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He flipped the
car over 7 times.
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00:00:02,968 --> 00:00:04,348
He though to himself
3
00:00:04,487 --> 00:00:07,007
"Man, I gotta get my
daughter into this"
4
00:00:07,145 --> 00:00:08,795
[Laughing].
5
00:00:08,939 --> 00:00:10,489
Chris, you're not the
stereotypical farmer
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00:00:10,631 --> 00:00:12,081
- Most people see
me and they think
7
00:00:12,219 --> 00:00:13,459
I'm growing
weed or something.
8
00:00:13,634 --> 00:00:14,814
[Laughing].
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00:00:14,945 --> 00:00:17,085
Buxton, Ontario is the
happy ending to the most
10
00:00:17,224 --> 00:00:18,504
shameful era of
American history.
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00:00:18,639 --> 00:00:20,259
[Applause].
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00:00:20,399 --> 00:00:21,919
When you grow up
in a small town in
13
00:00:22,056 --> 00:00:23,746
Newfoundland, you see
that people have a
14
00:00:23,885 --> 00:00:25,155
sense of humour
about hard times.
15
00:00:25,335 --> 00:00:26,605
Check, check.
16
00:00:26,750 --> 00:00:28,270
I turned that into a
career, and hit the road.
17
00:00:28,407 --> 00:00:30,477
Mr. John Harris!
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00:00:30,616 --> 00:00:32,166
Now I'm on a mission to
find the funny
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00:00:32,308 --> 00:00:33,928
in the places you
least expect it -
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00:00:34,068 --> 00:00:35,828
Canada's struggling
small towns.
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00:00:36,001 --> 00:00:38,111
Towns that are
against the ropes,
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00:00:38,245 --> 00:00:39,625
but hanging in there,
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00:00:39,763 --> 00:00:42,803
and still laughing
in the face of adversity.
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00:00:42,939 --> 00:00:45,009
Welcome to Buxton Ontario!
25
00:00:49,463 --> 00:01:04,033
[Sings]"I'm travellin'
on to clear blue heaven"
26
00:01:04,167 --> 00:01:06,577
Buxton Ontario,
it's a place unlike any
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00:01:06,721 --> 00:01:09,171
I've ever visited.
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00:01:09,310 --> 00:01:11,070
It's not a - a
community that was built
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00:01:11,174 --> 00:01:14,564
upon an industry, it
was built upon an ideal.
30
00:01:14,695 --> 00:01:17,245
The slaves, 150 years ago,
who risked everything
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00:01:17,387 --> 00:01:19,907
to make it to Canada.
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00:01:20,045 --> 00:01:21,805
Who risked their lives,
risked unspeakable
33
00:01:21,943 --> 00:01:24,393
punishments, and they
could only hope and pray
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00:01:24,532 --> 00:01:27,052
that it would prove to
be a better place for
35
00:01:27,190 --> 00:01:30,440
their children, and their
children's children.
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00:01:30,573 --> 00:01:35,373
And the amazing
thing is - It worked.
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00:01:35,509 --> 00:01:38,509
[Applause].
38
00:01:40,307 --> 00:01:41,787
Just this side of the
U.S. border,
39
00:01:41,963 --> 00:01:43,593
we have Buxton Ontario,
40
00:01:43,724 --> 00:01:45,484
land of the true North,
strong and free.
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00:01:45,657 --> 00:01:48,937
Keyword free, but
don't forget North.
42
00:01:49,074 --> 00:01:51,424
A Canadian winter is a bit of
a kick in the nuts, right?
43
00:01:51,559 --> 00:01:53,669
[Laughing].
44
00:01:53,803 --> 00:01:55,673
Then suddenly you got
a- a - a former slave in
45
00:01:55,805 --> 00:01:57,315
Ontario in January
lookin' at the snow for
46
00:01:57,462 --> 00:01:59,332
the first time.
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00:01:59,498 --> 00:02:01,978
He's thinkin' "My God,
all that cotton,
48
00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:04,712
and what I really need
is some wool".
49
00:02:04,883 --> 00:02:08,683
[Laughing].
50
00:02:08,818 --> 00:02:13,858
Oh, thank you for laughing
at that joke - [Laughing].
51
00:02:13,995 --> 00:02:16,375
This is not the easiest
gig for a comedian,
52
00:02:16,515 --> 00:02:21,825
right - [Laughing].
53
00:02:21,969 --> 00:02:23,729
Who's gonna go to Buxton
and talk to the people
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00:02:23,867 --> 00:02:25,387
about the - the
sensitive issues of
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00:02:25,524 --> 00:02:27,254
history and slavery
and their ancestry.
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00:02:27,388 --> 00:02:29,358
Oh I know, send the
pasty Newfoundlander
57
00:02:29,494 --> 00:02:33,674
with the weird hair
- [Laughing].
58
00:02:33,808 --> 00:02:39,258
He commands respect
- [Laughing].
59
00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,510
I knew the best way to get
the story on Buxton would
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00:02:41,644 --> 00:02:44,274
be to go talk to
the Prince family.
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00:02:44,405 --> 00:02:45,605
How's it goin' guys?
62
00:02:45,751 --> 00:02:46,751
Good! How are you?
63
00:02:46,925 --> 00:02:48,855
Hop on in here.
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00:02:48,996 --> 00:02:51,336
Now I should specify which
Princes I guess,
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00:02:51,481 --> 00:02:54,621
because Buxton has more
Princes than Disneyland, but -
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00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:56,180
[Laughing].
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00:02:56,314 --> 00:02:57,874
Hey, small town,
lots of relatives.
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00:02:58,005 --> 00:02:59,385
Alright, Jonny.
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00:02:59,524 --> 00:03:01,424
In fact, I decided to
share a funny thing
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00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,110
that came up in my
research material.
