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Moments That Matter
A glimpse into life at HTCO — our events, milestones and the people who make it possible.
Our Community
Life at HTCO
The youth, families and advocates who come together to build a safer, more just Toronto.
Featured
Celebrating our community
HTCO has been a cornerstone of the Jane-Finch and Sheppard communities for decades. These moments capture the spirit of togetherness, resilience and hope that define who we are.
Our Namesake
Harriet Tubman: Life & Legacy
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman freed herself and then returned again and again to lead others to freedom. Her courage, faith and leadership inspire everything we do at HTCO.
The Underground Railroad
A network of courage and community
Freedom seekers travelled north in secret, helped by a network of safe houses and allies. Many found freedom in Canada, including in Ontario.
Charles T. Webber, The Underground Railroad, 1893
c. 1868+
1860s+
1870s+
c. 1885+
c. 1887+
1911+Her Journey
A brief history of Harriet Tubman
From enslavement in Maryland to freedom, war, and a lifetime of service.
Born into slavery
Born Araminta “Minty” Ross in Dorchester County, Maryland. As a child she was hired out and suffered a severe head injury that affected her for life.
Escape to freedom
She escaped to Philadelphia, travelling about 90 miles on foot, and began using the name Harriet Tubman.
“Moses” of her people
She returned to Maryland about 13 times, guiding roughly 70 people, including family members, to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She later said she never lost a passenger.
A Canadian connection
After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, she led freedom seekers all the way to Canada and lived in St. Catharines, Ontario, for several years, where she worshipped at the Salem Chapel.
Civil War service
She served the Union Army as a cook, nurse, scout and spy. In June 1863 she helped lead the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina, which freed more than 700 enslaved people.
Advocate & community builder
From her home in Auburn, New York, she cared for family and elders, supported women’s suffrage, and opened the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged.
Her legacy lives on
Harriet Tubman died on March 10, 1913, in Auburn. Her life remains a symbol of courage, faith and freedom around the world.
Carrying her legacy forward since 1972
Harriet Tubman Community Organization honours her spirit by building a “railroad” network of support for Black youth and families in Toronto.
Historical images are in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and the National Portrait Gallery.
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