KAWARTHA LAKES-Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders dropped by Leslie Frost Public School in Lindsay via skype on Wednesday to talk to students about Black History Month.
Saunders is the first Black Canadian to lead Toronto’s police service. He is only the second Black Canadian to head a police force in Canada, having been preceded by Devon Clunis of the Winnipeg Police Service in 2012 according to Wikipedia.
“This was an incredible experience for our students to speak with Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders.” school officials said. Â “Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and insights.”
Every February, Canadians participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.
For 2018, the theme of the Government of Canada’s Black History Month campaign is Black Canadian Women: Stories of Strength, Courage and Vision. One such woman is Angélique who was born in Madeira, Portugal around 1705.  She was enslaved and sold multiple times before being purchased by French merchant François Poulin de Francheville in 1725. She was brought back to Montréal provide domestic labour. When Francheville died in 1733, ownership of Angélique was passed to his widow, Therese de Couagne.
During her period of enslavement, Angélique had three children – some historians have said she was likely forced to do so, with another enslaved person, Jacques César. None of her children lived beyond infancy. Angélique also had a lover, an indentured white labourer named Claude Thibault. After asking for freedom and being denied, Angélique ran away with Thibault after setting fire to her bed. They were caught two weeks later in nearby Chambly. Click here for more on her story and others:https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month/black-canadians.html
After talking with the students Saunders gave them a tour of Toronto using his laptop.
