Africville Honoured on Heritage Day

Release:

The community of Africville and its former residents are an important part of Nova Scotia’s history and culture. That is why Africville is being honoured on Heritage Day, Monday, Feb. 17.

“Heritage Day is a time to commemorate the remarkable individuals and places that have contributed to our shared Nova Scotian history,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leo Glavine. “It is our responsibility to share the story of Africville and the significant impact this community has made on our province.”

Africville was a small, African Nova Scotian community located on the shores of the Bedford Basin, founded in the mid-18th century. The City of Halifax forcibly demolished the community for the purpose of urban renewal, forcing residents to relocate with little compensation for their homes and land.

The Africville Heritage Trust Society is hosting an event called Sliding Through Africville and an Africville Day dedication on Feb. 17, among numerous other Heritage Day events.

“Africville was a vibrant and self-sustaining community, home to hundreds of families. Although the story of Africville ends with heartbreak, racism and injustice, the spirit of this community continues to live on.”
– Tony Ince minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

“I hope people take advantage of the upcoming events and get a true feeling of what really mattered to the residents living in Africville.”
– Juanita Peters, executive director of the Africville Museum

Quick Facts:
— the population of Africville grew to 400 residents after the Second World War
— in 1967, the final property in Africville was expropriated and demolished
— in 2010, Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter Kelly apologized for the destruction of Africville with a commitment to build a replica church
— in 2012, the Africville replica church museum opened and the area was renamed Africville park
— enhancing understanding of the African Nova Scotian history is one of the goals of Count Us In: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan in Response to the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015-2024

Additional Resources:
List of Heritage Day events: https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/content/2020-heritage-day-events

Africville Museum: https://africvillemuseum.org

For more information about Heritage Day, visit:
Website: https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/content/2020-honouree-community-africville
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOVASCOTIACULTURE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NS_CCH

Nova Scotia Culture Action Plan: https://novascotia.ca/culture/Culture-Action-Plan–English.pdf

Count Us In: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan in Response to the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015-2024: https://ansa.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/dpad-action-plan.pdf

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