BRUCE COUNTY – To mark the beginning of Black History Month, the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre will host a special presentation about the work that led to the recognition of more than 1,200 people buried in unmarked graves in Owen Sound’s Potter’s Field, with guest speakers Dorothy Abbott of the Grey County Black Heritage Society, and Aly Boltman, a local historian.
Titled “Erasing Erasure”, the talk will focus on those buried in Potter’s Field, many of whom were fleeing slavery in the United States via the Underground Railroad, including members of Abbott’s family. When they arrived at its northernmost terminus in Owen Sound, Black settlers still faced enormous systemic racism in Canada at this time and many were considered impoverished and required burial in Potter’s Field, which became operational in 1860 and was in use for more than 100 years.
The Potter’s Field project has won five awards, including most recently an Architectural Conservancy Ontario Heritage Award.
Erasing Erasure takes place, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2-4 p.m. in the museum’s Bruce Power Theatre, with refreshments to follow. The presentation will be recorded and made available online for later viewing.
General admission applies for non-members. For registration visit brucemuseum.ca.
During Black History Month (Feb. 1-28), Canadians celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous country.
