United Way Bruce Grey has partnered with the Negro Creek Committee on the Early Black Settlers of Negro Creek Memorial Park project.
The United Way will serve as the official charitable partner of the project, and will handle and administer charitable donations in support of the memorial park. The goal is to make it easier for individuals, businesses, and organizations to contribute while helping the committee achieve its vision of creating a permanent place of remembrance, education, and reflection for one of Grey County's earliest Black communities.
Beginning in the 1840s, Black families settled in the Negro Creek area after seeking freedom and opportunity in Upper Canada. The new memorial park will honour those families and their immense contributions in shaping the region's history.
The memorial park, planned for Chatsworth Township, will include a central commemorative monument, interpretive storyboards, a walking trail, family history markers, and educational displays that tell the story of the area's early Black settlers and their legacy.
Construction and planning for the park is ongoing after many years of work by the Negro Creek Committee to research and collect historical records and engage descendants of the original community.
For more information about the project, visit https://negrocreek.community. To make a donation go to https://unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/negro-creek-memorial-park/.
"United Way Bruce Grey believes strong communities are built by recognizing every story that has shaped them," said Francesca Dobbyn, the executive director of United Way Bruce Grey. "We are proud to partner with the Negro Creek Committee to help preserve this important history and ensure these stories continue to educate and inspire generations to come."
"I believe that this partnership marks a huge step forward as we preserve, protect, and share the history of The Early Black Settlers of Negro Creek," said Nancy Lee, direct descendant and lead committee member of The Early Black Settlers of Negro Creek Memorial Park Committee.
