On March 14, 1863 a race riot broke out in Oil Springs, located on what is now known as Centre Street in Sarnia-Lambton County, Ontario. The race riot consisted of 80-100 white Americans coming together and burning down the homes of black Canadians on what is now Centre Street, causing them to flee to safety in the woods The reason behind the race riot was in large part due to white labourer's being outraged by black labourer's willingness to work for lower wages. Background Sarnia-Lambton is the birthplace of Canada’s Petrochemical Industry and is the site of North America’s first commercial oil well after the discovery of oil in Oil Springs in 1857. The oil boom of Oil Springs was in full swing and wells popped up across Enniskillen. Oil speculators were getting rich. Drilling wells, harvesting oil and transporting it took much time, muscle and resources. Black persons were not the only ones to immigrate to the area. Oil Springs had also become home to Irish, Scottish, English, and American immigrants. As one might expect, residents of Oil Springs mostly worked in the oil industry. Some were investors, speculators or related industry business owners, but most were labourers. Canada historically has compared itself as a safe haven for freedom seekers trying to flee from slavery in the United States. A strong sense of negrophobia existed all throughout Canada leading to a variety of discriminatory practices by White people. it also led to the displacement of blacks from black settlements across the country, in such places like Africville, Priceville, and Queensbush. Tensions Rising Prior to Oil Springs Riot A few weeks before the riot, the Lambton County Archives make note of the Detroit riot taking place in response to the emancipation of slavery went into effect a couple months prior in January. The climax was reached when one of the dusky laborers shoved Mrs. Justin Bradley, the wife of the proprietor of the Royal George, a well-known east-end boarding house, off the sidewalk.” Emancipation of Slavery in the U.S In January of 1863, U.S. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The Proclamation freed enslaved persons in the States, and threatened the power structures of white society. Riots occurred across the States in 1863 as tensions rose, and Canada was not immune. Just weeks before the riot at Oil Springs. The emancipation of slavery in Canada birthed a community of white