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For its 12th consecutive year, the annual Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train shifted its course, departing Vaughan Metropolitan Station late Thursday and pulling into Union Station by the early hours of Aug. 1. In previous years, the train travelled from Union to Downsview Station.

Hundreds of people from across the Greater 色色啦 Area and the Caribbean climbed aboard, leaving hardly any seats left. Meanwhile, a similar Underground Freedom Train Ride had started its own voyage in Ottawa 鈥� the city鈥檚 first in nearly a decade, according to organizers.

Shortly after departure, a moment of silence was held to honour the enslaved African Americans who made the harrowing journey to Canada. While some bowed their heads in reflection, others peered at the posters above the TTC seats that listed the names and stories of those who achieved freedom through the Underground Railroad.

As the ride gained momentum so did the passengers. There were freedom songs sung, drums played and dances both planned and impromptu. Each commuter had their own 鈥減assport,鈥� a pamphlet featuring the names of honourees and the lyrics to hymns.

Nicole Powlette, 18, turned heads and drew cheers as she danced her way through the train 鈥� something she鈥檚 been doing since she was 10.

The movement of her arms and legs aren鈥檛 random; every rhythm has a meaning and a dance that goes with it, Powlette explained. 鈥淓verything is intentional,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey have history and importance, so to be able to share that with other people and have them look at the dance is very fun. Sometimes they understand the meanings and sometimes not, which is OK.鈥�

Making her debut appearance was Stephanie French, a vocal coach at the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. 鈥淚鈥檓 having a great time,鈥� she shouted, her voice cutting through the intense drumming so a Star reporter could hear.

Armed with a wide smile and dance moves, French wore large, circular earrings showing the Pan-African flag with a raised fist on them, which she described as symbol of emancipation.

She said she was especially proud of the youth choir she directs, which performed earlier in the night. 鈥淭hey sang well,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd no one was really nervous.鈥�

The yearly freedom ride is a collaboration between the TTC and the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. As organizer Itah Sadu puts it, it鈥檚 not an event, but rather 鈥渁n experience.鈥�

An experience of recognition, of celebration and of reflection, she said 鈥� 鈥渁 point for Canadians and for people to think, 鈥榃hat are the things that I personally, too, have to emancipate from, and what is it in the world that . . .聽is still seeking to be emancipated from?鈥�

For Tanika Riley, who came with her husband Bert Nicholls and their two sons, the experience is directly tied to 色色啦鈥檚 Caribbean Carnival, a celebration of liberation.

鈥淢any people don鈥檛 know the roots of Carnival. As the years go on, the younger generation doesn鈥檛 know why we鈥檙e celebrating it,鈥� she said.

That鈥檚 why events like the freedom train ride and Carnival exist. It鈥檚 also why Riley brings her kids. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a big party that brings lots of money to 色色啦,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a history behind it.鈥�

The theme for this year’s freedom ride was 鈥淎bility in Action,鈥� which organizers say calls on Canadians to reflect on their ability and power to make change. It鈥檚 also in keeping with the legacy of renowned Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman.

Every year, a community leader is chosen to serve as the symbolic conductor of the train 鈥� someone who represents Tubman鈥檚 spirit. This year it was Patricia Brereton, an entrepreneur, educator, and community mentor who immigrated to Canada from Barbados.

Also honoured was Karen Murray, the System Superintendent of Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression in the 色色啦 District School Board and head of the board鈥檚 Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement. She was presented with the 2025 Emancipation Freedom Train Ride Award for her community service.

Addressing the crowd, Murray credited her mother for instilling in her the value of community.

鈥淚 have the best mentor and model. She reminds me every day that when you do this work, you do it because the community is behind you,鈥� she said.

Before leaving Vaughan, attendees gathered outside the subway station for opening remarks and speeches from various community leaders and TTC鈥檚 new CEO Mandeep Lali. At one point, members of the Zero Gun Violence Movement took to the stage to commemorate and discuss the work of its founder, Louis March, who died in July 2024.

The prominent anti-gun violence advocate was one of the founding members of the freedom train ride. He spent decades focusing on community advocacy in Scarborough and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on so many, including attendees of the overnight ride. Several attendees had his name displayed on the back of their T-shirts.

Sekou Osbourne James, 21, described March 鈥� or 鈥淯ncle Louis鈥� 鈥� as a 鈥渨arrior of the community鈥� and 鈥渃hampion of change.鈥�

Though physically gone, March鈥檚 presence on Thursday night doesn鈥檛 feel like it鈥檚 missing, he said. 鈥淏ecause he鈥檚 instilled himself and his principles into everyone here.鈥