nova scotia black history tour

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On your next vacation to Nova Scotia, explore the province's rich Black history.

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Many people may know that Nova Scotia was a refuge for over 3,000 Black Loyalists who fled the United States after the American War of Independence as well as the last stop on the Underground Railroad (thank you Book of Negroes ). Some may also know about the Maroons, slaves who fled plantations in Jamaica. However, Nova Scotia’s Black History can be traced to the early 1600s when Mathieu de Costa arrived in Nova Scotia making him the “first recorded free Black person in Canada.” Due to these numerous historical occurrences, Nova Scotia is rich in Black history. Here are four places that honour that rich heritage.

Black history tour of Nova Scotia Back to video

Africville museum (5795 africville road, halifax, ns).

Africville was a vibrant Black neighbourhood in Nova Scotia which was located a just north of the city on the southern shore of the Bedford Basin. For over 150 years, Africville was home to hundreds of families, however, in 1964 (yes, just 55 years ago) the entire community was demolished to make way for Halifax’s  expansion . The  Africville Museum allows visitors to peer into the lives of Africville residents. The museum has photographs and artifacts as well as stories from the people who once called Africville home. Admission: $5.75 adults/$4.75 for students and seniors/free for children five and under.

Black Loyalist Heritage Centre (119 Old Birchtown Road, Shelburne, NS)

Fun fact:  Birchtown was the largest settlement of  Black Loyalists in North America and is home to the  Black Loyalist Heritage Centre . Today the historic site located in  Shelburne (approximately 2h 15m from Halifax), allows visitors to look back on the journey that Black Loyalists from America and Jamaica took to freedom. Admission: $9.20 adults/$5.75 for students and seniors/free for children five and under/family (maximum 2 adults and 3 children) $23.00.

Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (10 Cherry Brook Road, Cherry Brook, NS)

A treasure trove of Black culture in Nova Scotia, the  Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia houses exhibits and a library that allow visitors, in some way, to experience the hopes, trials, setbacks and successes of Black Nova Scotians. The museum is run by a non-profit group — the  Black Cultural Society aka the Society for the Protection and Preservation of Black Culture in Nova Scotia. Hot tip: if you want a bonus sightseeing tour and have an hour to spare, take the  bus . Admission: $6.00 general/$4.00 for students and seniors/free for children five and under.

Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site (Cape Breton, NS)

Within this  Parks Canada national historic site, which is a five-hour drive from Halifax, lie outdoor interpretive panels that highlight the Black experience in Cape Breton. There are a number of  walking trails that reference the contributions of slaves in the area and there, too, is a plaque commemorating the life of  Marie Marguerite Rose , whose final resting place is within the fortress. Many of the historic site’s tours incorporate the actualities of slavery within the province. Admission: during peak season (July 1 to September 2) $17.60 adults/$14.95 seniors/ free for youth under 17.

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MUSEUM HOURS

Monday – Friday

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Adult – $9.20

Senior/Student – $5.75

Family – $23

We want to hear from you!

The Black Loyalist Heritage Society is planning for the future and we need your ideas to make sure we are getting it right! Our programs and events need to be what our community wants and needs, so please take this opportunity to respond to our quick survey and make YOUR voice heard. Your input will help shape our new 5-Year Strategic Plan and set our path for the future. All input is completely confidential.

One of Canada’s best kept secrets! Discover the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre!

The home of the largest free black settlement in the 1780’s where people voted with their feet for freedom. This unique historical site is nestled in beautiful Birchtown Bay on the western shores of Shelburne Harbour, the third largest natural harbour in the world.

It’s a history few in the region know much about. Come and enjoy a guided tour, search for your ancestral roots and learn about these courageous Nova Scotians. 

Preview the centre

Plan Your Visit

Come and enjoy a guided tour, search for your ancestral roots, and learn about the Black Loyalists inside our interpretive centre.

Outside, explore our two-acre property that includes historic buildings, a walking trail and National monument. Depending on the weather, bring a lunch to enjoy at one of our picnic benches.

There is lots to see and do, so be prepared to spend some time with us.

Must See Sites 

Lindsay Gallery

In the Lindsay Exhibition Gallery, dive into a multi-media exhibit of the Black Loyalist journey. As you move through the centre, you will see the names of over 3,000 Black Loyalists who were recorded in the Book of Negroes. Look beneath our glass floor at the archaeological pit to see some artifacts discovered right here in Birchtown.

Old School House

Built in the 1830s, this may have been the site of the school that served the early residents of Birchtown. The current building acted as the schoolhouse until 1960 and was turned into the first Black Loyalist Heritage Museum. Step inside to see original school records and other artifacts from the Birchtown community.

Aminata’s Walk

Take a short walk on our heritage trail, named after the central character from the Book of Negroes novel by Lawrence Hill. While walking the trail you will find a replica of a Pit House. Peer inside and see the types of temporary shelters the Black Loyalists lived in upon their arrival here in Nova Scotia in 1783.

St. Paul’s Anglican Church

Constructed between 1888 and 1905, this church sits on the site of the original meeting house used by the first-generation Black Loyalists of Birchtown. Today, St. Paul’s represents the importance of faith within the Black Loyalists communities. Inside take a moment to admire the wooden architecture and beautiful stain glass windows

Black Burial Ground

Oral folklore referred to this as the Black Burial Grounds, though there are no records to show who – if anyone – is buried here. In 1996 a National Monument was erected to honour the Black Loyalists who arrived in Canada following the American Revolution. This area of our site offers visitors a beautiful view of Birchtown Bay.

Shaw Community Compass

Just outside the front doors of the centre, follow the spiral steps that will take you to the Shaw Community Compass. While looking out at Birchtown from this rooftop view, you will find yourself surrounded by names of the various communities established and settled by the Black Loyalists since their arrival in 1783. In the center of the lookout, you will find a map marking where these communities are located across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Coming Soon…

Tell Us How We Did…

The black loyalist heritage society.

Established in 1989, the Black Loyalist Heritage Society is a dynamic, charitable organization committed to discovering, interpreting, safeguarding, and promoting the history and heritage of the Black Loyalists. For over thirty years, the society has worked to ensure the chronicles and contributions of the Black Loyalists takes its place with other communities that shape Canada’s cultural mosaic.

Black Loyalists

Recorded in the Book of Negroes, Black Loyalists arrived in several ports around Nova Scotia and New Brunswick following the end of the American Revolution.

Historic Communities

Since their arrival in 1783, Black Loyalists have established and formed communities across Nova Scotia including Birchtown, Preston, and Upper Big Tracadie.

Artifacts Found

These artifacts date back to the Black Loyalist period, and were discovered across Birchtown, proving the area’s historical significance.

Dollars Raised

Over several years the Heritage Society fundraised money to construct the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, a state-of-the-art museum honouring the Black Loyalists.

Generous support from individuals and organizations allowed the society to meet their goal and see the dream of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre become a reality.

Since our grand opening in June of 2015, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre has welcomed thousands of visitors from across the globe to discover our story.

Exploring Canada’s Black history trail, where enslaved peoples and Black Loyalists once sought refuge

Monuments like Africville and the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre offer African Nova Scotians a chance to connect to our pasts

By Chantal Martineau & Roadtrippers

I’ve come to the place that no longer exists and, truth be told, there’s not much to see. A park stands here now: green grass, a scattering of trees, and a memorial in the shape of a sundial. It’s dedicated to “the first Black settlers and all former residents of the community of Campbell Road, Africville and all the members of the Seaview United Baptist Church.” Africville was Canada’s first Black settlement and one of 52 Black communities in the province of Nova Scotia. It sits at the northern edge of Halifax, overlooking Bedford Basin.

The church referred to in the dedication is roughly 200 yards away, the only thing left of the settlement. In fact, even that is technically gone. A faithful reproduction of the church that was once the beating heart of the community was built here to house the Africville Museum . Inside, a modest collection of historic photographs and artifacts tell a story forgotten by most. Black people settled here as early as the mid-1700s. The population grew over the next century with an influx of escaped slaves from the U.S. and Black Loyalists—African Americans who, in exchange for their service to the British, were promised freedom and land.

“I grew up hearing about Africville as a child and, to be perfectly honest, I never got it as a kid. Because the story was of a location in ruin,” says Juanita Peters, a filmmaker and the general manager of the Africville Museum, as we sit on a church pew in the museum’s main room. “As I got older, I started wondering why people were still attached. Why did people want to come back to a place that had such a bad history?”

Peters took the job at the museum after making several films about Africville, which was thought of as a slum by outsiders. The photographs in the museum exhibit tell a different story, one of a tight-knit community living in a lovely rural seaside village. Modest homes are painted in cheerful colors, flowers bloom in lovely gardens, and children frolic outside.

