'North is Freedom' Reunion & Exhibit to Celebrate Grey County's Freedom-Seeking Ancestors
Photographer Yuri Dojc returns to Owen Sound Nov. 15 for a reunion with those featured in 'North is Freedom,' an exhibit honouring Freedom Seekers’ descendants in Grey County.
A powerful reunion will take place in Owen Sound on Saturday, November 15, as photographer Yuri Dojc returns to reconnect with those he photographed a decade ago for North is Freedom, a portrait exhibit honouring descendants of Freedom Seekers who settled in Grey County after escaping slavery via the Underground Railroad.
Hosted by the BME Church – Legacy Hall, the event runs from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and is open to the public. Admission is free, with donations encouraged to support the BME Church Restoration Project.
North is Freedom was originally created for an exhibition at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibit celebrates the legacy of African Canadians whose ancestors found freedom in Ontario in the 1800s.
“The BME – Legacy Hall is proud to showcase 18 of the original 26 photos,” said Cathryn Harris, lead of the BME Restoration Project. “Those eighteen photos are of African Canadian people from Grey County whose ancestors settled here as far back as the early 1800s.”
The British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church, built by descendants of Freedom Seekers, has stood for more than 150 years as a cornerstone of Black heritage in Grey County.
Designated an Ontario Heritage Site in 1987, the church is currently undergoing essential restoration. The new Legacy Hall gallery is part of a broader vision to revitalize the building as a centre for cultural education and heritage preservation.
How to Support the Project
Donations to the BME Church Restoration Fund can be made by:
E-transfer: bmechurchofowensound@gmail.com
Cheque: Payable to BME Church of Owen Sound Restoration Fund
Tax receipts are issued for donations over $50. Tours or presentations about local African Canadian heritage can also be booked through the BME Restoration Committee. Learn more and contact the organization via their website.
