Tubman Tours Canada

01/09/2024

30/08/2024

Meet Valerie!

Valerie descends from a few Underground Railroad freedom seekers including Josiah Henson, Adam Nicholson and Allen Alexander Dorsey aka Deacon Dorsey who escaped from Dorchester County Maryland c. 1857 and served as a Deacon at the Salem Chapel.

Valerie and her friends visited the church earlier this week. The conversation was great. It was a pleasure to meet all of them.

From left to right: Valerie and Derrick from Buffalo, NY and Denise and George from Florida.

26/08/2024

Donna Nicholson Ford
1937-2024

With a heavy heart, we mention the passing of St. Catharines native Donna Nicholson Ford.

Donna was Chair of the Central Ontario Network for Black History for about 20 years. In this capacity, she was a member of many steering committees and instrumental in developing African Canadian heritage tourism (Ontario) and much, much more.

Donna was a proud Underground Railroad freedom seeker descendant. Her great-grandfather Adam Nicholson escaped from Virginia and settled in St. Catharines in 1854. A few years later, he moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake and became a farmer.

As a champion of Black history, Donna was known and well-respected throughout the province and Western, NY. In the attached February 2020 image, she is giving a talk at the downtown Buffalo, NY Public Library. The onset of the pandemic ensured that this memorable event would be her last in-person public talk.

For over a decade Donna served as a historic site interpreter at the Salem Chapel, BME Church NHS where she volunteered.

Donna Nicholson Ford crossed into heaven on Saturday night (August 24th) and now rests in peace and power. She was a dear friend and will be missed.

17/08/2024

Meet Danielle! She is from Philadelphia.

Danielle decided to take a 10 day plus Black history road trip visiting sites in New York and Ontario. She visited the Salem Chapel Harriet Tubman site yesterday. In fact, she was the only visitor. We provided Danielle with a list of "must see" sites and attractions along the lower Niagara River Parkway.

The first stop however, was Richard Pierpoint Park in St. Catharines, followed by Voices of Freedom Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Yes, we did discuss the mighty Niagara River. The chat was great. It was a pleasure to meet Danielle.

15/08/2024

Thanks to Motherland Connextions Tours, Tubman Tours Canada was hired by Davron Tours to guide the Harriet Tubman Purple Hats Society around the region yesterday.

As many of you know, our guides are also licensed Niagara Parks tour guides. In addition to showcasing local Black history, we enjoy highlighting the Niagara Parks visitor attractions. After St. Catharines, for us, the action relating to the history and the attractions is along the lower Niagara River Parkway, between Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls.

We never get tired of viewing the whirlpool, the rapids or the falls.
The images were taken at the Whirlpool Aero Car visitor attraction. We stopped there to take in the view of the whirlpool and the mighty Class 6 white water rapids, which are the most dangerous.

“The Niagara Whirlpool is formed at the end of the rapids where the gorge abruptly turns counterclockwise. The river’s abrupt change of direction creates one of the world’s most mesmerizing natural phenomena.” – Niagara Parks Commission

https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/whirlpool-aero-car

It was a good tour. The group was great! We enjoyed meeting all of them.

13/08/2024

Meet “Our Second Act” visitor group from Missouri. They toured the Salem Chapel today.

A few walk-ins from Connecticut and Georgia joined the tour.

Standing in the background is none other than Vicki-Lynn Smith who assisted with the tour.

It was a pleasure to meet all the visitors today.

09/08/2024

Yesterday (Thursday, August 8th) the Salem Chapel had a record number of walk-ins. Twenty- seven people visited the Salem Chapel throughout the day. Yeah!

Meet the Peterson family from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Niagara Canada is one of their last vacation stops before the new school year begins.

It was a pleasure to meet all the visitors. It brings us much joy when visitors include the Salem Chapel in their Niagara, Ontario visit. Thank you!!!

02/08/2024

It was a pleasure to meet this wonderful visitor group from Arkansas. They are one of the groups that toured the Salem Chapel during the last week of July, which for us represents the half way mark of the tourism season.

01/08/2024

St. Catharines - Emancipation Day Flag Raising!
Happening today at 2pm at City Hall
Brought to you by Matter of Black

"On March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted unanimously to officially designate August 1 Emancipation Day. It marks the actual day in 1834 that the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect across the British Empire.” – Government of Canada, 2024
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/emancipation-day.html

29/07/2024

The Great Emancipator!

