Parks Canada honors Chloe Cooley’s brave 1793 stand

Published on February 4, 2024

Today, at a special plaque unveiling ceremony held at Navy Hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, the Government of Canada paid tribute to Chloe Cooley’s pivotal role in national history. This event was conducted by Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and the MP for St. Catharines, representing the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Chloe Cooley, an African descent enslaved woman living in Queenston, Upper Canada, became a symbol of resistance in March 1793. Her owner, Adam Vrooman, attempted to sell her to an individual in upstate New York, leading to Cooley’s vehement resistance. She was forcefully restrained and silenced, and with the assistance of Isaac Vrooman and a son of Loyalist McGregory Van Every, was transported across the Niagara River into the United States. Despite her efforts, Cooley was unable to gain her freedom.

Her act of defiance was witnessed by Peter Martin, a free African descent man and American Revolutionary War veteran, and William Grisley, a white employee of Vrooman. Their testimonies before Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and his Executive Council prompted an attempt to prosecute Vrooman, although no charges were pursued due to the legality of his actions at the time. However, this incident spurred Simcoe to propose legislative changes, culminating in the 1793 Act that restricted slavery and facilitated the growth of the Underground Railroad and the eventual abolition of slavery in Upper Canada.

The commemoration of Chloe Cooley by the Government of Canada through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada underscores the nation’s commitment to acknowledging the individuals, events, and places that have sculpted its history. By recognizing these stories, the aim is to cultivate a deeper understanding and contemplation among Canadians about the myriad histories, cultures, legacies, and realities that intertwine in the country’s past and present.

Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration, largely influenced by public nominations, has recognized over 2,250 significant contributions across the country to date, further connecting Canadians to their rich and diverse history.