The History of Caribana & the Grand Parade

Caribana and its main event, the Grand Parade, has grown so much since its humble beginnings.

Program: Derailed Panel Discussion (Quarantine Edition)

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Digital Exhibitions → Derailed: The History of Black Railway Porters in Canada → Discussions and Resources

Derailed: Digital Panel Discussion

This 1 hour and 45 minute panel discussion streamed live on Zoom on June 4, 2020, explores Black Railway Porters and their historic fight for equality on and off the tracks. Moderated by Cheryl Blackman (Director of Museums and Heritage Services, City of Toronto), this conversation with Cecil Foster (Author/Scholar), Meghan Swaby (Playwright), Natasha Henry (President, Ontario Black History Society), and Peter Bailey (Actor), features artifacts from the period, a dramatic reading written by Meghan Swaby and performed by Peter Bailey, along with a reading by Cecil Foster of his book, They Call Me George: The Untold Story of the Black Train Porters.

Welcoming Remarks & Introductions: 00:00
Discussion Begins: 8:12
Book Reading (Cecil Foster): 20:25
Artifact Presentation (Natasha Henry): 42:04
Dramatic Reading (Peter Bailey): 55:27
Q&A: 1:13:45

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The Elephant Show Sing-Along

Sharon of Sharon, Lois & Bram, alongside her daughter Randi and their family band, continues the legacy of the beloved TV series Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Elephant Show. Through joyful, multi-generational performances, they bring timeless children’s songs to new audiences, celebrating music, imagination, and shared cultural memory.

In Conversation: Margaret Atwood and Adrienne Clarkson

Two of Canada’s most influential voices, Margaret Atwood and Adrienne Clarkson, share the stage at the Museum of Toronto for a special conversation this December.

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Content

Black Railway Porters’ Lasting Impact on Canada’s Multiculturalism Policy

Learn about the lasting impact that Black railway porters have had on Canada’s multiculturalism policy.

Uniting the Unions: Black Railway Porters’ Fight for Rights

On April 23, 1956, members of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) were among the delegation that attended a special convention in the Coliseum of the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

Black Railway Porters and Their Lasting Impact on Canadian Labour Policy

How Stanley Grizzle and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters advocated for fair labour practices in Canada.

Black Railway Porters’ Lasting Impact on Canada’s Immigration Policy

How Black railway porters paved the way for citizenship rights in Canada.

George Garraway

George Garraway would create history for the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) and Black people across North America.

Ernest Russell

In 1939, after being accused of sleeping on the job, Charles Ernest Russell contacted U.S. labour leader Asa Philip Randolph to help organize Canadian porters, igniting a movement that challenged segregation and improved conditions for Black railway workers.