Featuring two back-to-back programs titled FreeUp! Emancipation Day and FreeUp! Freedom Talks, a diverse ensemble of Canadian artists will offer inspiring performances – including from Jully Black, Zaki Ibrahim, Shad, Measha Brueggergosman, Red Sky Performance and Joe Sealy
Revitalizing the timeless value of freedom is at the heart of both FreeUp! Emancipation Day and FreeUp! Freedom Talks, says FreeUp! Founder and Celebrator-in-Chief, Ngozi Paul, who today announces the premiere of an unprecedented two-part, two-hour television special to mark Emancipation Day, following last year’s unanimous designation by the House of Commons. The two one-hour back-to-back programs will feature a remarkable slate of Canadian producers, virtuosos, entertainers and changemakers, combining fresh performances and rich conversations. Produced by Ngozi's studio, Emancipation Arts, and made available across Canada in partnership with CBC, both FreeUp! Emancipation Day and FreeUp! Freedom Talks will premiere on August 1, 2022 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) and 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) respectively on CBC. Both programs will also stream for free on CBC Gem.
FREEUP! EMANCIPATION DAY
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and streaming on CBC Gem
A celebration of Emancipation Day, this one-hour special was shot across Canada where Emancipation Day celebrations have been celebrated for years, including in St. Catharines, ON, Owen Sound, ON, Halifax and in Toronto’s Little Jamaica, as well as in St. Lawrence Hall, site of the 1851 North American Convention of Coloured Freemen, and the Buxton National Historic Site, an endpoint on the underground railroad. The special will also feature and honour Canadian Jazz Legend with Africville roots, Joe Sealy, as this year’s recipient of the Rosemary Sadlier award. The honour is named for Rosemary Sadlier, the president of the Ontario Black History Society from 1993 to 2015 who pushed for recognition of Black history through education and worked toward — and achieved — national recognition of Black History Month.
FREEUP! FREEDOM TALKS
9 p.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC TV and streaming on CBC Gem
Expanding from the FreeUp! Emancipation Day special during the first hour, Ngozi and her team have created a first-of-its-kind program that goes deeper into the intersection of activism and art. FreeUp! Freedom Talks is an engaging exploration of freedom featuring insights and roundtables punctuated by heartfelt performances from Jully Black, Ahmed Moneka, TiKA and Measha Brueggergosman.
Last year the House of Commons voted unanimously to designate August 1 as Emancipation Day across Canada, commemorating the Abolition of Slavery Act, which took effect August 1, 1834 and freed over 800,000 people in Canada and throughout the British Empire. Akin to Juneteenth celebrations held to mark the emancipation of slaves in the United States, the House of Commons voted to officially recognize Emancipation Day after decades of activism from Canadian civil-rights leader Rosemary Sadlier.
“Freedom is worth celebrating — it’s fundamental. Each year, Emancipation Day gives us Canadians an opportunity not only to celebrate freedom, but to celebrate the advancement of freedom over time, which is really the growth and improvement of our society,” said Paul. “It is also a time to reflect and discuss what freedom means to us all, and my hope is that through artistic expression and conversation, together we can rekindle vibrant, open and honest dialogue about freedom and other timeless values in Canada, ultimately building appreciation for the moment and fresh hope for the future.”
FreeUp! began in 2018 as a Toronto open-mic event and has since blossomed into a national production, receiving a nomination for Best Performing Arts Program at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards.
For more information about FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2022 and FreeUp! Freedom Talks, please visit FreeUp!’s website, https://freeup.online.
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About Emancipation Day
Emancipation Day commemorates the Abolition of Slavery Act, which took effect on August 1, 1834 and which freed over 800,000 people in Canada and throughout the British Empire. First officially recognized in Toronto in 1995, and Ontario-wide in 2008, the House of Commons voted in support of national recognition in 2021 (the motion passed unanimously, but is not enshrined in law).
About Ngozi Paul
Ngozi Paul is an award-winning stage and screen actress, writer, director and producer. Born and raised in Toronto to Pan-African parents from the Caribbean, her upbringing created the foundation for her work as a social and cultural innovator. She is the founder and director of Emancipation Arts and FreeUp!, and continues to serve in a leadership role with both organizations.
About Emancipation Arts
Emancipation Arts is a multi-platform content creator committed to telling vital stories which showcase the diversity of human experience and expand social boundaries. An award winning producer of theater, television, film, and web properties, Emancipation Arts is a company that catalyzes artistically and commercially successful collaborations between local and international platforms.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
For more information or interview requests contact:
Paul Clarke
Pennant Media Group
250-212-9471
paulc@pennantmediagroup.com
Kevin Pennant
Pennant Media Group
416-818-7466
CBC Contact:
Winston Ma, CBC PR
winston.ma@cbc.ca
647-327-7408
