UPCOMING MEETINGS & BRANCH EVENTS
UELAC Kingston meets 4 times a year at regular membership meetings on the fourth Saturday in September, November/AGM, February and April.
June events keep us busy between June 12 and July 1 (Canada Day).
Saturday Feb 28 at 1pm
Saturday Apr 25 at 1pm
Location: 137 Queen St, Kingston (Hall entrance off Montreal Street)
Zoom Link (copy/paste): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82529534461?pwd=OspgK9qaF5TShjOzyTbeE2IO9GoJdi.1
Speaker: Stephen Davidson
Subject Matter/Presentations info: Stephen’s topic will be “Birchtown and the Black Loyalist Experience,” over Zoom. A retired teacher, Stephen has ancestors who sailed aboard the Union, the flag ship of the Spring Fleet, which brought the first Loyalists to New Brunswick in May of 1783. His bachelor’s thesis on the aspect of Black Loyalist history became the basis for his contribution to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography. In addition to contributing articles to the Loyalist Gazette and submitting over 960 articles to Loyalist Trails, Stephen’s research has appeared in multiple genealogical periodicals, a national children’s magazine, a number of Maritime newspapers, and The Beaver. He served as a consultant for two websites created by the University of New Brunswick (Black Loyalists in New Brunswick and Loyalist Women in New Brunswick), has spoken at four UELAC National conferences, served as Peter C. Newman’s consultant and researcher, and authored two books on Black Loyalists.
Although a Maritimer, Stephen has Kingston connections: he received his Education degree at Queen’s in 1976. He now lives in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia with his wife – and near their grandsons.
Stephen’s presentation, Birchtown’s People and Stories, introduces his audience to a Black Loyalist community which – at it’s founding in 1783 – was the largest community of free Blacks outside of Africa. Slated to become the site of a landfill, an archeological dig determined that the village of Birchtown should be preserved as a site of historical significance. It was there that newly freed slaves coped with the challenges of a northern climate and racist society. Within 9 years of its founding, many Black Loyalists decided to immigrate to Sierra Leone while others stayed on, preserving the heritage of their ancestor’s part in the American Revolution. Today, Birchtown is the site of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre which celebrates and preserves the stories of Nova Scotia’s first free Black settlers.
For the previous minutes and the agenda prior to any meeting, please look on our FACEBOOK page (and/or new location in new website)
Location: 137 Queen St, Kingston (Hall entrance off Montreal Street)
Zoom Link (copy/paste): To Be Announced
Speaker: To Be Announced
Subject Matter/Presentations info: To Be Announced
For the previous minutes and the agenda prior to any meeting, please look on our FACEBOOK page (and/or new location in new website)
UPCOMING BRANCH EVENTS
Kingston Loyalist Day & Flag Raising
June 12, 2025, at Noon
The UE Loyalist Flag will fly at Confederation Park for the day, after proclamation by the City Council (as annually required) declaring June 12 to be “Loyalist Day” in Kingston. Other Locations have their own date. In the past, Loyalist-attired members of the Branch were piped and drummed in a procession from City Hall.
Adolphustown Reenaction Weekend
Mid-June 2025 (Saturday, exact date TBA)
Loyalist landing anniversary and celebration. Come and visit the UEL Heritage Centre & Park, Adolphustown, to see a civilian camp re-enactment of what life would have been like during the late 18th and early 19th century. There will be plenty to look at and learn with multiple live demonstrations, crafts, cooking, and places to shop. This will all be followed by a U.E.L flag raising and church service on Sunday.
Canada Day in Bath, Ontario
July 1, 2025
Bath’s Canada Day Parade has been called “the best small-town Canada Day Parade” in eastern Ontario. Each year the Kingston Branch of UELAC has a Booth in the park and a Parade Float – it’s a great excuse to done your Loyalist garb and have some fun!
UELAC Annual Conference
in Saint John, New Brunswick
July 10 – 13, 2025, Delta Hotel
Highlights include guest speakers Dr. Leah Grandy and Loyalist Trails contributor Stephen Davidson. There will be tours of Trinity Anglican Loyalist church, the Old Loyalist cemetery, The Black Loyalist History Centre, and the Loyalist House, SHOWN ABOVE. The Gala Dinner will feature speaker and newly appointed honorary fellow Dr. Bonnie Hoskins. We will cap off the Conference with a Drumhead church service at Trinity Church with DeLancey’s Brigade. UELAC.ca/conference-2025
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