Editing Niagara Falls, Ontario (section)

=== Black history ===
[[File:Nathaniel Dett Chapel 2012-09-17 23-02-42.jpg|thumb|right|R. Nathaniel Dett Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church]]

Niagara Falls has had a Black population since at least 1783. Up to 12 African-Americans were a part of the [[Butler's Rangers]], including [[Richard Pierpoint]]. When they were disbanded in 1783, they tried to establish themselves through farming nearby, making them among the first Black settlers in the region.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/richard-pierpoint|title=Richard Pierpoint|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Black History Canada - Niagara Region |url=http://www.blackhistorycanada.ca/topic.php?id=122&themeid=2 |website=www.blackhistorycanada.ca}}</ref> It is estimated that nearly 10 percent of the Loyalists to settle in the area were [[Black Loyalists]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Black History in Guelph and Wellington County |url=http://guelph.ca/museum/BlackHistory/wellington.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060304140826/http://guelph.ca/museum/BlackHistory/wellington.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2006 |access-date=28 November 2018|date=4 March 2006}}</ref>

Niagara Falls' Black population increased in the following decades, as a destination on the [[Underground Railroad]]. In 1856, a [[British Methodist Episcopal Church|British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church]] was established for [[African Canadians|African-Canadian]] worshipers.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Underground Railroad:Niagara Falls |url=http://www.freedomtrail.ca/niagara_falls/bme.html |website=www.freedomtrail.ca |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> The BME Church, Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel is now a [[National Historic Sites of Canada|National Historic Site]], remaining in operation into the 21st century.<ref>{{cite news |title=B.M.E Church in Niagara Falls played a role in the 'underground railroad' |url=https://www.chch.com/b-m-e-church-in-niagara-falls-played-a-role-in-the-underground-railroad/ |access-date=28 November 2018 |work=CHCH}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=February is Black History Month in Niagara Falls {{!}} Niagara Falls Canada |url=https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/blog/black-history-month-niagara-falls/ |website=Niagara Falls Canada |access-date=28 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Composer, organist, pianist and music professor [[Nathaniel Dett]] was born in Niagara Falls in 1882.<ref name="SchabasMansouri2013">{{cite book|author1=Ezra Schabas|author2=Lotfi Mansouri|author3=Stuart Hamilton |author4=James Neufeld |author5=Robert Popple |author6=Walter Pitman |author7=Holly Higgins Jonas |author8=Michelle Labrèche-Larouche |author9=Carl Morey |title=Dundurn Performing Arts Library Bundle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwBVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT398|date=17 December 2013|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-2401-3|pages=398–}}</ref>

In 1886, [[Burr Plato]] became one of the first African Canadians to be elected to political office, holding the position of City Councillor of Niagara Falls until 1901.<ref>{{cite web |title=biographies: Burr Plato |url=http://www.freedomtrail.ca/biographies/Plato.html |website=www.freedomtrail.ca |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca |url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=9778 |website=www.historicplaces.ca |language=en}}</ref>