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00:03:04,253 --> 00:03:06,463
Everyone in North Buxton
seems related somehow,
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00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,840
but not in a creepy way.
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00:03:09,016 --> 00:03:15,536
[Laughing and Applause]
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00:03:15,678 --> 00:03:18,338
Like many Buxtonians,
they're direct descendants
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00:03:18,474 --> 00:03:20,484
from slaves who came
here for freedom,
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00:03:20,614 --> 00:03:22,864
and built a community.
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00:03:22,995 --> 00:03:26,065
So how is
Buxton doing these days?
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00:03:26,206 --> 00:03:29,726
Well, it certainly a
village that's um - changing.
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00:03:29,899 --> 00:03:32,319
A lot of the older
people who spent their
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00:03:32,453 --> 00:03:36,493
lives here have passed
on, and not much business
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00:03:36,630 --> 00:03:38,390
for the young people
to stay around.
82
00:03:38,528 --> 00:03:41,358
Growing up here was
- it was activity just
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00:03:41,497 --> 00:03:44,087
about daily because we
had two stores.
84
00:03:44,224 --> 00:03:46,364
We - there was a post
office, a mill,
85
00:03:46,502 --> 00:03:49,062
gas station, a garage, you
know, so it was a -
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00:03:49,229 --> 00:03:51,819
a happenin' place.
87
00:03:51,955 --> 00:03:54,645
Now more happened
than happenin',
88
00:03:54,786 --> 00:03:58,886
I found a formerly bustling town
turned monument to the past.
89
00:03:59,031 --> 00:04:02,241
Between the - the museum
and the church,
90
00:04:02,345 --> 00:04:03,995
that's the nucleus now.
91
00:04:04,140 --> 00:04:05,660
Brian is a
historical writer,
92
00:04:05,831 --> 00:04:08,141
Shannon curates the museum,
they know their stuff.
93
00:04:08,282 --> 00:04:09,842
The Reverend William
King who was a -
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00:04:09,973 --> 00:04:11,843
an abolitionist, came here,
and he founded on an
95
00:04:11,975 --> 00:04:14,905
ideal opportunity
for land ownership,
96
00:04:15,047 --> 00:04:19,257
access to education, and a
protection from racism.
97
00:04:19,397 --> 00:04:22,117
So when people come, we
encourage them to ring the bell.
98
00:04:22,262 --> 00:04:24,192
Turn the wheel!
99
00:04:24,333 --> 00:04:25,823
[Bell rings].
100
00:04:25,955 --> 00:04:28,435
Brian and Shannon showed
me the Liberty Bell.
101
00:04:28,578 --> 00:04:30,678
If you were out in the
field, and you heard that
102
00:04:30,856 --> 00:04:32,406
bell ringing, you knew
that someone,
103
00:04:32,548 --> 00:04:34,958
or a family had arrived
here in freedom.
104
00:04:35,102 --> 00:04:36,762
Everybody would gather, the
whole community would gather,
105
00:04:36,897 --> 00:04:38,487
and band together,
106
00:04:38,623 --> 00:04:40,873
and help this person build
their new home.
107
00:04:41,004 --> 00:04:42,974
It's said that they
could build one in a day.
108
00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:44,660
Yeah - yeah.
109
00:04:44,801 --> 00:04:46,841
Well I - I guess it might
have got tiring after a while,
110
00:04:46,976 --> 00:04:48,176
you know, you
have a long hard day in
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00:04:48,357 --> 00:04:49,877
the field, you sit
down, kick your feet up
112
00:04:50,048 --> 00:04:51,188
with a cup of tea, you
hear the liberty bell ring
113
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:52,840
[Bell rings]
114
00:04:52,982 --> 00:04:54,362
- it's like,
"Great, somebody found
115
00:04:54,501 --> 00:04:56,231
their freedom, I better
find my tool kit - okay".
116
00:04:56,365 --> 00:04:59,125
[Laughing].
117
00:04:59,264 --> 00:05:02,304
We're deeply rooted here.
118
00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,620
We're farmers, so that
keeps us tied to the land.
119
00:05:05,788 --> 00:05:08,338
And my most precious
farm, my great,
120
00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,450
great grandfather,
who was a slave, had bought
121
00:05:11,587 --> 00:05:14,897
when he, um, grew up,
um - here in Canada.
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00:05:15,038 --> 00:05:19,628
So I- if you ran from your
master in Alabama,
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00:05:19,802 --> 00:05:22,942
and arrived here in Buxton
to - and became a -
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00:05:23,081 --> 00:05:24,981
a - a freed slave, a farmer,
125
00:05:25,152 --> 00:05:27,122
this is the kind of place
that you'd be living in?
126
00:05:27,292 --> 00:05:29,812
Yes [laughs] it is.
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00:05:29,984 --> 00:05:31,234
Do you wanna stick
your head inside?
128
00:05:31,365 --> 00:05:32,675
Yeah.
129
00:05:32,815 --> 00:05:34,295
I'm sort of overwhelmed by
- by an emotion that
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00:05:34,472 --> 00:05:36,132
I had trouble
defining to myself,
131
00:05:36,301 --> 00:05:38,921
and then I realized,
it's pure envy.
132
00:05:39,062 --> 00:05:40,482
4 bedrooms!
133
00:05:40,650 --> 00:05:43,030
[Laughing].
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00:05:43,170 --> 00:05:45,970
I live downtown Toronto,
2 storey, 4 bedroom.
135
00:05:46,138 --> 00:05:47,828
If this was in Toronto,
136
00:05:48,002 --> 00:05:49,972
this would cost
you over a million
137
00:05:50,108 --> 00:05:52,108
[Laughing].
138
00:05:52,248 --> 00:05:54,838
And this is the museum,
and then that's the school.
139
00:05:55,009 --> 00:05:56,149
- and this is
the school here.
140
00:05:56,286 --> 00:05:57,766
Yes.