28/07/2024

Happening today from 1pm to dusk
190th Emancipation Day Celebration!
Lakeside Park, Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines
Brought to you by Matter of Black

25/07/2024

Emancipation Day STC Open House
Happening on Saturday July 27, 2024
11:00am to 3:00pm -- Tour Talk at 12:00pm
at the Salem Chapel BME Church NHS
92 Geneva Street, St. Catharines

23/07/2024

22/07/2024

19/07/2024

THANK YOU!!!
We just heard this Saturday's mid-sized bus tour organized by Matter of Black sold out a few days ago. We are thrilled and look forward to meeting everyone.

15/07/2024

October is Coming!
Mark the Date

10/07/2024

Emancipation Day
St. Catharines
July 28th at Lakeside Park

We’re so excited to share with you our line up for EMANCIPATION DAY in LAKESIDE PARK on July 28

1pm to dusk - Vendor market
1pm - Soca Fit with Geisha Rene
1 to 6pm - DJ MaBonzo bringing the vibezzz
2pm - Heartland Beat drum circle for all ages and abilities
3 to 4pm - Afrobeat dance lesson by Dance N’ Culture
5pm - RENNATHA & VYBE
6pm - DWAYNE MORGAN
7pm - LMT CONNECTION

We hope to see you for some or all of these events in Lakeside Park ❤️

A huge thank you to our sponsors & partners, TD Canada, Meridian Credit Union, Accenture, City of St Catharines, The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, and Niagara College for supporting Emancipation Day STC 2024

08/07/2024

06/07/2024

Black History Tour of Niagara
Happening Saturday July 20th
Get your ticket today!

05/07/2024

St. Catharines
Emancipation Day Events brought to you by Matter of Black

Emancipation Day STC

July 27 Salem Chapel BME Church tour in partnership with Tubman Tours Canada

July 28 A full day of celebration, live music, vendors and food trucks in Lakeside Park

August 1 The raising of the Pan African flag at City Hall, followed by “Soul” film screening in the PAC’s backyard

Full Jul 28 schedule to follow!

▪️We want to thank our sponsors and partners, TD Canada Trust, Meridian Credit Union, Accenture, The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, The City of St Catharines, Accenture, and Niagara College in helping us make this possible ▪️

30/06/2024

Two outstanding visitor groups toured the Salem Chapel last week.

The first group was from Atlanta, Georgia. Meet Ms. Carmen! This phenomenal 107 year old refuses to stay home. She travels with her two daughters who are seated on her left and right side.

The second group of participants arrived from Indiana and Kentucky. While in Niagara, they decided to visit the Salem Chapel. Both bus groups toured the church at the same time.

It was a joy to meet all of them.

26/06/2024

Another Salem Chapel Improvement

The restoration work at the Salem Chapel continues.

The unsecured, scary kitchen window area was recently fixed with funds received from the Ontario Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant (2023-24).

The original kitchen window was most likely removed in the mid-1960s when the church began offering fundraising dinners. The locking mechanism was removed when half of the window was turned into a make shift year round, fully open (indoor/outdoor) ventilation system. The other half of the window was closed off with plywood and the exterior was covered with cement.

During the winter, the custom was to cover the interior window area with heavy plastic that was stapled and duck taped to the window frame. The window doors were held closed with a red brick.

We are happy to say goodbye to the unsecured, non-insulated and unsightly window area forever. Most of all, we are happy to be able to look outside.

We would like to thank Lows Glass, Mirror & Windows Company for the new custom made security window. We love it! We also want to thank their contractor, Matt Huisman Construction for the installation. We could not be more pleased with the window and the work.

Images: Interior window area with closed doors, doors opened, exterior view of window, removal of masonry work and plywood, exterior window frame, interior view of the new window, exterior view of the window

24/06/2024

Windsor - Detroit

This time last week, Tubman Tours Canada es**rted a group of Cal U (Berkeley) students from Niagara to Windsor-Detroit.

This group of “Global Change Agents” embarked on a Civil Rights tour in Selma, Birmingham, Memphis, and other locations before making their way to Western NY, then Niagara, Ontario.

We cannot thank Michelle Robbins, Curator at the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum enough for opening up for us. She provided an excellent presentation and a tour of the Buxton site. Canada's Underground Railroad (UGRR) power couple, Bryan and Shannon Prince stopped in to say hello. You can bet the students were told about their recent Order of Canada recognition. Bravo!

The entire tour was educational and fun! It was an honour to guide this distinguished group of young scholars on a UGRR tour from Niagara to Detroit.