Hundreds of former Africville residents and their families gather every summer for a reunion in the park behind the church. They come to see old friends, to be on their old land, and maybe, if they’re too young to have ever lived here, to get a sense of their history. It’s a joyful gathering, but the painful memories of Africville survive, too.

The Africville apology

The city of Halifax, Nova Scotia’s capital, had little regard for the community. It laid railroad tracks right through it, installed a slaughterhouse and bone-meal plant nearby, relocated sewage pits, and even built the city dump there. Residents tried again and again to get basic services such as running water, paved roads, and garbage pickup. The city repeatedly rejected their pleas, instead threatening to raze Africville to the ground. 

In the 1960s, Halifax officials finally made good on that threat and demolished the community’s homes and beloved church in the name of urban renewal. Residents were relocated to various parts of the city and their community was torn apart.

In 2010, the city of Halifax officially apologized for the treatment of the Africville community. Outside the museum, by the shoreline, an old camper is parked next to a sign that reads “Africville Protest.” It belongs to Eddie Carvery, who has occupied the park for nearly 50 years. His political protest helped pressure the city into an apology and continues to raise awareness about the atrocities committed here.

Hidden figures

My family isn’t from Africville; we’re from several of the other 52 Black communities in Nova Scotia. But I’ve come here in search of a sense of history. Few Canadians—even Black Canadians—know much about the country’s Black history. When a new $10 bill was released last year featuring the face of Viola Desmond, many people didn’t know who she was. Desmond has been called Canada’s Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her seat in a whites-only section of a movie theater in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1946.

Desmond is the sort of figure you would know about if you visited the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Cherry Brook, about 10 miles outside of downtown Halifax. I drive over there on a rainy day and, sure enough, Desmond’s face is on a banner hanging from the ceiling in the main room among a number of other unsung African Nova Scotian heroes. The exhibit here documents how Black people came to Canada, where they settled, and how they lived. Many of the Black communities spread throughout the province no longer exist and are now only documented through oral histories and faded photographs, which the center collects for its archives.

I’m walking from room to room when a tour group trickles in. I overhear a few of the participants speaking in hushed tones; they’re African Americans from the southern U.S. who have come to Nova Scotia on a cruise. I watch them stand before photographs of African Nova Scotian hockey players, entrepreneurs, musicians, and activists, marveling at this slice of Black history they knew nothing about. Like so many others, they had no idea escaped slaves made their way to Eastern Canada or that others chose to fight for the British in the hopes of one day being free. 

Promised land

In 1994, an archeological dig in Birchtown, just outside the city of Shelburne, uncovered what was at first thought to be a root cellar. Further investigation revealed it was the remains of a makeshift shelter, a tiny house built from a hole in the ground. Known as a pit house, it kept some of the more than 3,500 Black Loyalists—who were evacuated from New York to Nova Scotia—from freezing during their first Canadian winter in 1783. Many settled in Birchtown, the largest free African community on the continent at the time.

Juanita Peters, from the Africville Museum, urged me to make the trip to the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown, which is near the southern tip of the peninsula that makes up most of Nova Scotia. She found one of her ancestors in the center’s records: a man whose history could be traced all the way to Africa. Born in Nigeria, Thomas Peters was said to be a Yoruba prince before he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1760 at age 22. In 1776, he escaped and joined the British military. Seven years later, he landed in Nova Scotia. 

Such a discovery is astonishing for any Black person in North America. Most of us can’t trace our lineage to its roots since the practice of slavery severed any ties to our ancestral land. The Heritage Centre offers African Nova Scotians a unique chance to connect to their distant past; in addition to beautifully executed exhibits, it provides the free services of a genealogist to help you find your ancestors.

Inside the center, it’s cool and bright. A wall of windows is covered with names from the Book of Negroes , a 235-year-old book documenting some 3,000 Black Loyalists brought to Nova Scotia. Across a narrow dirt road from the building is the small church where people once worshipped. Up the road is the one-room schoolhouse their children attended. In the wooded area behind the school is a replica of a pit house.

It should come as no surprise that the land and freedom promised to Black Loyalists was not delivered as advertised. They were given the most barren land—if they were given any at all. They endured racism and violence, a harsh climate, and an unforgiving landscape. But they managed to work the land, farm its infertile soil, and fish the local waters. They managed to survive. Yet, some decided it was too much. In 1792, more than 1,000 African Nova Scotians emigrated to a new city called Freetown in Sierra Leone, where they hoped to be truly free. Leading the exodus was Thomas Peters.

Generational experiences

Like Juanita and others who come to Birchtown, I can’t resist punching a couple names from my family tree into the interactive edition of the Book of Negroes . There are too many results to say definitively whether I could be related to any of the Black Loyalists who arrived in 1783. Still, I peruse the entries, each with a perfunctory description: “stout wench,” “thin fellow,” and “sickly girl.” The handwriting is fine and dainty. Peering at those names, I feel as if I’m about to discover something extraordinary. But ultimately, no major truths are revealed.

Outside the building, a path leads to the shore and an old burial ground. Tall grasses border the water and chipped mussel shells press into the marshy ground. Staring out over the water—a tiny bay with the Atlantic Ocean beyond—I try to imagine what life was like here centuries ago. I’m left with the strange sense that the memory of it is written somewhere inside me. It reminds me of something Juanita Peters told me in Africville: “We can forget a lot of things. But when you experience something, and it’s impactful, I believe you can experience something today that your unborn child will feel the warmth from. They may not know why they feel it, but they will.”

Meet the Authors

Chantal Martineau

Chantal Martineau is a Montreal native now living in New York’s Hudson Valley. She’s into poetry podcasts, throwing pots (on a wheel, not in rage), and hikes that lead to secret swimming holes. Chantal is the author of How the Gringos Stole Tequila , about the rise of Mexico’s iconic liquid export, and co-author of Finding Mezcal .

Roadtrippers

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A Journey Through Black Nova Scotia

The 400-year history of African culture in this maritime Canadian province is expansive, but it’s a story that’s been tucked into the shadows of Canadian history. Now, grass-root initiatives are changing that.

By Shayla Martin

“Whenever I travel and tell people where I’m from, they always say, ‘There are Black people in Nova Scotia?’” said René Boudreau, 30, founder of Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia , a travel community and experiential business designed to inspire Black travelers to visit the province. “They’re always surprised when I’m like, ‘We’ve been here for 400 years.’”

As a Black American who’s developed a near obsession with the African diaspora, I’ll admit that I would have asked her the same question had we met under different circumstances. Though the 400-year history of African culture in the maritime province of Nova Scotia is one that is rich and expansive, it’s a story that’s been tucked into the shadows of Canadian history and not widely acknowledged for its contributions to the African diaspora.

Thanks to a collection of grass-roots tourism initiatives in the province, the narrative is shifting.

Ms. Boudreau said that the lack of Black representation within Nova Scotia’s tourism industry is what inspired her to launch her business in December 2019. Born and raised in Truro in central Nova Scotia, but with familial ties to the historically Black communities of Shelburne in southwestern Nova Scotia and Africville, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Halifax, she noticed that among her own friends and family, there were many places in Nova Scotia they’d never visited to explore their own history. Pandemic-related travel restrictions forced her to re-evaluate her target audience.

“I realized it’s the local people here that have yet to experience a lot of these cultural sites in their own city,” she told me over coffee in Halifax. “When you don’t see yourself represented somewhere, you’re not going to think that place will be welcoming to you.”

A complicated relationship

Truth be told, I had a hard time imagining Canada, and Nova Scotia in particular, as unwelcoming to anyone. The sea-swept peninsula dotted with charming lighthouses seemed downright idyllic, not to mention the fact that it’s home to the 40-plus-stop Nova Scotia Lobster Trail , celebrating my shellfish of choice.

I developed a curiosity about Black Nova Scotian history back in early 2020 after reading a Saveur piece about the African roots of Nova Scotia cuisine. After monitoring the Canadian pandemic border closure for more than two years, I finally booked my ticket to explore the province this summer.

I stayed in an Airbnb on John Street in the North End of Halifax, a trendy neighborhood filled with colorfully painted rowhouses, restaurants and local boutiques. Halifax is situated on a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, and its main draw is the Halifax Waterfront, an almost 2.5-mile-long boardwalk where you’ll find the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market , the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and harbor sails with J Farwell Sailing Tours .

For some Black Americans, Canada seemed like a bit of a promised land after the 2016 election, and they weren’t alone. The Canadian government’s immigration website crashed on election night because of a significant increase in traffic, and “move to Canada” remained among the top-trending Google search topics the following day.

But I’d be remiss to believe that Nova Scotia’s relationship with its Black population has been a love story. The first recorded Black person to arrive in Canada was an African by the name of Mathieu da Costa, who came to Nova Scotia sometime between 1605 and 1608 to serve as an interpreter for the French colonizers Pierre Dugua De Monts and Samuel de Champlain. Over the last four centuries, the province has been home to more than 50 Black communities.

