The first day of August is named Emancipation Day throughout Prince Edward Island, and it is not a holiday under any enactment.
t EMANCIPATION DAY PROCLAMATION ACT PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this Act, current to May 6, 2022. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of the Act. The Act and the amendments as printed under the authority of the King’s Printer for the province should be consulted to determine the authoritative statement of the law. For more information concerning the history of this Act, please see the Table of Public Acts on the Prince Edward Island Government web site (www.princeedwardisland.ca). If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4292 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca CHAPTER E-5.01 EMANCIPATION DAY PROCLAMATION ACT WHEREAS the British Parliament abolished slavery in the British Empire as of August 1, 1834, by enacting Chapter 73 of the Acts of 3 & 4 William IV, An Act for the Abolition of Slavery Throughout the British Colonies; for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves; and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the Services of such Slaves (U.K.), on August 28, 1833; AND WHEREAS the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed by resolution 68/237, on December 23, 2013, the International Decade for People of African Descent, commencing on January 1, 2015, and ending on December 31, 2024; AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada announced on January 30, 2018, that it would officially recognize the International Decade for People of African Descent; AND WHEREAS the International Decade for People of African Descent provides a unique opportunity to highlight the important contributions that people of African descent have made to Canadian society, and also provides a platform for engaging in the fight against anti-Black racism and discrimination and the inequalities that Canadians of African descent continue to face; AND WHEREAS it is important to recognize the heritage of Canada’s Black communities and the contributions they have made and continue to make to Canada; AND WHEREAS Black Prince Edward Islanders are a distinct people who have contributed significantly to the history, development, diversity and cultural mosaic of Prince Edward Island despite barriers they have encountered; AND WHEREAS racist structures and institutional practices have resulted in the inability of Black Prince Edward Islanders to access and enjoy many of the benefits of Canadian society, notably in areas such as education, housing, health, business, the justice system and community development; AND WHEREAS Black Lives Matter; AND WHEREAS Black Canadians have issued calls for apologies and reparations for slavery and racism; AND WHEREAS, in consequence, it is appropriate to formally recognize August 1 as Emancipation Day and to observe it as a poignant reminder of an abhorrent period in Prince Edward Island’s history in order to allow Prince Edward Islanders to reflect upon the imperative to continue to commit to eliminate discrimination in all its forms; THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island as follows: 1. Emancipation Day proclaimed (1) Throughout the province, in each and every year, the first day of August shall be known as “Emancipation Day”. Not a holiday (2) For greater certainty, Emancipation Day is not a holiday under any enactment. 2022,c.68,s.1.