Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride Changes Course

 

Photo contributed.     Patricia Brereton will be the symbolic conductor of the Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride on July 31, 2025, starting at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and ending at Union Station

 The annual Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride has added some new elements this year — two cities, Vaughan and Toronto, meet — when the nonstop Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway train travels from Vaughan Metropolitan Centre to Union Station.

At the same time this is happening, a train in Ottawa will pull out of a subway station there with residents of the Greater Ottawa Region. 

Commuters will gather at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre on Thursday, July 31, at 10:45 p.m. sharp and travel to Union Station where the experience will end at 12:25 a.m. on August 1, welcoming Emancipation Day. 

This marks the 12^th anniversary of this important and symbolic travel experience organized by Blackhurst Cultural Centre in collaboration with the Toronto Transit Commission and other partnering organizations. The journey commemorates the historic abolition of slavery in the British Empire and represents the Underground Railroad’s role in Canadian history. The theme this year is “Ability in Action” calling on Canadians to reflect on their abilities and the power to make change. Emancipation itself is an ability in action. 

In keeping with the role that Harriett Tubman played as the conductor of the Underground Railroad, every year a committed community worker is selected to be the symbolic conductor. 

This year it is Patricia Brereton, a respected entrepreneur, educator, and community mentor whose journey from humble beginnings in Bridgetown, Barbados to business success in Canada exemplifies resilience, vision, and purpose.

Born in 1939 as the sixth of nine children, her early life was marked by curiosity, discipline, and an entrepreneurial spirit. As a child, she embraced outdoor sports and literature, and began her first foray into business by selling handmade crafts door-to-door. This early introduction to commerce sparked a lifelong interest in entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

After completing her education at Modern High School, Brereton began her professional life as a high school teacher in Barbados.

In 1964, driven by a desire to broaden her horizons, Brereton immigrated to Toronto, Canada as part of the Government of Canada’s Domestic Scheme, which brought thousands of Caribbean women to work in Canadian households. After completing her domestic service commitment, she transitioned into the corporate world, excelling in sales and training roles.

Despite a stable career in corporate Canada, she returned to school, earning a diploma in nutrition from Centennial College which paved the way for her to work in the healthcare sector — ultimately, leading her to establish her own home for special needs care.

In a bold move, Brereton purchased a care facility in Sarnia, Ontario using her life savings—an ambitious decision that marked the beginning of a 22-year entrepreneurial journey. Confronting and overcoming racial and gender-based challenges, she built a thriving business rooted in compassion, professionalism, and integrity.

She was featured in the CTV documentary, The West Indian Domestic Scheme, which spotlighted the positive contributions of Caribbean women to Canadian society. 

Photo contributed.   Karen Murray, System Superintendent, Equity, of the Toronto District School Board with responsibility for the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement will receive the 2025 Emancipation Freedom Train Ride Award

Karen Murray, System Superintendent, Equity, of the Toronto District School Board with responsibility for the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, will be honoured with the 2025 Emancipation Freedom Train Ride Awardfor community service. 

Murray is committed to equity, anti-oppression and anti-racism leadership, system transformational change, and the success of Black, Indigenous and often underrepresented students.

She has held several progressive leadership roles at the TDSB and is the recipient of many awards such as the Ontario Principal Council Difference Maker (2022), 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women (2020), and York University’s Teacher of Excellence (2006).

Other highlights include the Ngoma Drummers, musicians Eddie Bullen, Charmie Deller and an all-star cast of musicians. 

A snapshot of the crowd gathered for a previous Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride