The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Obama inauguration thrilling, says head of museum honouring Black settlers

NORTH BUXTON, Ont. - It's a thrilling day for the director of an Ontario museum commemorating the underground railroad and Black settlement in Canada.

Bryan Prince, of the Buxton National Historic site and Museum, says he wasn't sure he'd see the day a Black man would become U.S. president. Barack Obama will be sworn in today as the 44th American president during an inauguration ceremony on Capitol Hill.

Related Items

Prince says the idea of a Black man in the Oval Office "always seems a little bit elusive," but is such a thrill for so many people around the world.

He says the Obama election is a sign of healing, forgiveness, optimism and moving on, "so it's such an important day."

The museum, near Chatham, Ont., opened in 1967 as a memorial to the Elgin Settlement, a haven for American slaves during the pre-Civil War years.

The Elgin Settlement, now known as Buxton, was the last stop for many slaves on the underground railroad.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Follow

  1. WFP Hockey

    Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates

  2. Editor's Bulletin

    Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand

  3. Winnipeg Jets

    All things NHL on our Jets landing page

  4. Twitter

    Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter

  5. News Cafe

    Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events

  6. Facebook Fanpage

    Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events

letters

Make text: Larger | Smaller

Poll

Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?

View Results

View Related Story