The last time an Easter church service was held in Africville was in 1967, the year of Canada’s Centennial.
This Easter, in the year of Canada’s 150th birthday, voices will once again be heard on the site of Africville, thanks in part to funding from the province and Nova Scotia’s 150 Forward Fund.
Tony Ince, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, announced today, April 6, that the province is boosting the Nova Scotia 150 Forward Fund by an additional $2 million. The new funding will support 132 projects across the province, enabling communities to host celebrations and commemorate significant historical events.
“There has been incredible interest by community groups in Canada 150,” said Mr. Ince. “I am excited that so many groups want to celebrate our cultural identity and diversity and remember our connections to Confederation.”
The Africville project, led by the Africville Heritage Trust, together with community and church groups and a local business, will celebrate the culture of Africville. There will be a Sunrise Easter service held at the Africville museum at 6 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 16, followed by a commemorative service at Cornwallis St. Baptist Church. These historic church services will be followed by a series of other events, including tent meetings, an intergenerational conversation and a concert.
“I am thrilled that the Africville Heritage Trust is able to celebrate the legacy of the Seaview United Baptist Church through the 150 Forward Fund,” said Sunday Miller, executive director of the Africville Heritage Trust. “It will be an opportunity to showcase the leadership, education, health and musical impact that this church had on the community.”
The 150 Forward Fund provides funding for organizations to plan activities that help Nova Scotians celebrate Canada 150. Events or programs need to honour a significant Nova Scotian person or achievement, celebrate our cultural identity and ethnic diversity, or commemorate Nova Scotian innovations over the past 150 years.
Other grant recipients will be announced at community events in the coming months.
“The demand and interest in 150 is a great illustration of how much Nova Scotians care about our culture and our history. These investments in community and cultural organizations are an important part of Nova Scotia’s Culture Action Plan,” said Mr. Ince.
Other Canada 150 celebrations in Nova Scotia include Rendez-Vous 2017, which will see Tall Ships visit 10 communities across the province over the summer, and sail past Annapolis Royal.
Source: Release