On Thursday, April 10, the Ontario Heritage Trust celebrated five outstanding people with King Charles III Coronation Medals. The Coronation Medal was created by King Charles III on the advice of the Canadian Government to mark the significant and historical occasion of His Majesty’s Coronation as King of Canada and to recognize Canadians who have made a difference. Among the 30,000 exceptional Canadians receiving this medal is Natasha Henry-Dixon of the LA&PS Department of History.
Here's what the Trust says about Henry-Dixon's outstanding contributions:
"Natasha Henry-Dixon is a historian, educator and community leader who is advancing our collective understanding of Canada’s rich and complicated Black history. She is an Assistant Professor of African-Canadian History at York University, as well as past president of the Ontario Black History Society. Natasha has written a number of publications that deal with the enslavement of Black people in Ontario, their quest for freedom, and celebrations of emancipation — including numerous articles in the Canadian Encyclopedia and the Dictionary of Canadian Biography — contributing to our understanding on these topics."
The Award is managed by The Ontario Heritage Trust (the Trust), an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Trust conserves, interprets and shares Ontario’s heritage. The Trust conserves provincially significant cultural and natural heritage, interprets Ontario’s history, celebrates its diversity and educates Ontarians of its importance in our society. The Trust envisions an Ontario where we conserve, value and share the places and landscapes, histories, traditions and stories that embody our heritage, now and for future generations.
"The Trust appreciates the dedication of these remarkable people. They have made important contributions that help us all to understand our past and preserve it for future generations,” said John Ecker, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Heritage Trust. “Through their efforts, they have cultivated pride in our province and pride in Canada — so important during these challenging times.”