It’s common knowledge that runaway slaves found refuge in Canada. But few know that Africans and Indigenous peoples were bought, sold and exploited, right here, too.

I investigate why slavery was allowed to continue for some 200 years, and yet be one of the least talked about aspects of our history.

Part I: The whitewashing of Canadian History

Part One aired on CBC Radio’s IDEAS programme on June 28, 2018.  It was the show’s most listened to episode of the year, and won the RTDNA award in 2019.

Part II: Slavery’s long shadow
The impact of 200 years enslavement in Canada

Is there a connection between the enslavement of African-Canadians and their overwhelming presence in the criminal justice system today? The United Nations has sounded the alarm on anti-black racism in Canada, stating it can be traced back to slavery and its legacy.

In Part 2 of this series on slavery in colonial Canada for CBC’s IDEAS programme, we explore the long-lasting ramifications of one of humanity’s most iniquitous institutions.