A Walk Through Toronto with Mary Shadd Cary

Who created this tour?

This tour is developed by Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon of York University.

Who is presenting this tour?

The tour will be presented by the Congress of Black Women Mississauga Chapter and is hosted by Kyra Sutherland.

Event Date

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Important Dates

Permission forms should be completed for February 10th, 2026

What you should bring/wear

● Wear warm clothing (boots, hat, scarf, gloves, etc.)

● Bring water and snacks

What to expect

● This is a walking tour, so be prepared to be outside

● Learning more about Black Canadian history

Nearest Hospital

St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8

Transportation

Bus and walking

Demographic

High school students (parents are also welcome)

Tour Stops

Stop 1: Recreation and Athletic Centre TMU, Stop 2: Mackenzie House, Stop 3: Bond Place Hotel, Stop 4: St. John's Ward, Stop 5: Osgoode Hall, Stop 6: 50 Adelaide St, Stop 7: St. James Cathedral, Stop 8: St. Lawrence Hall, Stop 9: St. Lawrence Market

● A detailed breakdown of the stops and scheduled times is located in the agenda below.

Link to tour map:

43° 39' 12.9488" N 79° 23' 13.6399" W

● the map of the stops chosen for this tour

Walking Distance

3.4 km

What is the Tour?

This walking takes a trip back in time to the 1850s, rediscovering the city through the life of Mary Ann Shadd Cary and the Black community of Toronto. We go through what life would be like for Black Torontonians at the time, rediscovering the city through their stories.

Who is Mary Ann Shadd?

Mary Ann Shadd was born in Delaware in 1823. She later moved to Ontario in 1851. She spent 11 years in Canada from 1851 to 1863, leaving a large impact during her time there. She first settled in Windsor, where she founded and taught at an integrated school for children of freedom seekers, seeking to serve as a crucial education resource for Black refugees.

She was also an abolitionist who led community-based initiatives to assist in the settling of freedom seekers and provided support for the Underground Railroad. She later moved to Toronto and founded the Provincial Freeman, Canada's first anti-slavery newspaper, making her the first Black woman in North America to edit and publish a newspaper.

She later returned to the United States in 1863 to support the cause of the Union Army by helping to recruit Black soldiers. She studied law at Howard University and became very active in the women's suffrage movement.

The Black history of Toronto

The second Fugitive Slave Law was passed in the US Congress in 1850, resulting in a boom in migration of freedom seekers and free Black people into Canada, with Toronto being a popular destination. The city became a center for abolitionist activity and a major stop on the Underground Railroad. Black residents created a close-knit community, establishing homes, businesses, and churches, working in various capacities, all while advocating for racial equity.

Link to Tour

https://baladodiscovery.com/circuits/1303/tracing-mary-ann-shadd-carys-footsteps-in-mid-19th-c-black-toronto

● Note, we will not be going to every stop

Info: We will meet here to take the bus to Downtown Toronto - 155 Square One Dr, Mississauga, ON L5B 0E2

Info: Education is Liberation

Info: Where the First Mayor of Toronto Lived

Info: Public Work – Building a Future in Freedom

Info: St. John's Ward - 361 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1Y1

Info: Freedom Through the Courts

Info: Downtown Toronto Business – From Enslavement to Freedom

Info: Black History Around Toronto St. James’ Cathedral

Info: Public Space and Political Life

Info: Labour, Commerce, and Everyday Black Life

Info: Lunch is not provided. There will be time to purchase food, if attendees wish

Info: Leave Toronto back to Mississauga

Info: Arrive back in Mississauga. Attendees will await pick up. - 155 Square One Dr, Mississauga, ON L5B 0E2

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Host or Publisher Congress of Black Women of Canada, Mississauga & Area Chapter