Images: Students ringing the Buxton Liberty Bell, Michelle (left) and Shannon (right), Windsor -Tower of Freedom, Detroit-Gateway to Freedom, Second Baptist Church, Heritage Plaque, Motown Museum, Students entering the Charles Wright Museum

21/06/2024

Walk to Freedom

Freedom Day USA (June 19th) might be over; however, the Walk to Freedom to commemorate Juneteenth is still on.

Some of you will remember Ken Johnston, the founder of Walk to Freedom. In the summer of 2022, Ken walked 450 miles from Harlem, New York to St. Catharines, Ontario in honour of Harriet Tubman.

Ken and other Walk to Freedom participants are currently in Texas. They are walking (June 19-24th) to “remember the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom this Juneteenth as we journey from Galveston to Houston.”

“Galveston, once the home of pirates and revolutionaries who sought fame and fortunes on the backs of the enslaved, was the largest slave market west of New Orleans. Its history is woven into a rich tapestry of colonialism, slavery, and the slave trade.”

You can read more here:
https://ourwalktofreedom.com/2024/04/07/remembering-juneteenth-a-new-walk/

And you can support Ken here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/walk-to-freedom-galveston-to-houston

Image: Juneteenth parade, Ken Johnston (left) and Frank Thompson Jr

15/06/2024

Happy Juneteenth!

11/06/2024

Niagara Black History Tour brought to you by Matter of Black

Black History Tour of Niagara in partnership with Tubman Tours Canada to kick off Emancipation Day 2024 celebrations!

July 20, 2024
10am - 3pm

Participants will enter the Salem Chapel BME Church where Harriet Tubman worshipped, then board a bus for a tour of important heritage sites, discover significant events, and learn about notable figures connected to the story of freedom and the Underground Railroad.

Tickets are $65 each. Use this link to reserve your spot: https://forms.gle/4M2DGa2ni9cjVDEX9

10/06/2024

09/06/2024

07/06/2024

From the Salem Chapel
City holds up cemetery walking tour

It’s time to let you know that we (church) are engaged in a behind the scenes battle with the City of St. Catharines regarding ancestral appropriation.

You will recall that the original John W. Lindsay gravestone is severely damaged. It’s broken into 35 plus pieces. At first I/we wanted the original stone displayed. After careful thought it was decided that it would be best to re-bury the original stone to protect it from any potential vandalism and weather damage and erect a new one in its place.

Last fall, Erin Freeman, Supervisor Cemetery Services advised me to contact the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) who are the enforcers of the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act and inquire about erecting a new stone for John Lindsay who was a Trustee of the Salem Chapel.

In mid-October 2023 the BAO said, “Since you are neither the Interment Rights Holder or Next-of-Kin, and are simply an interested party, you may seek the permission of the cemetery operator and offer that you will be liable for any penalties and costs associated with this installation and/or removal of the monument should there be a compliant from John W. Lindsay’s Next-of-Kin in the future.”

Another discussion took place with Erin Freeman followed by the holiday interruption. On January 24, 2024, the conversation about erecting a new gravestone was passed along to Erin Freeman’s boss, Dan Cooper, Manager of Green Infrastructure Operations. I informed him that the church would accept any and all penalties relating to the installation of the new headstone if there is a complaint from John Lindsay’s next-of-kin in the future.

On February 1st, 2024 Dan Cooper denied our request to erect a new stone and informed me that the City was planning to display the original severely damaged gravestone. Cooper copied his boss, Darrell Smith, Director of Municipal Works and Erin Freeman.

Cooper’s email responses to the Salem Chapel are posted.

Imagine me scratching my head wondering why Cooper, Smith and Freeman suddenly developed a fond attachment to a gravestone belonging to a Black man they never knew existed or cared about or was buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery until the Salem Chapel Underground Railroad Cemetery project began.

I lodged an informal complaint with the Office of the Mayor shortly after receiving Cooper’s email.

I/we remain baffled as to why the City chose to ignore the BAO’s suggested resolution and create an unnecessary standoff against us.

Right now, the only group of people that can effect change is City Council. Let’s hope they see things differently.

My presentation to Council is scheduled for Monday, June 10, 2024 at St. Catharines City Hall. The Council meeting starts at 6pm. If you can make it out to show your support for the Salem Chapel please do. If you cannot attend in person, please watch it live on the City’s YouTube channel.

Also, public comments regarding agenda matters can be submitted to the Office of the City Clerk by contacting [email protected] by Monday, June 10, 2024 before 12 noon. Let your voice be heard!
Thank you,
Rochelle Bush, Trustee