One of the most significant waves of Black migration took place between 1783 and 1785 during the American Revolution. Thousands of free and enslaved Africans known as Black Loyalists fought during the war on the side of the British, with the promise of freedom and land seemingly within their grasp. But once British defeat seemed inevitable, more than 3,000 Black Loyalists departed New York for Nova Scotia.

Their journey is honored at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne, a roughly 2.5-hour drive from Halifax, past pine-dotted hills and freshwater lakes. The natural-light-filled, ultramodern museum and education center rests on the site of the former community of Birchtown, the largest settlement of free Blacks in the world outside of Africa in 1783. The complex includes the Birchtown Schoolhouse from the 1830s, St. Paul’s Church and an African burial ground.

As I walked toward the heritage center, I noticed metal ribbons of text installed along the stone walls. A yellow ribbon stated “Is this the place? BIRCHTOWN, haven of freedom?” A brown ribbon, seemingly in response, stated, “This is the place. Our harbor of hope.”

The ribbons continued inside along the curved museum walls where Braden Chetwynd, the program and outreach coordinator for the center, informed me that the words on the ribbons represented an imagined conversation between the Black Loyalists and their descendants. Audio devices throughout the museum allow guests to listen as voice actors portraying the Black Loyalists share their experiences leaving everything they had known in search of a new life.

The ‘Book of Negroes’

The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre opened in 2015, after the original building was lost in a racially motivated arson attack in 2006. At every vantage point in the new space, guests will see the names of each Loyalist etched into the windows, walls and even the floor — names that we now know today, thanks to “Book of Negroes.”

The 150-page document, created by Brigadier General Samuel Birch, detailed the name, physical description and legal status of each person of African descent who fled the United States to Nova Scotia after the war. A fictionalized version of the book and its subsequent journey was immortalized by the Canadian novelist Lawrence Hill in his 2007 novel, “The Book of Negroes” (published in the United States as “Someone Knows My Name ”), and again in a 2015 mini-series , codeveloped by CBC and BET networks. One version of the original document resides in England, at the National Archives in Kew, London, and another at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Museum guests can swipe through a virtual copy of “Book of Negroes,” and follow a digital timeline wall with four touch-screen presentations that detail Black Loyalist history, from capture in Africa; hardships and broken promises upon arrival in Birchtown; a mass exodus of nearly 1,200 Black Loyalists to Sierra Leone in 1792; and finally the legacy and impact of their experiences in the present day.

I felt conflicting emotions at the center. I had a shared sense of pride that the names and stories of these 3,000-plus ancestors were known and could be celebrated by Black Canadians today, yet I was jealous that for so many Americans like myself, we will never know the names of our ancestors. It felt like yet another distinct cruelty of American slavery, where names were infrequently recorded (usually only as property records), if at all.

Here, visitors are encouraged to search for the names of their ancestors and learn what became of them after arriving in Nova Scotia. With advance notice, the Black Loyalist Heritage Society staff members offer genealogical research services to the public, a service that members themselves have utilized.

“This is a document that shows the history of my lineage and a breakdown of all the generations,” said Andrea Davis, 56, the executive director of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, as she slid a stack of pages across her desk toward me. The document charted nine generations of her family, tracing her roots back to a free Black Loyalist who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1783.

Named executive director in July 2022, Ms. Davis believes that a return to her hometown of Shelburne from Toronto is answering a call from her ancestors. “There was no focus on Black culture or understanding in the education system during my upbringing, and sometimes even the families chose not to tell us our stories,” she said. “My ancestors brought me back here and I believe I’ve been touched by them to tell our story, but I’m not just focused on the past, I’m here to bring us into the future and bring some of this education to our schools.”

On the way back to Halifax, I stopped in Old Town Lunenburg, one of two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The coastal fishing town is a dream for Scandinavian design lovers, with brightly painted A-frame galleries, breweries and the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic along the waterfront. While Lunenburg was admittedly beautiful, I was starving and exhausted by all that I had learned that day. I made my way straight to the Grand Banker Bar & Grill in search of the famed Lunenburger: a local beef burger topped with smoked mozzarella and bacon, spinach, garlic aioli and Nova Scotia lobster meat, then speared with a bacon-wrapped scallop. It was love at first bite.

Celebrating Black identity

The desire to celebrate Black identity seems to have surged in Nova Scotia, as it did in so many places, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in June 2020. Though Ms. Boudreau began her business well before the tragedy, the Black culture-centered events and experiences she planned in late 2020 and beyond have been met by a demand she never expected.

“There really isn’t much that’s centered on the African Nova Scotian experience that’s fun or immersive,” said Ms. Boudreau. “I knew there was a gap I could help to fill.”

In August 2020, Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia partnered with I Heart Bikes to create a Black history bike tour that sold out in hours. A Black Excellence Boat Cruise of the Halifax waterfront created in partnership with Change is Brewing Co ., a craft brewery collective of Black and Indigenous industry professionals, and a Black Joy-themed wine tour held in partnership with Nova Scotia Wine Tours both sold out.

The company recently held its second annual Black Excellence Boat Cruise, and plans to host a Black Girls Ski trip, ice skating excursion and eventually exchange trips to cities around the world. For those unable to make an excursion, the website features a directory of Black-owned restaurants, fashion and beauty brands, home décor and Airbnb listings in Nova Scotia.

The pain and pride of Africville

After days spent exploring hope-centered sites, there was one cultural site in Nova Scotia that filled me with apprehension. The story of Africville, a small community of predominantly Black Canadians on the edge of the sparkling Bedford Basin, and its eventual destruction, is wrought with the pain of deceit and disenfranchisement.

The original size of Africville ranged from 23 acres to 500 acres, depending on whom you ask. Today it is a 2.5-acre dedicated site that includes a park with views of the graceful A. Murray MacKay suspension bridge, and a replica of Seaview African United Baptist Church, once the social heart of the community. The church building now houses the Africville Museum , which explores the history of the African Nova Scotian community that resided there for more than 100 years.

Established in 1849, Africville was a close-knit, thriving community, with a school, businesses, a post office and, of course, the church. Though Africville was mostly self-sufficient, the city of Halifax refused to provide the many amenities normally taken for granted, like sewage, access to clean water and garbage disposal, even though residents paid city taxes. Over time, other initiatives were developed to make the neighborhood seem less desirable, including placing an infectious disease hospital, a prison and the city dump nearby.

Similar to the urban renewal policies of the 1950s and 60s in American cities, Halifax decided to relocate the residents of Africville in order to build commercial and industrial districts in the area. In 1964, the Halifax City Council voted to authorize the relocation of residents, though it was later reported that more than 80 percent of residents never had contact with the Halifax Human Rights Advisory Committee, the volunteer citizens’ group created to protect the interests of the people of Africville. The city claimed that relocation would improve the standard of living for residents, but most were moved into public housing complexes. Adding insult to injury, the belongings of residents were moved by city garbage trucks; despite much resistance, the last home in Africville was destroyed in 1970. The city issued a formal apology to former residents in 2010.

As I approached the sunny yellow church where the Africville Museum is housed, and gazed at the calm waters of Bedford Basin, it was easy to imagine a community of children playing, families fishing and folks gathering together after a church service. I noticed that the park behind the museum (once briefly a dog park in 2014 before Africville descendants expressed outrage) was filled with campers, tents and R.V.s. After I viewed historic photographs, news segments and protest memorabilia with an Africville descendant, Marc Carvery, whose grandfather was forcibly removed in his youth and to this day can’t discuss the experience, Mr. Carvery casually mentioned that the coming weekend was the Africville Reunion.

Now in its 39th year, the annual homecoming is celebrated at the end of July by former residents who park their campers where their homes would have been, cooking, singing, dancing and reliving memories. I made my way into the camp and immediately a woman so strikingly similar to my own aunties waved me over to chat. Forced from Africville at the age of 15 and now in her late 60s, Paula Grant-Smith took a deep sigh when recalling that traumatic experience.

“Growing up here was wonderful. If I fell and skinned my knee, I could go into any house and they’d patch me right up,” said Ms. Grant-Smith. “If I needed a snack, I could go stop by my neighbors and they’d feed me. I get very sad when I think about Africville, especially as I get older because we had so much freedom to play but also feel protected.”

As she regaled me with memories of her childhood and past reunions, I felt that strange phenomenon of how alike so many Black communities are. Her description of Africville could have been my mother’s Black neighborhood in southwest Louisiana, or my father’s in Montgomery, Ala.: neighborhoods that have seen their share of destruction because of racist government policies, yet have somehow maintained a spirit of love, family and hope.

“We have a saying as Africville folk: The spirit lives on,” Ms. Grant-Smith said. “And when we come back here, the spirits of all of those folks that have gone on before us are right here with us.”