141
00:05:57,909 --> 00:05:59,839
It's the only school left
in Canada that was
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00:05:59,980 --> 00:06:03,190
built by former slaves.
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00:06:03,328 --> 00:06:05,498
It was the first time
blacks could be educated,
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00:06:05,641 --> 00:06:07,821
and they took it
very seriously.
145
00:06:07,953 --> 00:06:10,583
Alright, students will not
speak unless spoken to.
146
00:06:10,715 --> 00:06:13,855
They still bring in kids
like me today to
147
00:06:13,994 --> 00:06:16,384
educate them about just
how seriously.
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00:06:16,514 --> 00:06:18,004
And there will be no
giggling, whispering,
149
00:06:18,136 --> 00:06:20,406
or squirming
in your desk.
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00:06:20,552 --> 00:06:22,522
I got to do a mock class,
uh, Shannon gets all done
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00:06:22,658 --> 00:06:24,558
up as a 1910 school
teacher, she gets the
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00:06:24,694 --> 00:06:26,874
whole outfit, - Miss
Kelly - Yes Mr. Enis.
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00:06:27,007 --> 00:06:30,107
Now, you wish to speak.
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00:06:30,251 --> 00:06:33,601
Miss Kelly, I can't
find how to switch it on.
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00:06:33,738 --> 00:06:37,018
[Laughing]
156
00:06:37,155 --> 00:06:39,295
She marches me up
to the blackboard in
157
00:06:39,433 --> 00:06:41,093
front of
the class, and she -
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00:06:41,228 --> 00:06:43,088
she draws a circle
on the chalk board.
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00:06:43,264 --> 00:06:45,064
On your toes, please.
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00:06:45,197 --> 00:06:46,507
Nose in circle.
161
00:06:46,647 --> 00:06:48,027
Wh- what if...
162
00:06:48,166 --> 00:06:49,856
Nose in circle, thank you.
163
00:06:49,995 --> 00:06:51,575
But she draws it so high,
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00:06:51,721 --> 00:06:53,211
I was on up on my tippy-toes -
[Laughing].
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00:06:53,343 --> 00:06:54,793
Eyes forward.
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00:06:54,931 --> 00:06:56,311
And I'm up here with my
nose in the thing thinking
167
00:06:56,485 --> 00:06:58,105
hang on, now who else has had
their nose on this blackboard?
168
00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,629
[Laughing].
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00:06:59,764 --> 00:07:01,494
Which back in 1910
would've been a -
170
00:07:01,628 --> 00:07:03,148
a valid concern, you
know, you're -
171
00:07:03,284 --> 00:07:04,874
you're standing there thinkin'
"The last kid who had
172
00:07:05,045 --> 00:07:06,525
his snot box on this
chalkboard might've
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00:07:06,667 --> 00:07:10,047
had Spanish fever"
[Laughing].
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00:07:10,188 --> 00:07:11,528
Seems to me that the
- the - the story of
175
00:07:11,707 --> 00:07:13,227
Buxton's history is in
good hands.
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00:07:13,398 --> 00:07:14,808
You guys seem like a
pretty good team to me.
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00:07:14,951 --> 00:07:17,541
You guys go together like
Ebony and well I guess Ebony
178
00:07:17,678 --> 00:07:20,848
[Laughing].
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00:07:23,684 --> 00:07:25,244
What I've noticed in
Buxton since I got here is
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00:07:25,410 --> 00:07:27,210
- a tradition of - of
passing the torch to
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00:07:27,343 --> 00:07:28,623
the next generation.
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00:07:28,758 --> 00:07:30,968
I went to visit Brad
and Jeremy Eagan at uh,
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00:07:31,105 --> 00:07:34,415
Bradonna Woodworking.
184
00:07:34,557 --> 00:07:37,217
Uh, we make parts for
other cabinet jobs.
185
00:07:37,353 --> 00:07:39,463
We do butcher block
tops, we make mouldings,
186
00:07:39,597 --> 00:07:41,837
bar brackets, corbels,
pillars, anything
187
00:07:41,978 --> 00:07:44,048
fancy on a kitchen.
188
00:07:44,187 --> 00:07:47,257
Bradonna, Brad named it
for himself and his wifes
189
00:07:47,432 --> 00:07:52,062
- uh, Brad and Onna,
uh, [Laughing].no Donna,
190
00:07:52,195 --> 00:07:54,025
Brad and Donna,
Brad and Donna.
191
00:07:54,163 --> 00:07:56,413
The last, what, three
months we've had the best
192
00:07:56,545 --> 00:07:58,645
months ever three
months in a row.
193
00:07:58,788 --> 00:08:00,958
Uh, in fact, they
are the largest employer
194
00:08:01,101 --> 00:08:05,731
in all of North Buxton.
195
00:08:05,864 --> 00:08:09,074
They are the only
employer in - [Laughing].
196
00:08:09,212 --> 00:08:11,352
So the fun section
of the building
197
00:08:11,491 --> 00:08:13,011
is the old train station.
198
00:08:13,147 --> 00:08:14,667
1870, yes.
199
00:08:14,839 --> 00:08:16,629
The original train station
from the road tracks, yeah.
200
00:08:16,772 --> 00:08:18,362
Business is goin' so good
for these guys, they had
201
00:08:18,498 --> 00:08:20,328
to buy the church next
to their building.
202
00:08:20,465 --> 00:08:21,945
They were gonna tear it
down, because they though
203
00:08:22,087 --> 00:08:24,157
it was not structurally
safe anymore
204
00:08:24,331 --> 00:08:25,611
- Yeah.
205
00:08:25,746 --> 00:08:27,156
- but it - it's a
good, solid building.
206
00:08:27,299 --> 00:08:28,749
Uh - I guess the town
would've been grateful
207
00:08:28,887 --> 00:08:29,987
that you guys
took over the place,
208
00:08:30,130 --> 00:08:31,510
so it was it gonna be
torn down, or-?
