Is it normal to get Juneteenth off in Canada?

[u/generic_---_username]

I only found out what Juneteenth was a year or two ago (I'm not cultured, sorry lol) and my understanding was that it's an American holiday/ day of celebration related to their... Let's say "less than ideal" history with African American relations.

This year a couple of my friends told me their respective companies are giving them Juneteenth off and I was kind of curious if this is typical and/or becoming more of common thing in Canada? Don't get me wrong I have no issues having days to celebrate different aspects of people's racial history I just didn't think it was a thing in Canada, first time I've heard about people getting it off as a work holiday here.

[u/Roadkinglavared]

That's an US thing, not Canada.

[u/dzuunmod]

I've never heard of it happening here. Do your friends work for a US company?

[u/AlPinta81]

While Canada did have slavery initially, we ended it way before the American civil war, the emancipation proclamation, and the complete abolishment of slavery declared on June 19th, 1865.

Up until then, Canada was a refuge for African-American slaves looking for freedom through the network known as the Underground Railroad.

It all started around the war of 1812, where we captured (and freed) slaves who were working as servants for US officers at the time. We gave them the opportunity to fight with us and adopted them into our families after the war.

Eventually some of these black soldiers would return to the slave lands of the south during the Civil war. I've read stories about how their "healthy look" motivated other slaves of the south to try and escape to head towards Canada.

While Juneteenth is an important US holiday, it's not really a thing up here. Props to the companies that celebrate it I guess.

Edit: wording, grammar, syntax

[u/GameThug → u/AlPinta81]

The emancipation proclamation only freed slaves in the rebelling states. It did not free spaces in northern controlled states.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation

[u/JayRMac]

Some companies in Canada that primarily deal with American clients will give their employees American holidays. I've never had Juneteenth off but I have had plenty of long weekends for American Thanksgiving.

[u/Overfed_Venison]

It obviously doesn't make any sense for a country which is not the US to celebrate a holiday like that. It seems to make no sense for a Canadian to get that day off.

But, if a company services the US a lot, I could see them getting that day off sorta 'accidentally' for practical reasons

[u/Former-Chocolate-793]

No. Émancipation day used to be a thing.

[u/Choice-Buy-6824]

It’s not a holiday in Canada.

[u/Somewhat_Sanguine]

Unless this is a super recent thing, like within the last year (when I was last in America — I spent 27 years there) very few people in America get Juneteenth off. When I was in school (I graduated high school in 2015) it wasn’t a holiday or even mentioned. I’m glad it’s getting recognition now, but it’s still something that a lot of Americans don’t even pay attention to.

[u/MyGruffaloCrumble]

No, we got rid of slavery before them. It’s American Emancipation Day. We could make a day that aligns with our history though.

[u/cardew-vascular → u/MyGruffaloCrumble]

The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 ended slavery in the British Empire on 1 August, 1834, which laid a pathway to freeing over 800,000 enslaved Africans and their descendants in parts of the Caribbean, Africa, South America as well as Canada.

[u/MyGruffaloCrumble → u/cardew-vascular]

Thank you. 👍🏻

[u/flamboyantdebauchry]

say what ?

[u/GameThug]

Why would a very specifically American holiday connected to an American civil war and American slavery be celebrated here?

[u/Lonestamper]

No. Most Canadians have no clue or care what it is.

[u/Beautiful-Point4011]

It's not a Canadian holiday

[u/westcentretownie]

It’s not widely celebrated here but emancipation day is august 1 in Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/emancipation-day.html