stream sound file here:

Self-guided Tour

Hush Harbour (2012)

Hush Harbour is a SonicWalk incorporating sound, walking through space, and listening through headphones to present a story that wraps around participants. The sound is recorded binaurally and is experienced as an immersive three-dimensional world that allows participants to travel back in time to a story that explores the complexities of Black life in colonial Canada between 1793 when The Act to limit the further importation of slaves was passed in Upper Canada and 1833 when Britain abolished slavery in its colonies. The Act of 1793 prompted people enslaved south of the border to cross into freedom in Canada but ensured that those who were already enslaved in Canada remained in bondage for life until 1833 when slavery was finally abolished in Britain’s colonies. In this story Peggy, based on the historic figure Peggy Pompadour, a woman enslaved in Upper Canada, falls in love with Samuel, a man with a mythical past who was enslaved in America and came across the Canadian border into freedom. Peggy is planning her escape from bondage in Upper Canada while Samuel wants to stay to taste his freedom.

Concept/Writer/Director 

Camille Turner

Concept Collaborator

Kurt Huggins

Production Manager 

Tracie Burgess

Sound Editor 

Wende Bartley

Musical Score 

Ravi Naimpally

Production Assistants 

Jounghwa No, Carol Auld

Singer 

Jill Harris

Samuel 

Peter Bailey

Peggy 

Ophilia Davis

Storyteller 

Rhoma Spencer

Deborah/the woman

Naomi Abiola

Preacher

Jahte Le 

Afronauts

Marcel Stewart, Kwame Kyei-Boateng and Camille Turner 

Old Soldier

Marcel Stewart