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Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Ask A Local: Experience African Nova Scotian Culture in Halifax

There’s no better way to experience a place than by living like a local. Discover cool coffee shops, live music venues, and secret beaches with tips from locals who make Halifax an amazing place to live and visit. Each of these Haligonians are passionate about this place, and have a story to tell. Get to know them and experience Halifax like a local.

Halifax is home to Canada’s largest indigenous Black community, and boasts a rich Black history spanning more than 400 years. Today, African Nova Scotians make up the largest racially visible group in Nova Scotia, descending from the Black Loyalists, Black Refugees, Jamaican Maroons, and Caribbean Migrants.

The African Nova Scotian community has produced many notable leaders, artists, athletes, professionals and entrepreneurs, and as the city continues to grow, there are more opportunities than ever to support Black-owned businesses and experiences in Halifax.

Experience authentic Ghanaian flavours right in the heart of Halifax at Mary’s African Cuisine . Order one of Mary’s famous Combination Platters like the popular stewed oxtail, and a bottle of fresh house-made juice. This restaurant is not just vegan friendly, they also serve all-day breakfast, and offer scrumptious desserts like baklava, rice pudding, and mango cheesecake.

It wouldn’t make sense to come to the Halifax area and not visit R&B Kitchen , a family-owned African Nova Scotian restaurant located in Dartmouth. R&B Kitchen specializes in soul food and Caribbean cuisine. Check out their social channels ( @rnbkitchen902 ) for a preview of the “Daily Meal”. Some of their top meals are Rasta Pasta, Fried Chicken Alfredo, the Soul Bowl/Burger, and Jerk Chicken and Oxtail.

Hop aboard the Harbour Hopper , Atlantic Canada’s most popular boat tour, and explore Halifax by land and sea. Although not Black-owned, the Harbour Hopper tour is a fun way to learn about the history of Halifax, including the city’s African Nova Scotian history.

After the tour, take a stroll along the beautiful waterfront and enjoy a delicious meal from Brawta Jamaican Jerk Joint , followed by dessert at Black Bear Ice Cream – both Black-owned businesses.

Indulge in an afternoon of self-care by booking an appointment at Rich Waxx Bar , Halifax’s only vagina boutique. This downtown boutique specializes in all waxing, v-steams, vajacials, hydro jelly vajacial mask treatments, brightening services and more.

Next, take a short walk down Barrington Street to Slayed Hair & Esthetics . Although not Black-owned, this salon carries self-care products from My Centrepeace , a Black-owned Canadian business. These products include hand-poured candles made with soy wax and essential oils and yoni steam herbs (they have an online shop as well!).

Visit the Africville Museum in a replica of the Seaview United Baptist Church, a church that was once the heart of this historic community. You’ll learn of the history of Africville , a Black community on the northern shore of the Halifax peninsula that was demolished in the 1960s to make way for industrial development. Today, the museum tells the story of a community that met the extreme indignities of racism with resilience and grace.

Learn about more than 400 years of Black history in Nova Scotia through the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia , located in the historic Black community of Cherry Brook. Visitors will learn about slavery, Black Loyalists and Refugees, the Maroons, Caribbean Migrants, No. 2 Construction Battalion and more. There’s also a great gift shop where you can purchase something for yourself or a loved one.

René Boudreau

René is the founder and CEO of Elevate & Explore Black Nova Scotia , a travel community and business aimed at encouraging Black travellers from across the world to visit Nova Scotia and to inspire people from all backgrounds to explore our beautiful province.

René works to promote diversity, inclusion, and representation in travel by creating extraordinary experiences that highlight the best of Nova Scotia’s Black communities, businesses, culture, history, and heritage.

Explore Nova Scotia with René on Instagram @elevateandexploreblackns .

Welcome to Halifax

P'jilita'q wla kjipuktuk.

Halifax is in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. The people of the Mi’kmaw Nation have lived on this territory for millennia, and we acknowledge them as the past, present and future caretakers of this land.  Historically, a land acknowledgment is a traditional practice shared amongst Indigenous groups to recognize the Indigenous land and territory they are visiting. Today a land acknowledgement remains a way to express one’s gratitude to the Indigenous people for being stewards of the land that we live and work on.

Privacy Overview

Our mission.

To encourage Black travellers across the world to visit Mi'kma’ki, Turtle Island (Nova Scotia, Canada) and to inspire people from all backgrounds to explore our beautiful province.

“I believe that with more representation and cultural awareness, Nova Scotia will become a top tourist destination for Black travellers.”

René Boudreau, Founder & CEO

Black History & Heritage Tour

• Entry/Admission - Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 1S3, Canada watch for our ABERDEEN CHARTERS & TOURS vehilce
• From the pier walk about 5 mins to The Westin Hotel. Your tour guide will meet you there
• Halifax Stanfield Intl Airport, 1 Bell Blvd, Enfield, Nova Scotia B2T 1K2 Canada
• The Westin Nova Scotian, 1181 Hollis St, Halifax, NS B3H 2P6, Canada
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Maritime Museum of the Atlantic Or, you can also get picked up See departure details
• 1 Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included This is a mind blowoing history of people of African descent in Nova Scotia.We will also visit the second oldest black community in Canada etc. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• patrickrY1655JP 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Worse tour of our trip The was the worst tour of our vacation. First off the there were conflicting reports of people on the tour with different times to report so that started the tour 40 minutes late—bad move and should have been a sign. We specifically booked for the reviews of the tour guide Jonathan—we thought he was who we would get and we were under the impression it was a van tour. He emailed us numerous times to the point we were becoming friends and we were very excited about this tour. Well we get on a giant tour bus (not happy) and off we go. It’s a tour that’s to last 5 hours. The second stop we make is to a maple shop. We stop there a bus load of people with one employee and everyone need to use the restroom and wants coffee and souvenirs and one person is doing all of this (running late again besides the start time of 40 minutes). The tour guide is extremely boring, not engaging at all. The Peggy’s Cove stop was adequate but then we stop for lunch and the tour guide and bus driver have to wait tables. On the way back to the cruise terminal half of the bus is sleeping and not listening to the guide and we arrive back 90 minutes late — which is unacceptable. We had other plans which now are cancelled. When I emailed Jonathan Duru (general manager) questioning were we bumped from a private tour to a bus tour and complained; he did not answer the question. Now this is our experience if you like a bus tour where it takes 10 minutes for everyone to get off and then back on and a boring guide then this is for you. Read more Written October 27, 2023
• 618richardy 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Best Tour Guide in Halifax This was my third time putting a group together to tour Halifax Gardens, the Fort, the Titanic gravesite, Peggy's Cove, and wound up at Shaw's Landing for an incredible late lunch. Jonathan Duru is a master story teller, knows Halifax history, as well as the surrounding areas, and I consider his pricing to be very competitive, and about half of what a cruise ship wauld charge. I highly recommend Aberdeen Bus Tours and Jonathan Duru to anyone looking to know more about Halifax and the surrounding area. Read more Written October 26, 2023
• Trinh N 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Spectacular views Great friendly professional guides and driver. We enjoyed the Halifax public garden, titanic grave site and of course Peggy’s Cove. Lot is spectacular views. Read more Written October 22, 2023
• bradsJ2675AG 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Totally worth the money! This trip was fantastic! The tour guide and driver are amazing. Totally worth the money!! And very informative, especially the trip to the cemetery where the titanic victims are buried. Read more Written October 21, 2023
• tmcala 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unique tour to Fisherman's Cove We had a fantastic tour and enjoyed every moment. Jonathan is quite knowledgeable and an enjoyable person. His kindness is phenomenal. We had never been to the Cove and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The Cove is an authentic fishing village with lots of shops, restaurants, and of course, fishermen. Would we go again next time we are in Halifax? For sure, especially with Jonathan Read more Written October 16, 2023
• Noreen C 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wow! What an excellent visit to Halifax and Peggy's Cove! Jonathan was an excellent guide! Knowledgeable and extremely personable. Sites visited were excellent. Take this tour with Jonathan. Highly recommend! Read more Written October 11, 2023
• S172PAteresal 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Review We didn’t get to go to the site of the 1917 explosion, the gardens, and didn’t even stop at the citadel. The guide was really informative but it was over priced. Read more Written October 9, 2023
• Eve420 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Beautiful Lighthouse We arrived in Peggy's Cove around 8.30am for our breakfast. The Fisherman Breakfast served was fantastic - red beans, salty fish cakes. After breakfast and before bus loads arrived, we had panoramic views of the coast and the lighthouse. I felt rather surreal as we were there 1 day after Cyclone Lee landfall in Nova Scotia. The rustic charms of the fishing village brought me down memory lane. Read more Written September 18, 2023
• Katie P 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun, educational, and lots of laughs I just got back from a work trip to Halifax! There were 30 of us going, and we were looking for a fun sightseeing/team bonding tour. I stumbled upon Aberdeen, and I’m so happy I did! Jon, the tour guide, is great! He’s very responsive when planning, and he is a lot of fun during the tour. Everyone raved about the thought that went into where he decided to take us, and our trip wouldn’t have been the same without Jon. Please consider booking your tour with Aberdeen next time you’re in the Halifax area :) Read more Written August 27, 2023
• SusieLancsUK 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommended This is a great opportunity to see Nova Scotia beyond Halifax. Our driver Jonathan was very informative and helpful. The stops were well chosen including the historic, scenic and wineries. Poor weather intervened but this was a trip which I recommend highly. Read more Written August 17, 2023
• staceycJ2876XM 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must-do day time while in Halifax My daughter and I enjoyed this trip from start to end. Our guide, Jonathan, was incredible! We learned a lot about Nova Scotia, were given time to fully explore the three targeted stops and enjoyed extra stops along the way. Read more Written July 4, 2023
• gringatx 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Nice walk and scenary We drove to Peggy's cove from Halifax. And it's a lovely drive. The village itself is walkable and the tourist information center is really nice and informative. We got lots of great pictures here as it's very scenic. On the way to Peggy's cove, we stopped and ate at this place called Shaw's lobster shack. It was right on the water, and that was really good. Oh, and they say, "Piggy's " instead of Peggy's here. It's really cute. Read more Written June 28, 2023
• tonyl255 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles ** Famous Light House ** What a sense of peacefulness with the N. Atlantic ocean and the famous light house , just stunning , it is a memorable experience will last your life time and for sure , must visit ! it is a hot tourist attraction , lot of people , free parking and restaurant on site lot of selection at the gift shop plus clean bathrooms ! Read more Written June 21, 2023
• Voyage306093 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend this tour. Jonathan was the best tour guide. Myself and my sister loved every minute. Thanks Jonathan for an incredible day. Cheers. Read more Written June 9, 2023
• malifranciscog 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic Tour Jonathan was an amazing tour guide. He really made our tour and exploration of Halifax that more special. If we were to come back to visit we would 100% do another tour with him. Read more Written March 16, 2023