209
00:08:31,683 --> 00:08:33,203
There are a couple people
that don't like to
210
00:08:33,374 --> 00:08:35,274
see a church used for
anything but a church.
211
00:08:35,411 --> 00:08:37,311
But I figure, you know,
Jesus doesn't mind to see
212
00:08:37,447 --> 00:08:39,037
some fellow carpenters
come in there,
213
00:08:39,208 --> 00:08:41,038
I think it's [Laughing].-
the hardest thing
214
00:08:41,210 --> 00:08:42,690
I think is - is - you're
in there with all that
215
00:08:42,867 --> 00:08:44,517
heavy lumbar, is that if
you dropped it on your foot,
216
00:08:44,662 --> 00:08:47,182
you'd have to run out
before you could curse, right?
217
00:08:47,319 --> 00:08:48,839
[Laughing].
218
00:08:48,976 --> 00:08:55,846
You're, like,
"Ow - ... Holy hell!"
219
00:08:55,983 --> 00:08:58,643
Jeremy, you grew up here.
220
00:08:58,779 --> 00:09:00,609
Yes.
221
00:09:00,747 --> 00:09:02,197
Well, growing up, there
was a lot of kids my age
222
00:09:02,334 --> 00:09:03,724
and I was, like,
223
00:09:03,853 --> 00:09:05,133
the only white kid.
224
00:09:05,268 --> 00:09:06,748
To me, didn't make a
difference whatsoever.
225
00:09:06,891 --> 00:09:08,201
I didn't even realize
what racism really was
226
00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:09,860
until I got to
high school.
227
00:09:09,997 --> 00:09:11,717
But what's even more
interesting is that he
228
00:09:11,861 --> 00:09:13,141
didn't even really
notice - he didn't -
229
00:09:13,276 --> 00:09:15,306
all those times gettin'
picked last for basketball
230
00:09:15,451 --> 00:09:19,801
[Laughing].
231
00:09:19,973 --> 00:09:22,463
Bradonna's business is
restoring Buxton's past,
232
00:09:22,596 --> 00:09:24,076
and creating incredible
opportunities
233
00:09:24,218 --> 00:09:26,048
for people like Jeremy.
234
00:09:26,186 --> 00:09:28,256
I think I needed to
actually get out and do
235
00:09:28,395 --> 00:09:30,115
other things and have
other jobs since this was,
236
00:09:30,259 --> 00:09:31,779
like, the only place
I worked at for ma-
237
00:09:31,916 --> 00:09:33,566
majority of my life just
238
00:09:33,711 --> 00:09:36,131
realizing that I
can't tell my boss to
239
00:09:36,265 --> 00:09:37,955
eff-off anywhere
else, so - Yeah.
240
00:09:38,094 --> 00:09:39,654
Might as well come
back here and do it.
241
00:09:39,820 --> 00:09:41,480
Uh, Jeremy wants to get his
name in there now too, right?
242
00:09:41,650 --> 00:09:42,960
He wants to
call it "Jeb-"
243
00:09:43,099 --> 00:09:45,719
[Laughing].
244
00:09:45,861 --> 00:09:47,901
Jebredeneremy!"
245
00:09:48,035 --> 00:09:49,655
[Laughing].
246
00:09:49,796 --> 00:09:51,486
The next generation of
farmers are keeping
247
00:09:51,660 --> 00:09:52,970
Buxton going,
but if you go visit one,
248
00:09:53,144 --> 00:09:54,664
watch your step.
249
00:09:54,835 --> 00:09:57,105
You're steppin'
on my beans, dog.
250
00:09:57,251 --> 00:09:59,291
Hey, come on
man [Laughing].
251
00:09:59,426 --> 00:10:00,596
Watch your steps,
man, this is my money
252
00:10:00,703 --> 00:10:02,743
right here -
see [Laughing].
253
00:10:02,878 --> 00:10:04,358
So I went to talk to
this guy, uh, Brian and
254
00:10:04,534 --> 00:10:07,614
Shannon's son, Chris,
the Prince of Princes.
255
00:10:07,710 --> 00:10:09,020
[Applause].
256
00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:10,750
So, usually there's not even
this many weeds in a field,
257
00:10:10,886 --> 00:10:12,776
but I decided
this year to try to farm
258
00:10:12,922 --> 00:10:16,482
without having to
spray this area.
259
00:10:16,616 --> 00:10:17,996
When you think about
a farmer, you don't
260
00:10:18,134 --> 00:10:19,834
typically think about
a young black guy.
261
00:10:19,964 --> 00:10:21,834
Chris, you're not the
stereotypical farmer.
262
00:10:21,966 --> 00:10:23,996
No, no, no no, most people
see me, and they don't
263
00:10:24,140 --> 00:10:26,560
think I'd farm actual
soy beans, you know,
264
00:10:26,729 --> 00:10:28,489
they think I'm growin' weed
or somethin' in the fields.
265
00:10:28,628 --> 00:10:30,868
[Laughing].
266
00:10:31,009 --> 00:10:33,459
It's terrible.
267
00:10:33,598 --> 00:10:35,878
You don't grow
any weed, do you?
268
00:10:36,014 --> 00:10:37,714
[Laughing].
269
00:10:37,878 --> 00:10:40,158
We'll talk after-
we'll talk about it after
270
00:10:40,294 --> 00:10:42,164
- What's the
hardest part of farming
271
00:10:42,296 --> 00:10:43,946
now in Southern Ontario?
272
00:10:44,091 --> 00:10:45,511
The hardest part is the
gamble, you know,
273
00:10:45,645 --> 00:10:47,335
you gotta sell at the
right time, or you're
274
00:10:47,474 --> 00:10:49,894
losin' out on thousands
and thousands of dollars,
275
00:10:50,063 --> 00:10:51,893
so - We were
gonna get some weeds out
276
00:10:52,065 --> 00:10:53,545
in his, uh, soybean field.
