Niagara-on-the-Lake – Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, participated in a Parks Canada and Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque unveiling ceremony to commemorate the national historic significance of Chloe Cooley. In March 1793, Chloe Cooley fought back against her enslaver and two other men when she was forced into a boat to be sold in New York. Chloe Cooley’s protest exemplifies the resilience, determination, and everyday acts of resistance of enslaved women of African descent at a time when legislation governing enslavement was on the verge of change. By honouring Chloe Cooley’s legacy, we can better understand the life experiences of enslaved people throughout Canadian history and in doing so recognize the important contributions that they have made to the development of Canada. Chris Bittle will make the announcement on behalf of Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.
