Travelling Harriet Tubman Exhibition to Make a Stop in Centre Wellington

CENTRE WELLINGTON – Residents are invited to experience a powerful piece of North American history as The Travelling Exhibition: Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom makes a special stop at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex on Monday, July 6, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Formal remarks will be held at 3:15 p.m. Following the remarks, the exhibition will remain open for public viewing, and residents are welcome to drop in at any time between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The exhibition is being presented through a partnership between the Township of Centre Wellington and the Centre Wellington Black Committee, reflecting a shared commitment to recognizing and celebrating Black history and its connections to our local community.

The exhibition features a striking nine-foot, 2,200-pound bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman, created by acclaimed sculptor Wesley Wofford. The travelling monument depicts Tubman courageously leading a young child to freedom and honours her unwavering commitment to justice, freedom, and human dignity. Since 2020, the sculpture has travelled throughout North America, inspiring conversations about history, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

The visit of Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom is particularly meaningful for Centre Wellington, which is home to its own significant Black history. The Township's roots include the Pierpoint Settlement, one of the earliest known Black settlements in the region that was established by Richard Pierpoint, who was designated a National Historic Person by the Government of Canada in 2020.  Pierpoint was a Black Loyalist, military veteran, griot, and formerly enslaved man who was granted land near present-day Fergus in the early 1800s. While Harriet Tubman would later guide hundreds of freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad to Canada, Richard Pierpoint's story reflects an additional chapter in the struggle for freedom and the contributions of Black settlers who helped shape this community. Today, both stories serve as powerful reminders of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of freedom.

For more information on the Freedom Walk, visit https://www.menare.org/