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Picnic pays tribute to role in Underground Railroad Annual event at George's Square The annual Emancipation Day Picnic to be held Monday, Aug. 3 will celebrate courage, history and freedom, as it recognizes Oakville's role as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Oakville Museum and the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH) will host the second annual Emancipation Day Family Picnic in George's Square on Aug. 3, from 1-4 p.m. The free event celebrates the end of black slavery in the British Empire and will feature music and a dramatic performance suitable for the whole family. "The Emancipation Day Family Picnic helps us connect with Oakville's history as a stop on the Underground Railroad and recreates a tradition that African and Caribbean Canadians celebrated for many years," said Claire Loughheed, senior manager of cultural services for the Town of Oakville. "Our lineup of outstanding performers will make this a truly special event." For years following the end of the American Civil War, African and Caribbean Canadians from across Ontario would gather for a picnic at George's Square to celebrate their emancipation, and the role Oakville played in securing their freedom. Residents are invited to grab a picnic basket and head to George's Square to take in a performance of the award-winning, onewoman play, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman, written and performed by Leslie McCurdy, which explores the life of Underground Railroad hero Harriet Tubman. The picnic will also feature music from the Muhtadi World Drummers and the Halton Steel Band. The Oakville Museum's exhibit, The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom! explores the establishment of anti-slavery laws in Upper Canada in the late 1700s and the lives of early black settlers in Ontario. With the help of a film by the same name, visitors can view urban settlement in 19thcentury Toronto through the eyes of Deborah Brown and her husband, Perry, who heroically fled to freedom from an oppressed life of slavery in Maryland. For more information visit www.oakvillemuseum.ca. 5 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 31, 2009 Renovate · Decorate · Celebrate Time is Precious, Mistakes are Costly and Decorating is complicated. Inquire about your Personal Design Consultation At Fitz by Design we are committed to creating breathtaking, functional spaces that are unique as the individuals living in them. PUBLIC AUCTION CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED DIAMONDS Ex-Airport seized extremely valuable diamond jewellery and other imported jewellery: Customs Cleared, importation duties paid. ONDAY AUG. 3rd, 20 A ction at 2:00 P.M. - Viewing from 1:00 P OLIDAY INN, BRONT A 2525 Wyecroft Rd. (Q.E.W. & Bronte) o refund exchange or layaway. Payments: Visa, M.C., Debit, Cash and Certified Che bject to additions, deletions, errors and omissions. 15% buyers premium & applicab Heritage International. 905-882-7073