August 1 is Emancipation Day. It marks the day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire, including the land that is now known as Canada. Emancipation Day celebrates the strength and perseverance of Black communities in Canada. Today, we see the impacts of Canada’s racist past reflected in laws, policies, practices, and systems. This is why BLAC continues to fight individual and systemic anti-Black racism through education, litigation, and advocacy.