More to explore in Halifax

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

Black History & Heritage Tour provided by Aberdeen Bus Tours

Entrepreneur using travel to highlight Nova Scotia's Black history, culture

René boudreau​​​​​​​ created elevate and explore to share travel tips and support black-owned business.

Social Sharing

When René Boudreau visits other parts of the world and tells people where she's from, she's often asked the same question: "There are Black people in Nova Scotia?"

The avid traveller and Halifax-based entrepreneur was tired of answering that question so she decided to create Elevate and Explore, a travel business that aims to promote the province's rich Black history and culture, while supporting Black-owned businesses.

As the borders start to reopen during the pandemic, Boudreau also wants to "attract more people to come to Nova Scotia and see that, not only is there Black people here, but there is a rich, unique history here as well," she told CBC's Information Morning .

On her Instagram page , Boudreau shares photos of Black Nova Scotians exploring the province.

"I want to show that representation," she said.

She's also getting ready to launch a Black history bike tour, which will start at the Halifax waterfront and end in Africville.

​​​​Boudreau did a test run with a group of friends recently.

"It was a really empowering day to be on bikes," she said. "Some of us haven't been on a bike since we were really young. So it was really a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, but also we were biking with a purpose, and we felt that, you know, we were kind of paying tribute to our ancestors."

Even now, with Nova Scotians staying closer to home during COVID-19, Boudreau said there's so much for people to explore.

"Growing up in the school system … a lot of the times we learn about American history, like Black American history and slavery," she said. "We don't really learn much about, I would say, Canadian or Nova Scotia history."

• Campaign connects customers with Black-owned businesses in Halifax
• Black entrepreneurs want Canadian firms to 'put their money where their mouth is' to fight racism

As part of Elevate and Explore, Boudreau is also encouraging people to visit Black-owned businesses and is doing her part by putting together gift baskets with local products to give away on Instagram.

This weekend, a similar initiative to celebrate Black-owned business is taking place on Gottingen Street in Halifax. Entrepreneurs will set up pop-up shops in other businesses to showcase their products and connect with the larger business community.

Organizer Marika Parris told CBC's Information Morning that the event on Saturday and Sunday afternoon will be a return to Gottingen Street's roots.

"You go decades back, what our Black community would see when they walk up Gottingen Street were all Black-owned businesses. Now, we don't see that very much," she said. "We thought it was time to really highlight our Black, locally-owned businesses."

Boudreau plans to host her first bike tour soon — and said that's just the beginning.

"I hope to, you know, have a Black-owned Airbnb where people can rent it out and it's a safe space," she said. "I want to be able to have educational workshops for Black youth to get them talking about travel."

• Province can't make daily self-isolation calls as it grapples with volume
• Visitor restrictions to be eased in long-term care facilities on July 22
• Masks to be mandatory at all N.S. hospitals starting July 21
• COVID-19 school plans in N.S. could include masks, separating classes
• Chester MLA Hugh MacKay subject of court order after series of emails

With files from CBC's Information Morning

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Nova Scotia Noir: Exploring Black History in Canada

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia—What do The Book of Negroes, the Underground Railroad, the film “Jumping The Broom” and wrestler-turned-actor The Rock all have in common?

Answer: All have ties to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

More details on that later.

Whether you’re a diehard globetrotter who enjoys visiting “off-the-beaten-path” destinations or seeking to escape a former reality TV star’s administration by moving to Canada for the next four years, consider adding this charming port city to your summer travel list.

And if you’re a big history buff, you’ll be even more enthralled with the quaint charm, and scenic beauty that makes this sleepy province a standout—not to mention the scrumptious fresh scallops, oysters and lobster.

The shared history between African-Canadians and African Americans is what makes Nova Scotia’s backstory so fascinating.

It may not have the name recognition of better-known Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal or even Quebec, but as the birthplace of retired professional wrestler Rocky "Soulman" Johnson – father to none other than wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – and as the place where parts of the films “Titanic” (cue Celine Dion) and “Jumping the Broom” were filmed, it’s safe to say that Nova Scotia holds its own as a noteworthy destination.

Related: ‘Black Gotham’ Walking Tour Uncovers Black History of NYC

Hands down, its most significant recent claim to fame is as one of the main locations where the six-part 2015 BET miniseries “ The Book of Negroes” was filmed. The adaptation of the award-winning novel by Canadian author Lawrence Hill traces an African woman’s journey from slavery in New York to freedom in Nova Scotia.

Hill has said that most Americans aren’t “aware of the connection that ties America and Canada through the migration of 3,000 Black Loyalists who came up from the Deep South.”

After my enlightening visit to Nova Scotia, I agree.

The shared history between African-Canadians and African Americans is what makes Nova Scotia’s backstory so fascinating; both have historically endured and ultimately transcended the perils of poverty, destitution, ostrasization and dehumanizing racial discrimination.

Similarly, both also have served as sources of free labor and were, for a time, denied the right to own land and deprived of basic humanity in their respective adopted countries. Fortunately, both also managed to transcend racism and built strong community foundations through historic black institutions like churches and schools.

Nova Scotia also served as a destination of refuge for blacks escaping the brutalities of American slavery and served as a point of migration for an estimated 3,000 Black Loyalists, free blacks and enslaved Africans who accepted the British invitation to fight on their side during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Related: Relatives of the Men Who Endured The Syphilis Study Speak Out

Decades later came the Maroons – a group of freed slaves deported from Jamaica. Estimates vary widely, but at least 30,000 enslaved Africans from America – and potentially up to 100,000 – are believed to have escaped to Canada via the Harriet Tubman-led Underground Railroad.

Although the harsh winters and dehumanizing racial discrimination drove many to Sierra Leone, those who remained in Nova Scotia established nearly 50 strong, tight-knit black settlements such as Preston and Africville. And for a time the coastal community of Birchtown was known as the world’s largest free black settlement outside of Africa.

In more contemporary times, Nova Scotia like America too birthed ebony-hued heroes such as Viola Desmond, who is known as “Canada’s Rosa Parks” for the historic stance she took against segregation in 1946 – nine years before Park’s historic arrest. She was arrested for refusing to move from her seat on the main floor of a segregated movie theater.

Much like Parks, Desmond didn’t get her due for decades. In 2010, well after her untimely death due to health problems in 1965, the province granted her an official apology and pardon. She was honored with her own Canadian stamp in 2012. Last November, the 70th anniversary of her historic arrest, the Canadian Mint announced that in 2018 she would become the first woman other than the Queen to be featured on Canadian currency .

