Ted Powell was President of the Outside Workers Union
in the City of Windsor. He is very well known in the community
and internationally for assuming the role of organizing the Emancipation
Celebrations in Windsor following the death of ‘Mr. Emancipation’ Walter
Perry in 1967. The festivities resumed in 1969 after having been
cancelled in 1967 and 1968 due to the Detroit Riots.
Ted Powell was a strong voice against racism in the region. Mr.
Powell was very disappointed with the Windsor City
Edmund
(Ted) Powell – Photo Courtesy of the Windsor Star 13/05/1971s
Council decision to move the festival to Mic
Mac Park in 1977. Ted Powell was dismayed when attendance dropped
from around
30,000 to 16,000 that year and he took action against the city
suggesting racial prejudice was at the heart of move. For more
information please visit the Emancipation Day section of this
website.