277
00:10:53,722 --> 00:10:55,342
It's a little easier
if you got a hoe,
278
00:10:55,482 --> 00:10:57,072
and I got hoes.
279
00:10:57,208 --> 00:10:58,378
I got a broke hoe,
I got a good hoe,
280
00:10:58,554 --> 00:10:59,974
I got hoes, so I'll
get you a hoe.
281
00:11:00,107 --> 00:11:01,727
Aren't you married?
282
00:11:01,868 --> 00:11:03,488
[Laughing].
283
00:11:03,628 --> 00:11:04,868
He said "I'll
go get us some hoes",
284
00:11:05,009 --> 00:11:06,289
he got all kinds of hoes.
285
00:11:06,458 --> 00:11:07,768
[Laughing].
286
00:11:07,908 --> 00:11:09,248
I don't even know
what to do with a hoe.
287
00:11:09,392 --> 00:11:10,642
I'll show you, man, that's
what I'm here for -
288
00:11:10,773 --> 00:11:11,953
I got you.
289
00:11:12,085 --> 00:11:13,465
No, he was very nice -
he gave me the nice hoe!
290
00:11:13,638 --> 00:11:15,118
I had the nice hoe.
291
00:11:15,260 --> 00:11:16,370
Oh, I just wanna give my
hoe 80 dollars
292
00:11:16,503 --> 00:11:17,923
and have a good cry.
293
00:11:18,056 --> 00:11:19,466
[Laughing].
294
00:11:19,644 --> 00:11:21,134
city folks.
295
00:11:21,266 --> 00:11:22,646
He's an impressive guy.
296
00:11:22,820 --> 00:11:24,100
This guy's
a full-time farmer -
297
00:11:24,235 --> 00:11:25,505
leader of the youth group -
Yeah.
298
00:11:25,650 --> 00:11:28,720
Father of 5 - And a half
- And a half,
299
00:11:28,860 --> 00:11:30,100
you got another one on the way.
300
00:11:30,241 --> 00:11:31,791
On layaway.
301
00:11:31,932 --> 00:11:33,492
Okay, so he's also a big
reason there is a youth group.
302
00:11:33,658 --> 00:11:36,108
[Laughing].
303
00:11:36,247 --> 00:11:38,387
So do you like comin'
in the tractor?
304
00:11:38,525 --> 00:11:41,245
The young boys, they love
the farm, they love,
305
00:11:41,390 --> 00:11:43,360
you know, the - the
tractors and stuff right now.
306
00:11:43,530 --> 00:11:45,840
But just as his parents
sort of passed the torch
307
00:11:46,015 --> 00:11:48,155
to him, he's a- a
farmer and a historian,
308
00:11:48,293 --> 00:11:50,813
he's hopin' to pass
it on to his kids.
309
00:11:50,951 --> 00:11:52,501
- that's what I'm doin',
payin' it forward,
310
00:11:52,677 --> 00:11:54,507
these guys'll be - uh,
311
00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:56,959
the next generation of farmers.
312
00:11:57,095 --> 00:12:00,025
He's only 3 years old, so
it's still, like,
313
00:12:00,202 --> 00:12:02,102
sort of wait and see
stage, right?
314
00:12:02,273 --> 00:12:04,283
Like if I'd made a career
out of what I enjoyed
315
00:12:04,447 --> 00:12:06,927
doing when I was 3
years old, I'd be eating
316
00:12:07,105 --> 00:12:08,825
snot for a living
is what I'd be doing
317
00:12:08,969 --> 00:12:11,209
[Laughing].
318
00:12:11,351 --> 00:12:12,731
But me and Chris
were talkin' about how
319
00:12:12,870 --> 00:12:14,700
- how sort of
racial lines in Buxton
320
00:12:14,837 --> 00:12:17,597
have dissolved over
the years, and he said
321
00:12:17,737 --> 00:12:20,427
"Man, there are no
races, there's just us".
322
00:12:20,567 --> 00:12:26,467
[Applause].
323
00:12:26,642 --> 00:12:28,442
Uh, Chris had a - I've
mentioned that people in
324
00:12:28,609 --> 00:12:30,299
North Buxton a- are related
325
00:12:30,439 --> 00:12:32,269
- Chris had an excellent
story - can I tell this one?
326
00:12:32,441 --> 00:12:33,891
Yeah, come on.
327
00:12:34,029 --> 00:12:35,479
I've met some cousins I
had never seen before,
328
00:12:35,616 --> 00:12:38,306
and ended up tryin' to get
this girl's phone number.
329
00:12:38,481 --> 00:12:40,381
Basically, he hit on her,
and found out after
330
00:12:40,518 --> 00:12:43,868
that she was his
cousin [Laughing].
331
00:12:44,004 --> 00:12:47,114
I said "After what?"
332
00:12:47,249 --> 00:12:50,459
[Laughing].
333
00:12:56,568 --> 00:12:58,468
Across Canada, during the
- the Civil war,
334
00:12:58,605 --> 00:13:00,675
there were 8, uh,
communities designated
335
00:13:00,814 --> 00:13:02,514
specifically for black
slaves to come -
336
00:13:02,643 --> 00:13:05,343
and start over, and four of
them in Ontario, and
337
00:13:05,474 --> 00:13:08,174
- and - and Buxton is
the only one left.
338
00:13:08,304 --> 00:13:10,204
It's a living memorial
to the underground
339
00:13:10,375 --> 00:13:12,025
railroad, and the people
who came here to farm and
340
00:13:12,170 --> 00:13:14,350
start a new life, and
that's really what -
341
00:13:14,483 --> 00:13:17,693
what George has done,
cause he came here,
342
00:13:17,831 --> 00:13:19,591
and started a new life.
