Step back in time with Oakville’s Black History bike tour

Thank you to the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton for creating this self-guided itinerary

Looking for safe ways to celebrate Canadian Tourism Week (May 23-30, 2021) at home this year?

Dust off your bike and explore local Black History with the help of the Canadian Caribbean Association’s self-guided Oakville bike tour!

Please remember to respect local COVID-19 policies when getting your exercise and practice social distancing when checking out these important landmarks and heritage sites.

Stop 1: QEPCC – Home to the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton

2302 Bridge Road

The Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton was established in 1977 as a non-profit organization that has since gained charitable status. They promote awareness that unity in diversity, full and active participation, unbiased inclusion, and the capacity to value differences equally are essential to the social, cultural and economic growth of Halton Region.

Stop 2: Donovan Bailey Trail

Donovan Baily Graduated from Queen Elizabeth Park High School here in Oakville, where he ran his first 100-metre dash in 10.65 seconds at the age of 16. Fast forward to 1996 where Donovan won the Gold Medal for Canada in the men’s 100-metre dash and set the world record at 9.84 seconds in the Atlanta Olympic Games. He then won his second Golf Medal when he led Team Canada to first place in the men’s 4×100 relay.

Stop 3: Stoneboats

49 Bronte Road

This building, now a popular restaurant under a different name, is a reminder of the stonehooking days in Bronte. Stones hooked up from the lake bed were used for basements of houses during the late 19th century. This building is constructed with lake stone and exhibits the use of stone (Dundas shale) for its upper walls.

Stop 4: Sovereign House

7 West River Street

The Sovereign House is operated as a heritage display centre for local history and showcases artifacts related to the 1800s and Bronte Harbour. Learn about stonehooking – a unique local industry pioneered by the African American residents of Bronte. Get a local perspective of Bronte history.

Stop 5: Bronte Pioneer Cemetery West Street

South of Lakeshore Rd West

Bronte Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Oakville and the final resting place of some of Bronte’s first African American settlers. Phillip Sovereign, one of the earliest Oakville settlers, deeded the east corner of his farm for a cemetery specifying it be for people of “all orders, sects, nations and parties.”

Please explore Oakville safely and responsibly, and don’t forget to tag @VisitOakville in your adventures!

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