It was busy at Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Dresden today, as the 10th annual Emancipation Day was celebrated.
Brenda Lambkin, assistant program manager, said they had a good turn out.
“It started out slow but they’re really coming and everybody seems to be staying because they’re enjoying all the performers that we have,” she said. “We have some wonderful performers, it’s exciting.”
Alex Kiar, a summer student at Uncle Tom’s Cabin, said he did a presentation about the number two construction battalion, which was Canada’s first and only all-black battalion.
“I talk about the history of the First World War and the formation and service of the actual battalion,” he said. “They served in the south of France, mainly in the construction roles.”
Lambkin said they enjoyed a good selection and variety of music and entertainment.
“We even have a drum clinic, where anyone that wants to play drums has the chance to,” she said. “We have solos from the United States, plus Canada. It’s just wonderful talent. It’s amazing the talent we can get here, but we can only do it because of RBC. They sponsor this event and that enables us to get really good talent.”
Lambkin said they saw some new local faces as well.
“There is a lot of people that said this was their first time coming out, and they live right here in Dresden,” she said.
Emancipation Day is an annual celebration of hope and freedom commemorating the end of slavery in the British Empire.
Here are some photo from the event today, click to zoom in:
