The History of Property Ownership by Black People in Toronto

Send us Fan MailThe history of Black people in Upper Canada goes well back to the 1700’s. Many of them were slaves brought to Canada by Loyalists fleeing the United States. 1834 saw both the abolishment of slavery in Canada and the Town of York renamed the City of Toronto. It was in this period between 1834 and through the end of the American Civil War the Black community in Toronto first grew. Many of them brought an entrepreneurial spirit like Thornton and Lucy Blackburn who started a livery service and owned a number of properties. Wilson Ruffan Abbott ultimately owned more than 50 properties. Many of the properties these Black entrepreneurs owned would now be considered absolute prime real estate in Toronto – but the 1950’s and 1960’s saw many of them forced out. There was also a strong migration of Blacks from the Caribbean starting at the end of the Second World War.Take a trip back in time through this episode and get an appreciation for Toronto that is seldom taught in schools.Guest: Kathy Grant, Toronto Historian  See the Pure Silver Coin Commemorating Black History: No.2 Construction BattalionThornton and Lucy Blackburn - 2:12, 9:55, 10:59Wilson Ruffin Abbott - 2:19, 6:08, 9:42Anderson Ruffin Abbot - 9:42William Peyton Hubbard - 2:52, 11:28Frederick Hubbard - 3:39Albert Jackson - 8:57Judge George Carter - 13:50Alvin Duncan - 15:47Sam Bestwick - 16:22Donald Moore - 16:52, 20:26Bernice Carnegie - 17:41Herb Carnegie - 18:38Harry Gary - 19:51Stanley Grizzle - 21:16Daniel Hill Sr - 22:21Danny Braithwaite - 26:24Desmond can be reached at:Web site https://inthe6ixrealestate.com/ Email [email protected] Twitter & Instagram - @desinthe6ix Facebook page