If you’re so inclined to visit, here are a few places you should definitely visit to learn more of this fascinating history, often likened to an ornate and colorful tapestry, firsthand:

Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia

Names like Dr. Carrie Best, Rev. Richard Preston, Burnley Allan "Rocky" Jones, Mathieu Da Costa and William Andrew White, II may not sound familiar, but after a visit here they should. This museum and cultural gathering place has since 1983 worked to “protect, preserve and promote” the history and culture of Nova Scotians of African descent, dating back to the 1600s.

“You can’t tell the story of black people in North America without telling the Canadian piece, which starts in Nova Scotia” says Centre President Craig M. Smith.

Located in Cherrybrook, one of the province’s oldest black communities, this museum and library resource center founded by black Nova Scotian Baptist minister W.P. Oliver, focuses exclusively on the history and culture of black Nova Scotians. Visitors may explore the library, auditorium and exhibit rooms that capture community life, religious life, military service and migration.

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

Dubbed by some as the "Ellis Island of Canada," Port 21 at the Halifax seaport was the point of entry for an estimated one million immigrants between 1928 and 1971. Now Canada’s last standing ocean immigration terminal is a sprawling facility aimed at enhancing public understanding of how immigrants have shaped Canada’s culture, economy and way of life.

The experience of black Canadians is seamlessly woven into the broader story, including the stories of the black refugees of the War of 1812 (many African Nova Scotians today are their descendants), the Black Loyalists who arrived at Birchtown, Nova Scotia and the African–American farmers who were actively discouraged to farm the lands of western Canada at the turn of the last century.

“We share stories of inclusion and exclusion within the context of Canada’s changing immigration policies and values,” says Manager of Research Monica MacDonald. “Included in this would be the stories of black Nova Scotians.”

Thanks to a $30 million expansion in 2015, Pier 21 now offers more digital technology and interactive activities that capture the diverse stories that make up Canada’s multi-dimensional immigration narrative.

Black Loyalist Heritage Centre

The first of its kind in North America, this relatively new center, situated on a stunning two-acre property overlooking Shelburne Harbour in historic Birchtown, is dedicated to preserving the story of the Black in all of North America.

Take in the view of Birchtown Bay as you climb up the Shaw Turret, a tribute to all Black Loyalist communities in Nova Scotia. Enter the Centre’s Lindsay Gallery and immerse yourself in the multimedia presentation of the Black Loyalist journey from Africa to the American colonies, then to Nova Scotia and back to Africa.

“There are African Americans who will be able to trace their ancestors to Nova Scotia and beyond; this tells their story,” says Public Outreach and Community Coordinator Vanessa Fells. “We are one community, one family. We should support each other and in order to do this we must know about each other.”

This museum has literally risen from the ashes, after a fire believed to have been ignited by an arsonist destroyed the main building, library, computers, valuable genealogical data and one-of-a-kind artifacts in 2006. The community rallied together and with help from the Black Loyalist Heritage Society and the Canadian government raised $2.3 million within a year and a half to rebuild to reopen in June of 2015.

It features interactive multimedia exhibits and a long glass wall bearing the names of Nova Scotia’s Black Loyalists as they appear in the real-life The Book of Negroes document, an inspection roll that lists the names, genders and slaveowner information of the Loyalists who boarded British ships.

Other nearby Birchtown attractions include a National Historic Monument at the Black Loyalist burial ground, a one-room schoolhouse built in 1835, an Anglican house of worship that opened in 1906 and selections from a collection of more than 16,000 artifacts. And in case you’re wondering, yes, the new main brick and steel building is fire-resistant.

Follow NBCBLK on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram

Chandra Thomas Whitfield is a multiple-award-winning multimedia journalist and regular NBCBLK contributor. To read more of her work, go to her  website , follow her on  Twitter  or like her on  Facebook .

Black History Tour

Located at Cherrybrook Road and Main Street, Mathieu da Costa was the first person of African descent known to have settled here and spoke the Mi’kmaq language of Nova Scotia. The Black Cultural Centre houses a museum section, an auditorium, gift shop, and a reference library. A colorful array of historic exhibitions, souvenirs and publications await you.

Our tour of the Black Cultural Centre will consist of visiting the former Africville Village, where many African-Nova Scotians lived. We will also visit some of the African-Canadian historic homes and the United Baptist church. At the museum itself, you will be able to learn some interesting and significant facts about African-Canadian history from the time of the slave trade, the emancipation from slavery and the general struggle of black people from the United States to Canada, en route from and to Africa.

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Nova Scotia Black History Tour - Picture Perfect Tours

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So you’re looking for advice, eh? One word GO! That’s it. Spend your money, save your money... read more

It was my 60th birthday gift to me to visit Sable Island and thanks to Geordie with Picture Perfect... read more

Nova Scotia Black History Tour

I contacted Geordie to assist in designing a tour for a group of travel agents who are members of the Travel Professionals of Color. Geordie designed a very informative tour and lunch during our time in port. The tour was excellent! It was educational and informative. We were on a cruise so we had limited time. I would like to return one day when I have more time. I will definitely recommend Geordie and Picture Perfect to my fellow agents and clients when they visit Halifax. Thanks Geordie for a wonderful time.

Thank you BeverlyBentley for trusting us to put together a fantastic team - Mr. Lou, Trevor, Juanita, Russel, etc,- to showcase an important and vibrant dynamic of our region's culture. And thank you for putting together a fantastic team of travel professionals that made the day so much fun! Come back our way again soon!

We had the great pleasure of having a semi-customized tour of Halifax because I have the good fortune of having a notable ancestor from Nova Scotia. Geordie did an excellent job of preparing a tour through out the city that included historical factoids about early Nova Scotia and the role my ancestor played. Geordie was very kind and it was a very special tour for me and my wife. Beyond that Halifax is a beautiful city, rich with history from the colonial period to the present. I highly encourage you to employ Picture Perfect Tours for a very thorough and perhaps personalized tour of Halifax and beyond. You won't be disappointed!

Thanks Christopher, my only regret was that you weren't here a little longer so we could have explored a bit more of the area and history. You'll have to come back and visit again!

We had a good day with Scotty and were happy to have the perspective of another professional photographer to help us capture good landscape photos. It was also good to see something of the Nova Scotian countryside and learn about the history of the area. An excellent tour.

As a professional photog, I'm glad it's not just me that Scotty has been able to pass wisdom on to! He is pretty good at his day job. Thank you for the review and for travelling halfway around the world to visit Nova Scotia!

Geordie was an entertaining guide! He related to everyone on the tour, young and old. Myself and my son, age 11, went on the Historic Halifax tour--it was insightful and unique! My son and and I both gained a new interest in photography along the way. You don't need to be an expert to appreciate and enjoy the artistic flare of this tour. This is a tour for people who like the road less travelled, history buffs, artists, and those interested in cultural heritage. There are lots of quirky and unique spots to explore in Halifax! Take the path less travelled with Geordie, you won't regret it.

As I mentioned at the start of our Historic Halifax tour, this is the first time I've combined my useless degrees in photography and art history into meaningful employment so I'm glad your son was there to see there is hope for everyone to combine their odd passions! Thanks for taking a last-second chance with joining our tour and we hope you come back again to Halifax soon.

We actually took two tours with Geordie, the Peggy's Cover early morning tour and the Halifax tour. Both were outstanding. Because we were there late in the season we actually had a "private" tour to Peggy's Cove, just the two of us and Geordie. My husband and I are both avid photographers and have very good cameras but both of us (especially me) still have a lot to learn about the operation of the camera's and how to use more of the camera's capabilities. We both learned so much from Geordie both technical and creativity wise. He was able to provide a lot of technical advice and he has a wonderful eye for unusual perspectives when photographing everyday things. We both got some really outstanding images. Both tours also provided a lot of historical information about the places we visited. Geordie knows a lot about the area and has a wonderfully humorous delivery of what could dry history.

Thank you so much to both of you for a wonderful couple of days at Peggy's Cove and Halifax. I'm so glad I could keep you engaged and entertained over the 2 days! When Nova Scotia has such stunning scenery and rich stories to share, then it's pretty easy to do. Thanks for travelling across the continent to visit us our edge of the North Atlantic and enjoy your travels!

Geordie is a great and knowledgeable tour guide. Had a lot of fun spending the day touring local spots and learning a little more about how to use DSLR cameras. That being said, you can definitely also do this tour with your smart phone camera as well, and learn tips for that. Cant wait to return again next year and try the peggy's cove morning light tour.

Hi deerogers2018 - we'll have the shotgun seat in the van preheated and ready for you when we go out to Peggy's Cove next year!

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Nova Scotia cultural organizations receive over $1.3 million for resilient infrastructure

From: Canadian Heritage

News release

The Government of Canada supports eight cultural organizations in Nova Scotia with $1,356,169 in funding

HALIFAX, March 26, 2024

The places and spaces we transform through sharing art and culture become so much more than their four walls. We remember and cherish the places where we were when special moments took place.

