Lizzie and Sid Sloman, London, Ontario [n.d.]

An undated black and white photograph of Lizzie and Sid Sloman, taken outside a home in London, Ontario. This photo was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose mother was Iris Sloman Bell. The Sloman - Bell family ancestry includes escaped slaves from the United States who settled in southern Ontario.

Mildred Sloman [ n.d.]

Mildred Sloman, dressed in uniform, is pictured here in this undated black and white snapshot, likely taken in the early 1940s. The Sloman family is descended from former American slaves who settled in Canada. This photograph was among the family memorabilia in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Albert, Josie and Iris Sloman in the Vegetable Garden [ n.d.]

This undated black and white family snapshot shows Albert and Josie Sloman (at left) with their daughter, Iris Sloman Bell (third from left) and an unidentified woman in the vegetable garden. The location of the garden is not clear, although it could be St. Catharines or London, Ontario. This photograph was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose mother was Iris Sloman Bell. The Sloman - Bell family ancestry includes former Black slaves from the United States who settled in Canada.

Josephine Sloman at Cottage in Parry Sound, Ontario

Josephine Sloman is pictured holding a wooden oar at a holiday cabin in Parry Sound, Ontario in this undated black and white photograph. Her husband, Albert, is likely the person standing to her left, visible through the trees. This photograph was in the possession of the Rick Bell family, of St. Catharines, Ontario. The Sloman - Bell families are descended from former Black slaves from the United States who settled in Ontario.

Iris Sloman with unidentified woman and sister Helen Sloman [n.d.]

Iris Sloman, at left, with her sister, Helen, far right, and an unidentified woman on the beach in this undated photo. The location could possibly be Port Dalhousie or Parry Sound. This photo was among the family memorabilia retrieved by Rick Bell from his mother's attic in St. Catharines in the 1980s. The Bell - Sloman family descends from former African American slaves who settled in the London and St. Catharines areas.

Josephine and Albert Sloman at the Beach [n.d.]

Josephine and Albert Sloman are pictured in this undated black and white photograph. The beach location is unknown. This photo was among the Sloman - Bell family memorabilia in the possession of Rick Bell, grandson of Josephine and Albert. The family is descended from Black slaves who escaped from the United States and settled in southern Ontario.

Richard and Iris Bell Wedding Day, 1939

Richard and Iris (Sloman) Bell are pictured on the grounds of unknown gardens, possibly in Niagara Falls, on their wedding day in 1939. This photo was among the family memorabilia in the possession of their son, Rick Bell, of St. Catharines.

Charles Henry Bell, St. Catharines [n.d.]

Charles Henry Bell is pictured in this undated black and white photograph outside a house on Geneva St. in St. Catharines, Ontario. In 1894, Charles Bell married Mary E. Tyrell. and they had eight children. Charles Bell ran an ice and coal business in St. Catharines in the early 1900s. This photo was in the possession of his grandson, Rick Bell. The Bell and associated families have connections to former Black slaves from the United States.

Mary Tyrell Bell [n.d.]

A cabinet card portrait of a young Mary Tyrell (later Bell). The photograph is undated, however, it is believed to be from the 1880s or 1890s. Mary Tyrell married Charles Bell in 1894 in St. Catharines, Ontario. They initially settled in Erie, Pennsylvania but relocated to St. Catharines less than three years later. This photograph was in the possession of Mary Tyrell Bell's grandson, Rick Bell. The Bell family is descended from Black slaves from the United States.

Iris Sloman [n.d.]

A young Iris Sloman is pictured in this portrait, date and location unknown. Iris Sloman married Richard Bell in 1939 and the couple resided in St. Catharines, Ontario. Her son, Rick Bell, retrieve this and other family photos from his mother's attic in the 1980s. Branches of the Bell -Sloman family are descended from African American slaves.

Albert and Josephine Sloman [n.d.]

A coloured photographic portrait of Albert and Josephine Sloman. The location and date of the photograph are unknown. The Sloman - Bell families were from the St. Catharines and London areas of Ontario. Their descendants include former African American slaves who settled in Canada. This photo was in the possession of Albert and Josephine Sloman's grandson, Rick Bell, of St. Catharines.

Vera Sloman, Richard Bell, Iris Sloman Bell and Bert Sloman [n.d.]

This black and white family photo is undated yet believed to be in 1939 on the wedding day of Richard and Iris Bell. Pictured in this photo are, from right, Vera, Richard Bell, Iris Sloman Bell, and Bert Sloman. This photo was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, son of Richard and Iris. The Bell - Sloman families have descendants who are former African American slaves.Bert Sloman (Albert Edward Sloman) passed away in 1986 at Kitchener - Waterloo, Ontario. His wife, Vera Matilda Sloman, passed away January 4, 2011 at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. They had a son, Ron Sloman.

Sloman Family Photo [n.d.]

This black and white photograph is believed to be of Albert Sloman (back left), Josephine Sloman (centre) and an unidentified man (right). Iris Sloman, daughter of Albert and Josephine, is thought to be in the front row, centre. The location and date of the photo is unknown, however, it could be in the early 1920s. This photograph was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, son of Iris and Richard Bell. Relatives of the Sloman - Bell family are former Black slaves from the United States.

Lizzie Sloman and Son [n.d.]

Lizzie Sloman is pictured with her son, not identified by name, in this undated black and white photograph. The location of the photograph is also unknown. This item was in the possession of Rick Bell, of St. Catharines, whose mother Iris Sloman Bell, was sister to Lizzie.

Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society (PALS) fonds, 1954-2015, n.d.

Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society [PALS] held its first meeting at Brock University on June 21, 1976. Its first executive consisted of Robert Hoover, Rick Teather, Debbie Kehler and Bill Forster. Some objectives of the organization were "to seek the preservation of valuable farm areas from non-agricultural expansion and development and to foster development and support of federal, provinicial and local policy which will provide a secure financial future for farming." Gracia Janes and John Bacher are some of the organizations' well known advocates. The organization was active in raising public awareness of the issues surrounding encroaching development onto existing agricultural lands. The organization is still active today [2016] in educating the public and attempting to influence governments at all levels to protect valuable agricultural lands.