FERGUS – Residents had the opportunity Monday afternoon to experience a powerful piece of North American history as The Travelling Exhibition: Harriet Tubman – Journey to Freedom made a special stop at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus.
The exhibition, presented through a partnership between the Township of Centre Wellington and the Centre Wellington Black Committee, featured a nine-foot, 2,200-pound bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman created by acclaimed sculptor Wesley Wofford. The monument depicts Tubman leading a young child to freedom and honours her commitment to justice, freedom and human dignity.
Following opening remarks, the exhibition welcomed visitors throughout the afternoon, giving residents the chance to learn more about Tubman’s legacy and the history of the Underground Railroad.
According to a township news release, 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,” the township said in a news release.
Officials say that both stories, which were shared yesterday, serve as powerful reminders of resilience, courage, and the pursuit of freedom.
For more information on the Freedom Walk, visit https://www.menare.org/