343
00:13:19,729 --> 00:13:21,519
A place this size would've
cost me at least a
344
00:13:21,662 --> 00:13:22,872
million dollars in Toronto.
345
00:13:23,043 --> 00:13:24,393
Yeah.
346
00:13:24,562 --> 00:13:26,252
He didn't have to
face the perils of the
347
00:13:26,391 --> 00:13:27,841
underground railroad -
as far as I know,
348
00:13:27,979 --> 00:13:29,359
he just went to
the truck I think.
349
00:13:29,532 --> 00:13:31,572
[Laughing].
350
00:13:31,707 --> 00:13:34,227
But George's dream - he
wanted to grow vegetables
351
00:13:34,365 --> 00:13:36,535
and have some rows of
fruit trees, and sell that
352
00:13:36,677 --> 00:13:38,607
produce on the side of
the road to the locals.
353
00:13:38,748 --> 00:13:40,918
It doesn't feel soft.
354
00:13:41,061 --> 00:13:42,551
No.
355
00:13:42,683 --> 00:13:44,343
The only thing is, his
soil isn't good, and
356
00:13:44,478 --> 00:13:46,518
- and to get it going,
he needs mulch.
357
00:13:46,653 --> 00:13:49,383
How much mulch would -
would you need to cover this?
358
00:13:49,552 --> 00:13:51,002
Um...
359
00:13:51,140 --> 00:13:52,690
I figure about 3 tonnes.
360
00:13:52,832 --> 00:13:54,562
We've all been at that
place in our lives, right?
361
00:13:54,730 --> 00:13:56,560
[Laughing].
362
00:13:56,697 --> 00:13:58,007
Where the only thing
standing between
363
00:13:58,147 --> 00:14:00,527
you and your dreams is
3 tonnes of mulch.
364
00:14:00,667 --> 00:14:02,807
[Laughing].
365
00:14:02,980 --> 00:14:05,290
On top of the mulch
deficit, George has a few
366
00:14:05,430 --> 00:14:07,290
things to take care
of around the house.
367
00:14:07,467 --> 00:14:08,917
Like the house.
368
00:14:09,055 --> 00:14:11,845
The house is, uh,
collapsing gradually.
369
00:14:11,954 --> 00:14:14,854
Uh, I'm hoping I can
build it at a slightly
370
00:14:14,957 --> 00:14:16,957
faster rate than
it's falling down.
371
00:14:17,097 --> 00:14:18,927
The thing is, no matter
how much trouble George
372
00:14:19,065 --> 00:14:20,855
has had getting hi- his
farm off the ground,
373
00:14:20,963 --> 00:14:23,213
or in the ground, I guess,
at least Buxton is a
374
00:14:23,345 --> 00:14:24,995
place where he can try -
375
00:14:25,140 --> 00:14:26,870
people will let him
make a go of it.
376
00:14:27,004 --> 00:14:28,664
We bought the place, and
we hadn't even moved in.
377
00:14:28,798 --> 00:14:30,348
People here had come and
introduced themselves.
378
00:14:30,524 --> 00:14:33,464
Everyone was very happy
to meet us, very happy to
379
00:14:33,596 --> 00:14:35,116
tell us about the people
who had lived here
380
00:14:35,253 --> 00:14:38,813
before, uh - this house is
kickin' my ass every day.
381
00:14:38,947 --> 00:14:41,847
But, it's the best
place I've ever lived.
382
00:14:41,984 --> 00:14:43,714
George, if you wanna
be smart about it,
383
00:14:43,848 --> 00:14:45,538
just tomorrow, you go
ring the liberty bell,
384
00:14:45,677 --> 00:14:48,847
and get everybody to come
- [Laughing].
385
00:14:48,991 --> 00:14:50,991
[Bell ringing].
386
00:14:51,131 --> 00:14:53,201
Come build a new house.
387
00:14:53,375 --> 00:14:57,025
[Cheering and applause].
388
00:14:57,172 --> 00:15:01,042
There's a whole other
meaning of the word race,
389
00:15:01,176 --> 00:15:04,626
that's been important to
this town for almost 40 years.
390
00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,630
And everybody told
me if I wanna see the
391
00:15:06,767 --> 00:15:08,107
action in Buxton now,
I'd have to go to
392
00:15:08,252 --> 00:15:09,772
South Buxton Raceway.
393
00:15:09,909 --> 00:15:14,329
[Cheering].
394
00:15:14,465 --> 00:15:16,915
It's amazing.
395
00:15:17,054 --> 00:15:20,514
Local sponsors and
volunteers keep it rolling.
396
00:15:20,643 --> 00:15:22,823
Generations here have
grown up watching
397
00:15:22,956 --> 00:15:25,856
local heroes put the
pedal to the metal.
398
00:15:25,994 --> 00:15:28,824
Just go around that
big mud onto the track.
399
00:15:28,962 --> 00:15:30,522
And former racer,
Kirk Hooker,
400
00:15:30,653 --> 00:15:33,693
stays in Buxton just to
be a part of it all.
401
00:15:33,829 --> 00:15:35,659
It means something to me,
this is home, you know,
402
00:15:35,831 --> 00:15:38,491
I'm a - we're racers,
this what we do on
403
00:15:38,627 --> 00:15:40,937
Saturday nights, you know,
this is where we come.
404
00:15:41,078 --> 00:15:42,868
You can get 2000 people
in here, rockin' the place,
405
00:15:43,011 --> 00:15:44,601
it's pretty amazing,
like, you know,
406
00:15:44,736 --> 00:15:46,946
it brought tears
to my eyes.
407
00:15:47,049 --> 00:15:52,159
[racing announcement]
408
00:15:52,296 --> 00:15:54,466
They've got racing in the blood,
and they said that that would
409
00:15:54,608 --> 00:15:56,778
happen to me, and all the
cars [whooshing sound]
410
00:15:56,921 --> 00:15:58,891
fly by, and then you
get a dirt shower.