Nova Scotia’s diverse and vibrant culture is supported by numerous organizations that deliver performances, exhibits, workshops, displays and more. The staff and volunteers of these groups work hard to organize events and activities that tell Nova Scotia’s rich story through the arts.

For these cultural organizations to deliver quality activities while accommodating and welcoming different audiences, it is essential that facilities incorporate new technologies, modern infrastructure and upgrades to their spaces.

Today, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced that more than $1.3 million from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund has been awarded to eight organizations in Nova Scotia. The announcement was made during a visit to one of the funding recipients, the Neptune Theatre, in Halifax.

The Neptune Theatre is receiving $54,000 to transform their warehouse into a functional carpentry workshop and professional storage area. The conversion will require electrical and plumbing installation, heavy-duty shelving and safety lighting. The improvements will create a better working space for Neptune Theatre’s professionals working in set construction, lighting, sound, prop design and more, which will result in enhanced experiences for audiences and performers on stage.

The other organizations receiving funding are: King’s Theatre Society ($489,313); Museum of Natural History ($346,000); Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association ($249,722); Conseil acadien de Par-en-Bas ($125,000); Songwriters and Storytellers Society ($75,000); Cobequid Arts Council (10,533$); and Society for Arts Presentation / Centre for Arts Tapes ($6,681).

“Theatre and the performing arts help us find meaning, connect with others and build resilient culturally minded communities. For over 50 years, Neptune Theatre has been the heartbeat of Atlantic Canadian creativity, offering creative, breathtaking, and daring performances. Through every obstacle, Neptune perseveres, bringing us unforgettable moments for both audiences and artists alike, enriching the very fabric of Nova Scotia’s theatre community.” —The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“Last summer, Neptune Theatre had to relocate its carpentry shop from its 40-year location to a new warehouse. The support from Canadian Heritage allowed Neptune to retrofit a new space and execute the move without interrupting its production schedule. The importance of supporting infrastructure is vital to our operations but often challenging to fund. Canadian Heritage’s support in this regard is incredibly meaningful to Neptune’s ongoing success.” —Kimberlee Stadelmann, Executive Director, Neptune Theatre

Quick facts

Neptune Theatre’s 56,000-square-foot facility houses two large theatres: Fountain Hall (Main Stage Theatre) and Scotiabank Stage (Second Stage Theatre), which accommodate a total of 680 patrons. Last year, Neptune Theatre produced more than 310 performances and attracted approximately 82,000 paid audience members.

Neptune Theatre is a significant cultural employer in the region, with more than 250 theatre professionals working in performance and set, costume, lighting, sound and prop design, as well as more than two dozen professionals from the local theatre community as instructors for theatre education programs.

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Support to Nova Scotia cultural organizations

Associated links

• Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
• Neptune Theatre

For more information (media only), please contact:

Ariane Joazard-Bélizaire Press Secretary Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage [email protected]

Media Relations Canadian Heritage [email protected]

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News & Events

African Heritage Month Gala 2024

A Celebration of Black Art & Culture

Presented by: rbc.

Join us for an exciting evening at the Halifax Convention Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia as we celebrate African Heritage Month 2024! This gala is a vibrant showcase of Black arts & culture that will leave you inspired and entertained. Featuring Gary Beals and a host of African Canadian talent.

The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia is hosting a Gala event presented by RBC to celebrate and honour the Black Presence in Arts & Culture in Nova Scotia and Canada. The 2024 African Heritage Month Gala Dinner will take place on Saturday, February 24 th , at 5:30 pm at the Halifax Convention Centre. It will be an evening of great cultural entertainment, artistic engagement, and food. The headlining artist will be former Canadian Idol and award-winning artist, Gary Beals along with a host of cultural performers and artists. The spectacular evening will also include a pre-reception Cultural Village that will highlight organizations that support and elevate Black Culture, Heritage and Art. Tickets are $100 per person (plus fees), and corporate tables are also available. For tickets and more information visit: www.bccns.com/gala2024

This event is presented by RBC and is supported by a host of community partner organizations: Black Culture and Heritage Foundation of Canada, CTV Atlantic, Move 100, 101.3 Virgin Radio, Dance Nova Scotia, Symphony Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre, The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Halifax Convention Centre, Black Business Initiative, African Nova Scotian Affairs, Halifax Stanfield Airport, Tribe and Encore.

The commencement of African Heritage Month is traced back to 1926. Harvard-educated Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, founded Negro History Week to recognize the achievements made by African Americans.

Woodson purposefully chose February because of the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln who were both key figures in the emancipation of enslaved Blacks. In the 1950’s Negro History Week was celebrated in Canada, and in 1976 it was expanded to Black History Month.

For over the past decades, contributions of African-Canadians have been acknowledged informally, however Nova Scotia has set a path for Canada’s recognition of African Heritage Month. Our province has been a leader in the promotion and recognition of our African heritage to our country.

This event will be in support of the Black Cultural Centre’s capital plan to expand.

Tickets are $100.00 Each (plus fees) and are available now online. 

African Heritage Month 2024 – Theme Announced

African heritage month information network.

Nova Scotia – Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 22, 2023

CELEBRATE AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2024

Sharing the History and Culture of African Nova Scotians

This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme, Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians , outlines the spirit of perseverance that people of African Descent have demonstrated over the centuries in our province. It can be said that our smiles can tell a story, they can share our joy and can share our resilience. This African Heritage Month we celebrate our heritage and culture and the incredible spirt to overcome. The theme also aligns with the final year of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD) 2015-2024. The goal of DPAD is to strengthen global cooperation in support of people of African descent, increase awareness and the passage towards presence in all aspects of society.

Nova Scotia has 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep and complex history dating back over 200 years. African Heritage Month provides us with another opportunity to celebrate our culture, legacy, achievements and contributions of our people – past and present.

From the beginning

The commencement of Black Heritage Month (now referred to as African Heritage Month) is traced back to 1926. Harvard-educated Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, founded Negro History Week to recognize the achievements made by African Americans.  

Woodson purposefully chose February because of the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln who were both key figures in the emancipation of enslaved Blacks. In the 1950’s Negro History Week was celebrated in Canada, and in 1976 it was expanded to Black History Month.

Black History Month in Canada

For over the past decades, contributions of African-Canadians have been acknowledged informally, however Nova Scotia has set a path for Canada’s recognition of African Heritage Month. Our province has been a leader in the promotion and recognition of our African heritage to our country.  Some efforts of Nova Scotia include: 

• 1985 – The “official” opening night of Black History Month at the North Branch Library
• 1987 – First meeting of the Black History Month Association
• 1988 – First Black History Month in Nova Scotia
• 1994 – Black History Month Association was officially incorporated in Nova Scotia
• 1996 – Black History Month renamed to African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia

We believe some of these efforts have influenced our country to take action on a national level:

• 1995 – The House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month following a motion introduced by the Honourable Jean Augustine, the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament.
• 2008 – The Senate officially declared February as Black History Month by Nova Scotia Senator Donald Oliver, Q.C., the first Black man appointed to the Senate.  His motion was the final parliamentary procedure needed for Canada’s permanent recognition of Black History Month.

About the African Heritage Month Information Network

The African Heritage Month Information Network (AHMIN) is a partnership between the Black Cultural Centre/ Society, African Nova Scotian Affairs, African Nova Scotian Music Association, African Heritage Month Southwest Network, Black History Month Association, Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association, Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association, Halifax Regional Municipality’s African Nova Scotian Integration Office, and Guysborough, Antigonish Strait African Regional Network.

Each year, we produce an educational poster that is distributed and displayed in community gathering centers, schools, churches, government offices and businesses. Those interested in ordering a copy, please visit www.bccns.com/ahmposter .

The AHMIN also facilitates African Heritage Month events and municipal proclamations across the province. A full listing is available at: http://www.ahm.bccnsweb.com

For more information about African History Month, please contact:

Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia Phone: (902) 434-6223 Email: [email protected]

40th Anniversary & Capital Expansion Plans

The black cultural centre for nova scotia celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Cherry Brook, NS – August 29, 2023

It is celebration time, and time to expand facilities at one of the ‘precious gems’ in the Nova Scotia Cultural and Heritage crown.

It was forty years ago on September 17th, 1983 when a dream of the late Rev. Dr. William Pearly Oliver came to fruition. It was the opening of the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. A museum and educational centre designed and commissioned to protect, preserve, and promote the culture and history of African Nova Scotians.

In this 40th year we begin to elevate the Centre to a new place; a National Black Cultural and Heritage Centre of Excellence.

Our Patron Co-Chairs for the Centre’s 40th Anniversary events are the Honourable Dr. Mayann E. Francis, ONS and the Honourable Dr. Wayne Adams, ONS, CM.

