Teaching Resources and Local Field Trips

Teaching resources

African Canadian Online (York University)

African Canadian Online is an online resource by the Centre for the Study of Black Cultures in Canada, providing information on African Canadian artists and their work in dance, film, theatre, literature, music and visual art, links to other Canadian resources and updates on the activities of the Centre.

Archives of Ontario

Ontario's Ministry of Government and Consumer Services offers online lesson plans and exhibits on Black Canadian history that align with the Social Studies, History, and Canadian and World Studies curricula for Grades 3 to 12. Developed by historians and classroom teachers, these plans feature primary source material from extensive collections.

The Canadian Encyclopedia: Black History in Canada

The Canadian Encyclopedia offers featured articles and editorials on Black history in Canada, along with timelines, quizzes, study guides, photo galleries, Heritage Minutes videos and much more.

CBC Digital Archives

CBC provides an online archive of stories centred around Black Canadian history from years past.

Digital Museums Canada

Digital Museums Canada's Community Stories collects more than 500 Canadian online projects, including Black history stories, galleries, videos and related media through all regions of the country.

Government of Canada: Black History Month

The Government of Canada provides detailed information on how Black History Month is celebrated today. View yearly campaign resources such as posters and videos, information on noteworthy historical figures, Black history organizations and educational resources, legacies and institutions and historic Black Canadian communities.

Ontario Black History Society

The Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) is a registered Canadian charity, dedicated to the study, preservation and promotion of Black history and heritage. The Society aims to encourage public interest in Black history through the:

• Recognition and documentation of the contributions of peoples of African descent and their collective histories, past and present, through education, research and collaboration
• Development and support of educational initiatives and exhibits
• Inclusion of Black history material in school curricula

Local field trips

Amherstburg Freedom Museum

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum tells the story of African Canadians' journeys and contributions to Canada by preserving stories and presenting artifacts that educate and inspire. The museum was founded by Amherstburg resident Melvin "Mac" Simpson on the belief that social, economic and educational issues would be better addressed by a society with greater knowledge and pride in its own history.

Buxton National Historic Site & Museum

The Buxton National Historic Site & Museum attracts visitors and researchers from across Canada and the United States with its mission to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret historical artifacts related to the Elgin (Buxton) settlement, from its founding in 1849 to the late 19th century. The site also provides the personal histories and genealogies of the original settlers and their descendants through ongoing historical research.

John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad

The John Freeman Walls Historic Site and Underground Railroad is an historical site dedicated to showcasing the stories of John Freeman Walls, a fugitive slave from North Carolina, who built a two-storey log cabin on land purchased from the Refugee Home Society. The site served as a terminal of the Underground Railroad and the first meeting place of the Puce Baptist Church.

Visitors can also explore artifacts and attractions, including the Historic Walkway, Walls Family Cemetery, Peace Chapel, Simcoe Building and Freedom Train.

Sandwich First Baptist Church

The Sandwich First Baptist Church Historical Underground Railroad Site offers church tours, sermons and events for visitors and members of its ministries.

Tower of Freedom monument

Located on the Detroit River on Pitt Street East, the Tower of Freedom monument in Windsor is a 22-foot high tower with a bronze Flame of Freedom sculpture, created by Denver based sculptor Ed Dwight. The monument honours the harrowing journey made by thousands in search of freedom and pays tribute to Ontario's role in the Underground Railroad.

Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site

At a bend in the Sydenham River near the town of Dresden stands Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site. The museum, built on the site of the Black settlement that Rev. Josiah Henson helped found in 1841, preserves the settlement where Henson and his wife Nancy lived.

Today, thousands of people make pilgrimages to Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site to discover more about our past.