Emancipation Day marks the abolition of slavery across the British Empire, formalized on August 1, 1834, with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act. On June 8, 2022, with the full support of the legislative assembly, the provincial government proclaimed August 1 as Emancipation Day.

Since 1834, Black communities throughout Canada, including New Brunswick, have come together to celebrate Emancipation Day. One of the earliest records of this celebration is from Saint John in 1858, when three formerly enslaved, prominent Black business owners joined local government dignitaries to not only celebrate but also educate about the Black experience and the impact of enslavement.

In honor of this tradition of education and celebration, REACH in New Brunswick, the New Brunswick African Association, and the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance have teamed up to hold the New Brunswick Emancipation Celebration in conjunction with New Brunswick Day every year. Since becoming a province, New Brunswick has had a Black population, and these events continue to highlight and honor this rich history.