411
00:15:59,027 --> 00:16:01,507
[Laughing].
412
00:16:01,650 --> 00:16:03,650
So, like, I don't know if
I have racing in my blood,
413
00:16:03,790 --> 00:16:05,410
but I had racing in
my hair, and my butt crack.
414
00:16:05,550 --> 00:16:08,110
[Laughing].
415
00:16:08,243 --> 00:16:10,733
So I went to talk to
Tiffany and Jim Ellis.
416
00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:13,076
[Car engine revs].
417
00:16:13,213 --> 00:16:14,773
Just checkin'
the brake fluid.
418
00:16:14,904 --> 00:16:16,424
So I have breaks.
419
00:16:16,561 --> 00:16:18,431
Jim drove, but he said
he - he had a harrowing
420
00:16:18,598 --> 00:16:20,258
accident at one point,
he flipped the car
421
00:16:20,427 --> 00:16:23,907
over 7 times, and as
the car was flying
422
00:16:24,086 --> 00:16:26,256
through the air, doing the
maybe 5th or 6th flip,
423
00:16:26,433 --> 00:16:28,063
he thought to himself
424
00:16:28,194 --> 00:16:30,754
"Man, I gotta get my
daughter into this"
425
00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,200
[Laughing].
426
00:16:35,339 --> 00:16:37,379
She was probably about 10
years old, and she started
427
00:16:37,513 --> 00:16:39,693
helpin' me out in the
car, and last year I had a
428
00:16:39,826 --> 00:16:43,756
heart attack, so - So I just
been drivin' by myself.
429
00:16:47,213 --> 00:16:48,703
During the race Tiffany
had some, uh,
430
00:16:48,835 --> 00:16:50,245
mechanical issues.
431
00:16:50,388 --> 00:16:53,428
She started to overheat,
and she came off.
432
00:16:53,564 --> 00:16:55,294
Mike, give me a
half inch wrench.
433
00:16:55,462 --> 00:16:56,982
Right away, uh, Jim and
- and Mike jumped in,
434
00:16:57,119 --> 00:16:58,569
and they started
fixing the problem.
435
00:16:58,707 --> 00:16:59,947
Her radiator fan broke and -
436
00:17:00,088 --> 00:17:01,538
and shredded the radiator.
437
00:17:01,675 --> 00:17:03,015
What?
438
00:17:03,125 --> 00:17:04,365
Don't even worry about
the shroud,
439
00:17:04,506 --> 00:17:06,026
Mike, we'll just
leave it the way it is.
440
00:17:06,128 --> 00:17:07,538
And then they were
changin' a tire,
441
00:17:07,716 --> 00:17:09,026
but the generator for
the air gun didn't work,
442
00:17:09,131 --> 00:17:11,751
so some guys from
the other team, they came
443
00:17:11,892 --> 00:17:13,762
over with their generator
and fired it up.
444
00:17:13,894 --> 00:17:15,904
I'm not worried about
that, I'm worried
445
00:17:16,035 --> 00:17:18,415
about turning on the
water pump.
446
00:17:18,554 --> 00:17:20,564
And then even
across the way, the -
447
00:17:20,729 --> 00:17:22,419
the guy that she's in direct
competition with, they are
448
00:17:22,558 --> 00:17:25,348
tied for points, he
came over to help them out.
449
00:17:25,492 --> 00:17:28,192
I thought, you know, if
she went to him, and said
450
00:17:28,323 --> 00:17:29,673
"Hey, do you have
a radiator fan?"
451
00:17:29,807 --> 00:17:30,947
he'd be like "Yeah I got
a radiator fan,
452
00:17:31,084 --> 00:17:32,404
here you go"
453
00:17:32,534 --> 00:17:37,574
[Laughing].
454
00:17:37,711 --> 00:17:40,371
"I got two of
'em if you want!"
455
00:17:40,507 --> 00:17:43,857
[Laughing].
456
00:17:43,993 --> 00:17:46,553
But when the race
started, Tiffany didn't.
457
00:17:46,686 --> 00:17:49,066
I thought they'd be
heartbroken.
458
00:17:49,206 --> 00:17:50,716
Then suddenly they're laughin',
459
00:17:50,862 --> 00:17:52,242
clappin' each
other on the back.
460
00:17:52,416 --> 00:17:53,616
I was blown away, I
couldn't believe it.
461
00:17:53,762 --> 00:17:56,772
[Applause].
462
00:17:56,937 --> 00:17:59,797
And Jim said to me any
night she comes off the
463
00:17:59,940 --> 00:18:02,290
track safely,
he's proud of her.
464
00:18:02,426 --> 00:18:04,006
So, it was -
465
00:18:04,152 --> 00:18:07,362
[Applause].
466
00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:08,980
But it - it was kind of a
weird moment, 'cause there
467
00:18:09,157 --> 00:18:10,497
was Tiffany, who didn't
get to finish her
468
00:18:10,641 --> 00:18:12,331
race, there's Jim, who's
now got a broken down
469
00:18:12,470 --> 00:18:14,680
race car, and I'm
the only one cryin'.
470
00:18:14,817 --> 00:18:18,267
[Laughing].
471
00:18:18,407 --> 00:18:19,997
I'm glad I had a cry though,
472
00:18:20,168 --> 00:18:22,688
I had to get somethin' out.
473
00:18:22,825 --> 00:18:26,755
The dirt in my
eyeballs - [Laughing].
474
00:18:28,141 --> 00:18:40,151
[Choir sings church hymn].
475
00:18:40,291 --> 00:18:41,711
Kleeda Morris, everybody.
476
00:18:41,844 --> 00:18:43,674
She's 90 years old,
477
00:18:43,846 --> 00:18:46,746
and she's lived in
Buxton her entire life.
