Detroit native retracing Underground Railroad by walking Bruce Trail
Zwena Gray is discovering Southern Ontario, one step at a time.
“Driving it is totally different than walking it. My feet definitely feel that,” said Gray.
The Detroit native isn’t just out for some exercise, she’s attempting to partially retrace the steps of those who used the Underground Railroad to escape American slavery and find freedom in Canada.
“I’m on a trail for 900 kilometres. People didn’t even have a trail when they were doing the Underground Railroad. To be fair, it wasn’t really, anything like this experience,” said Gray.
Zwena Gray, retracing part of the Underground Railroad, by walking 900 kilometers of the Bruce Trail. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
The penultimate stop in Gray’s journey is in Owen Sound, considered the northern most terminus of the Underground Railroad, where many escaped slaves settled in the region. At one point, 10 per cent of the area’s population was African-American.
“Which means people have been coming here via that route since the 1830s, 1840s, and in greater numbers as we approached the 50s and 60s, when the Civil War was on,” said Blaine Courtney, whose great-grandfather came to Owen Sound via the Underground Railroad, and now chair’s Owen Sound’s Emancipation Festival.
During her stop at Grey Roots Museum’s Underground Railroad display Thursday, Gray says she learned much more about the harrowing journey and its ultimate finish in Grey County.
Blaine Courtney, of the Owen Sound Emancipation Festival talks with Zwena Gray, who is retracing part of Underground Railroad by walking 900 kilometers of the Bruce Trail, at the Grey Roots Museum near Owen Sound on May 26, 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“It’s really powerful to be in this space and see so much of the history,” she said.
Gray has one week left in her six week journey on the Bruce Trail. While the famed trail doesn’t directly follow the Underground Railroad, its symbolic distance and treachery mirrors the perils her ancestors endured to reach freedom nearly 150 years ago.
“It’s just a privilege to be out here,” said Gray.
You can follow Gray’s self titled 'Black on the Bruce' journey on her Instagram page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.