, celebrate Black history and culture, and work together for a more just and equitable society.