478
00:18:46,884 --> 00:18:48,544
Kleeda helps keep the
culture of community
479
00:18:48,679 --> 00:18:51,099
together by running
the men's choir.
480
00:18:51,233 --> 00:18:55,693
I heard the plan was to,
um, get all churches,
481
00:18:55,824 --> 00:18:59,694
all races - kind of a
multi-cultural - Yeah.
482
00:18:59,828 --> 00:19:02,238
Choir.
483
00:19:02,417 --> 00:19:03,897
And these guys, I've met
'em, there's a great bunch
484
00:19:04,039 --> 00:19:05,939
of guys, they're -
they're from mid 50s right
485
00:19:06,110 --> 00:19:08,600
up to late 80s, and
sometimes they fill in for
486
00:19:08,768 --> 00:19:10,108
the Rolling Stones, right?
487
00:19:10,252 --> 00:19:11,632
- [Laughing].
488
00:19:11,771 --> 00:19:13,951
- for the Rolling
Stones sometimes.
489
00:19:14,083 --> 00:19:16,433
'Cause everybody
likes to have a sing.
490
00:19:16,569 --> 00:19:19,019
Oh, they do!
491
00:19:19,158 --> 00:19:24,438
[Sings] "Every time I feel
the spirit" -
492
00:19:24,611 --> 00:19:26,921
Spirituals, it was actually
quite rousing - I got a bit -
493
00:19:27,096 --> 00:19:29,576
I got a little - I got a
little bit of
494
00:19:29,754 --> 00:19:31,004
the spirit in me, okay?
495
00:19:31,135 --> 00:19:33,095
[Laughing].
496
00:19:33,275 --> 00:19:38,755
[Sings] "Every time I
feel the spirit"-
497
00:19:38,901 --> 00:19:41,631
It's the spirit of Buxton.
498
00:19:41,801 --> 00:19:44,011
Slaves risked everything
to make it here,
499
00:19:44,148 --> 00:19:46,248
and it worked.
500
00:19:46,392 --> 00:19:48,262
You see it at the annual
homecoming weekend,
501
00:19:48,394 --> 00:19:51,264
when thousands of people,
ancestors of the slaves
502
00:19:51,397 --> 00:19:53,187
who settled here,
come from all over the
503
00:19:53,330 --> 00:19:55,610
world to celebrate
the Buxton spirit,
504
00:19:55,780 --> 00:19:59,060
and pass the torch.
505
00:19:59,198 --> 00:20:01,958
Buxton Ontario is the
happy ending to the most
506
00:20:02,131 --> 00:20:04,271
shameful era of
American History.
507
00:20:04,410 --> 00:20:08,520
[Applause].
508
00:20:08,655 --> 00:20:11,275
It was built upon a principal
- the right to education,
509
00:20:11,417 --> 00:20:13,657
the right to
land ownership,
510
00:20:13,798 --> 00:20:16,008
and the right to accidentally
date your cousin.
511
00:20:16,145 --> 00:20:25,905
[Laughing].
512
00:20:26,052 --> 00:20:27,742
Before I came over for the
show tonight, uh,
513
00:20:27,881 --> 00:20:29,331
my mom called me for the
first time since
514
00:20:29,469 --> 00:20:30,819
I got here, and she said
"Uh, Jonathon,
515
00:20:30,988 --> 00:20:32,088
how's it goin' in Buxton?"
516
00:20:32,231 --> 00:20:33,511
I said "Mom, it's great.
517
00:20:33,646 --> 00:20:35,096
I rang the liberty bell,
hung out with some Hookers,
518
00:20:35,234 --> 00:20:36,724
got strapped by
a school marm,
519
00:20:36,856 --> 00:20:39,306
kissed a dirty hoe,
and sang for my salvation".
520
00:20:39,445 --> 00:20:41,065
She said "Jonathon,
what are you talking about"
521
00:20:41,205 --> 00:20:43,345
I said "Mom, I'm talkin'
about Buxton Ontario"
522
00:20:43,483 --> 00:20:44,903
- thanks
so much everybody!
523
00:20:45,036 --> 00:20:49,656
[Cheering and Applause]
524
00:20:49,834 --> 00:20:51,184
It was great for
525
00:20:51,319 --> 00:20:52,419
the whole community.
526
00:20:52,561 --> 00:20:53,871
Yeah, it was,
it really was.
527
00:20:54,045 --> 00:20:56,215
I'm pretty proud to be,
uh, from [unclear]to say
528
00:20:56,358 --> 00:20:58,218
that I belong to North
Buxton I don't even
529
00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:00,050
know what the big deal is,
Jonny, she wasn't even my
530
00:21:00,189 --> 00:21:01,739
second cousin, she was,
like, third, fourth,
531
00:21:01,881 --> 00:21:03,431
cousin, I mean, like,
way down the line.
532
00:21:03,572 --> 00:21:05,192
It was fantastic.
533
00:21:05,333 --> 00:21:07,823
I just had to give my
dad a hug [Laughing].
534
00:21:07,956 --> 00:21:09,576
Makin' fun of me?
535
00:21:09,751 --> 00:21:11,171
[Laughing].
536
00:21:11,304 --> 00:21:12,444
It was - it was all good.
537
00:21:12,616 --> 00:21:13,616
I liked it all.
538
00:21:13,789 --> 00:21:15,199
I liked everything.
539
00:21:15,343 --> 00:21:16,693
- I'm drivin' Miss Daisy.
540
00:21:16,827 --> 00:21:18,097
[Laughing].
541
00:21:18,277 --> 00:21:19,857
It was awesome -
Awesome - Amazing!
542
00:21:20,002 --> 00:21:21,312
Enjoyed it muchly.
543
00:21:21,452 --> 00:21:23,282
Thanks John.
544
00:21:23,454 --> 00:21:24,944
[Laughing].
40602
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