Speaker in Wilmot to explore agriculture and history of Wellesley’s Queen’s Bush
BADEN, ONT., Feb. 9, 2024—The Townships of Wilmot and Wellesley, along with Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School, are presenting award-winning landscape designer, teacher and author Nicola Jane to speak in Wilmot during Black History Month.
Speaking remotely from her Sankofa 100 Miles Freedom 2024 Tour, Nicola Jane will discuss the African diaspora and agriculture in southwestern Ontario, including the history of Wellesley’s Queen’s Bush settlement.
The free event takes place on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Waterloo-Oxford DSS, 1206 Snyder’s Rd. in Baden.
Links
Queen's Bush Settlement (wellesleyhistory.org)
Ontario Heritage Trust | Queen's Bush Settlement, 1820-1867, The
About Nicola Jane
Nicola Jane’s describes herself as an interdisciplinary artist on the land of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee territory where she is the founder of S.E.W, Sankofa Ecological Wellness (formerly known as Grand River Food Forestry).
She is an award-winning Ecological Landscape Designer/teacher and author of BLM Collection ~ Soul to Soil. She joined the eco-artists’ Broken Forest Artists Group in the 2023 “Escarpment Erasure” Exhibition in Blue Mountains, Ont., with her installation “Enter the Drum.”
For the past 15 years, Nicola Jane has championed community capacity building; supporting ecological sustainable projects in underutilized public/private green spaces; reconciliation; restoration; spiritual ecology; and ecological art.
Her work emphasizes the history of the African Diaspora, freed and escaped captives who paved the agricultural beginnings in the Queen’s Bush Settlement of Southwestern Ontario.
Quotes
Mayor Natasha Salonen
Township of Wilmot
“We are very fortunate to have Nicola Jane speak in Wilmot. She brings extensive experience and knowledge to the discussion of agriculture and history related to the Wilmot area. I encourage everyone to come out on February 13 and learn about the history of our community and its African roots.”
Mayor Joe Nowak
Township of Wellesley
“The development of the Queen’s Bush Settlement is an important part of Wellesley’s history. The Township is pleased to recognize and celebrate the inspiring accomplishments of Black settlers here in Wellesley.”
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Media contact:
Donna L. Kell | Manager of Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Township of Wilmot | 519-778-3782 | donna.kell@wilmot.ca
Speaker in Wilmot to explore agriculture and history of Wellesley’s Queen’s Bush 
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