Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Windsor will  be in AWE of photo show of descendants of the Underground Railroad Underground  descendant Darryl Hogan by Stephen Weir Black Heritage Society’s Dorothy Abbott and famed photographer Yuri Dojc look out the windows of the Art Windsor-Essex public art gallery (AWE) at the city of Detroit. For the next seven months, their new photographic exhibition of descendants of the Underground Railroad celebrates the direction of freedom—South. (The gallery sits on the edge of the Detroit River in downtown Windsor, south of Detroit). On Thursday night, Abbott and Dojc will open their well-traveled photographic exhibition celebrating the descendants of freedom-seekers who escaped slavery in the United States before the American Civil War. Some made the journey entirely alone; others found their way to Canada with the help of a clandestine network of "conductors" and "stations" called the "Underground Railroad." Many passed through Detroit and into Windsor...

MPP Jill Andrew Rides The Train with a 1,000 others The 2024 Carnival Weekend Began With a Special Underground Train Ride Stephen Weir Drummers pounded out the countdown just before midnight. It was seconds before the start of August 1st. Drones lit the sky above the Downsview subway station with hearts and words of love. Singing. Cheering. It was all part of the 11th annual Underground Freedom Train ride in Toronto. No Justin Trudeau wasn’t there, that was last year. And judging by the size of the turnout last Wednesday night, there wouldn’t have been a shoehorn big enough to squeeze him into the dedicated subway train that carried close to a thousand people from Union Station to Downsview Station to honour the Underground Railroad of the1850s and to mark the arrival of Canada’s Emancipation Day. The official launch was handled by the honourary whistle-blowing conductor, Amah Harris ( above left ). The distinguished educator, producer, mentor, playwright, and researcher led this ye...

1,000 will ride the midnight subway train Tenth Year For The Midnight Underground Toronto Train Ride There is a serious annual spiritual event during this Carnival season in Toronto, and it is coming down the track straight at you. The Emancipation Day "Underground Freedom Train" Ride begins on July 31st and ends early on August 1st, with over 1,000 people on board. This year marks the tenth time that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has partnered with the Blackhurst Cultural Centre (formerly A Different Booklist Cultural Centre) to provide an actual underground experience via its subway system, representing the underground railroad journey. This is a very emotional song filled train ride, probably Canada's largest of its kind,  and open to all Canadians, for the price of token. "The Emancipation Day 'Underground Freedom Train' Ride is symbolic of the role of the Underground Railroad within Canada's history," explained Itah Sadu, one of the found...

Conductor Jean tells fellow train riders to never give up The Honourable Jean Augustine (pictured below) probably didn't have to say anything except All-A-Board,  but a 1,000 people waiting to board the TTC Freedom Train wanted to hear what the first  Black Canadian woman to serve as a federal Minister of the Crown and Member of Parliament had to say .  Standing on steps inside Union Station she told the crowd that things are better now than during the days of Canadian slavery, but warned them there is still a long road ahead. The former politican and now community activist was the honouorary conductor of   last Sunday night's  Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride. The ride is back on track and in-person this year after being derailed for two years by Covid. The annual train ride aboard a special TTC train took some 1,000 people on a non-stop ride from Union Station to the Sheppard Station to have a midnight “happening” to mark Emancipation Day. It wa...

Friday night's Toronto Freedom Train Rattles Across The Internet By Stephen Weir Carnival’s Virtual Road was not the only weekend online event that drew cellphone audiences here in Toronto. A virtual underground railroad ride, drew viewers, albeit at a much smaller scale than Saturday's digital Toronto Caribbean Carnival. ( Pictured above - last year's train ride - Sheppard Station) On Friday night the 15th annual Freedom Train to mark Emancipation Day was live online and drew a larger following in cyber space than it usually does with an actual packed midnight subway train trip! Itah Sadu and the A Different Booklist Cultural Centre community organized the ride that brought in supporters from as far away as Ghana. Traditionally people come out to ride a train from Union Station to Downsview to mark both the Emancipation Act and to honour those who rode the Underground Railroad to freedom from the USA. The live event attracts 1,000 people, Friday’s live YouTube broadcast ...

Miss Dolly, David Rudder and  Macomere Fifi  Are All On Board for the Friday July 31 st  Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride  Live and Online FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2020 ...  This year’s 15 th  annual Freedom Train Ride is going live and virtual! Get on board live on A Different Booklist Cultural Centre’s YouTube page beginning at 10:45 PM on the eve of Emancipation day, Friday July 31st, 202.0 The  Emancipation Day “Underground Freedom Train” Ride  is symbolic of the role of the Underground Railroad within Canada’s history. This train ride is recognition of the historic date of  Emancipation Day  on August 1 st  when slavery was abolished in the British Empire. It is also a celebration of the power and potential of the peoples of African descent. A Different Booklist Cultural Centre (ADBCC)  and the 2020  Freedom Train Ride Committee  are pleased to announce this year's Cond...

Virus forces Annual Ride For Freedom to Travel Virtually in 2020 Canada’s 8th annual Ride For Freedom is coming to a Smart Phone near year for 2020.  Scheduled to take place on August 1st, the train ride to mark Emancipation Day, is happening this year online! Held every year in Toronto, the Annual Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride,  usually sees over 1,000 people take a midnight subway ride from Union Station to Sheppard station.  The TTC has always provided the special midnight train and a volunteer crew, and people from all across the country have come to the city to ride the rail. But, because of Covis 19, the train will not be leaving the station in 2020. Itah Sadu "We are excited about bringing the train ride to a virtual platform and the world's stage," said Itah Sadu, Founder and Chair of the Freedom Train Ride Committee. "This year we are connecting with people nationally and internationally with the theme of diasporic crossings ...