The Black Cultural Centre started small, and today it is internationally recognized. It is Canada’s largest and oldest provincial museum dedicated to Black Culture and Heritage. And of course, Nova Scotia is the birthplace of Black Culture and Heritage in Canada. The Black Cultural Centre is pleased to announce that over the past year we launched a capitol foundation that will aid in major fundraising efforts. We have in place the Black Culture and Heritage Foundation of Canada, chaired by the Hon. Wayne Adams.

Throughout the next twelve months, the Centre will host a series of special events and programs to support our new and exciting 40,000 square foot expansion plans. The Centre’s capital campaign is valued at 40 million dollars. We are pleased to share that Mr. Gregory Keating, long-time friend and support of the organization has provided our first contribution of half a million dollars.

The new expanded facility will include a dedicated 300-seat theatre for performing arts and artists; a grand hall for community use events and an expanded and needed new archival storage area for our ever-expanding precious museum collection.

Anniversary Events:

Sept. 14th – The Halifax Chamber of Commerce will jointly sponsor a Business Luncheon with Canada’s outstanding business tycoon and CBC Dragon’s Den member (Mr. Fix it) Mr. Wes Hall at the Halifax Westin Hotel (11:30 am). >> More Info

IMPORTANT NOTE

After consulting with emergency and weather experts, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this weekend’s 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner (September 16th) and An Evening of Jazz with Shelley Hamilton and Holly Arsenault (September 17th) in anticipation of the possible weather.

The new dates of the events will be Saturday, September 23, 2023 and Sunday, September 24, 2023.

Your current ticket(s) will be honoured at the re-scheduled event. If you would like a refund, or to transfer your ticket to someone else please email us at: [email protected] or call: 902-434-6223.

We thank you for your understanding and look forward to seeing you at the new date for the celebrations.

Sept. 23th – 40th Anniversary Gala Banquet and Celebration – An evening of celebration and reflection of the Black Cultural Centre’s 40 years with keynote speeches by the Hon. Dr. Mayann Francis, former Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia, and the Hon. Dr. Wayne Adams, Nova Scotia’s first black legislator. The evening will feature a three-course meal, and music by award-winning international artist Shelley Hamilton. (6:00 pm).

Tickets $40. 00 at  the Centre or Online >> More Info

Sept. 24th – An Evening of Jazz styling with award-winning artist Shelley Hamilton, accompanied by well-known pianist Holly Arsenault at the Black Cultural Centre. (7:30 pm) 

Tickets $20.00 at the Centre or Online  >> More Info

Sept. 22nd – NIA Black Youth Summit in partnership with NS Human Rights Commission. This youth summit will be open to students in high school from across the province to explore the youth perspective in addressing anti-Black racism and social injustice. (10 am).

>> More Info

Emancipation Day 2023

Emancipation Day is the day The Slavery Abolition Act became law in the British Empire (including Canada) and ended the practice of slavery for millions of African People and their descendants around the world. The Act became law on August 1, 1834 marking the first Emancipation Day.

• On March 24, 2021 Members of Parliament unanimously  voted to designate August 1 as Emancipation Day.
• On April 21, 2021 the Province of Nova Scotia voted unanimously to designate August 1 as Emancipation Day.
• On June 28, 2021 the Senate of Canada voted unanimously to designate August 1 as Emancipation Day.

Everyone can and is encouraged to recognize Emancipation Day as it is a part of our shared history. Visit this website and our events page for a list of programs and events across Nova Scotia.

For a complete list of events visit: www.emancipationdayns.ca  

Celebrate Spiritual Heritage Through Music

Halifax, NS – The Northern Star Music Society is pleased to announce its upcoming Celebrate Spiritual Heritage Through Music Gospel Concert on  Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 6:30  pm at New Beginnings Ministries, 26 Cherry Brook Road, Cherry Brook, NS. The Northern Star Music Society promotes gospel music in our great province of Nova Scotia.

The July 29th gospel concert kicks off the debut of The Northern Star Chorale during a choir exchange project with the renowned Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church Choir of Cleveland, Ohio. The Northern Star Chorale is a local 40-voice choir that includes such well known and powerful black gospel voices as Reeny Smith, Lenora Simmonds, Esther Medley-Smith, Cyndi Cain-Holmes, Joe Colley, and many more; under the leadership of the chorale’s founding member Shawn Downey of Sharp 5 Productions and directed by Jonathan Smith of the renowned Gospel Heirs from North Preston, NS.

The guest choir from Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church will be visiting Dartmouth, NS the week of July 26-30, 2023, for this monumental spiritual music exchange and concert event. The Blessed Hope Missionary Baptist Church Choir is under the direction of Javert “Jaye” Haynes, well known bass player for Bobby Jones Gospel.

Spiritual Music has played an important role in the perseverance of the Black community in Nova Scotia. This monumental choir exchange hosted by The Northern Star Music Society aims to demonstrate the linkage in relation to black history, migration, and the extensive genealogical connection that exists between Nova Scotia and the United States of America.

Celebrating Spiritual Heritage Through Music – Gospel Concert Saturday, July 29, 2023 – 6:30 pm New Beginnings Ministries, 26 Cherry Brook Road, Cherry Brook, NS

Tickets are available now: $30 Advance and $40 at the Door (Children under 12: $20) On-line Tickets Available at: https://shop.bccns.com/collections/event-tickets or by contacting: Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia 10 Cherry Brook Road, Cherry Brook, NS (902) 434-6223

This event is supported by Sharp 5 Productions, The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, and New Beginnings Ministries. 

Media inquiries: Shawn Downey, President The Northern Star Music Society [email protected] (902) 430-3959

Remembering No. 2 Construction Battalion

30th annual no. 2 construction battalion remembrance ceremony.

The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia cordially invite you to attend a series of events to honour and pay tribute to No. 2 Construction Battalion C.E.F. an all Black regiment that served during the First World War.

This year there will be two commemorative events.

Wednesday, July 5, 2023 CFB Gagetown, Oromocto, New Brunswick – 1pm Flag Raising Ceremony to honour No. 2 Construction Battalion on the Anniversary if its creation date of July 5, 1916.

Saturday, July 8, 2023 Pictou Waterfront, Pictou, Nova Scotia – 10 am 30th Annual No. 2 Construction Battalion Remembrance Ceremony and Honour Parade.

Keynote Speaker: Commodore Jacques Olivier, Director General Professional Conduct and Development – Canadian Armed Forces.

A community bus service, departing from the Black Cultural Centre, Halifax and Truro will also be available for the July 8th event.

Spaces are still available, please call: 902-434-6223 to register.

2023 Summer Employment Opportunities

The Black Cultural Centre is pleased to be able to offer multiple summer employment positions this year. The application deadline is May 19, 2023.

Students who are currently enrolled in an educational institution and plan to return to studies in the fall and are between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment are eligible to apply.

Current Opportunities:

Museum Interpreter / Tour Guide  – Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia

Multi-Media Programmer – Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia

Community Researcher / Archivist 

All positions range in duration from 8-12 weeks (Starting late May/Early June) and are a total of 35 hours per week with an hourly rate of $15.50 per hour.

Job Title: Museum Interpreter / Tour Guide

Location: Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia

Work Language: English, basic French knowledge would be an asset but not required.

Application Deadline: May 19, 2023

Be Inspired! Celebrate Nova Scotia’s rich Black History

Be a part of sharing the rich history and diverse culture of African Nova Scotians. The Black Cultural Centre established in 1983 is looking for energetic and creative individuals to inspire and welcome visitors to the museum, assist in developing programs and events.

Job Description: Be part of the museum team, interacting with visitors to the museum. Occasional assignments which will include assisting with exhibits that portray African Nova Scotian heritage as well as guided tours and hosting visitors. Research and gathering of oral history. Providing services that assist tourists and researchers in gaining valuable knowledge of Black history and culture through the many displays, exhibits and artifacts at the Black Cultural Centre.

Duties: Provide guided museum interpretive tours to visitors; assist public in orientation to Centre; conduct youth activity programs and summer camps; assist in library research by patrons; conduct oral history interviews, assist in retail sales in gift shop, assist in museum and display maintenance and upkeep. Update basic web pages and develop web newsletter content. The position will also include duties associated with special programs, events and general museum operations. Access to a computer and internet for remote work my be required.

Qualifications: -University and/or college student (returning to studies); -General knowledge and interest of African-Nova Scotia History; -Digital graphics computer skills (Photography, Photoshop etc) -Good verbal and written communication skills; -Able to conduct research and conduct interviews; -Ability to conduct research via internet and library; -Customer service skills an asset; -Ability to read/write French would be an asset; -Basic computer skills: Microsoft Office; -Retail experience an asset;

Important Notes:

How To Apply:

Step 1: Submit resume and cover letter via email: [email protected] or via fax: 902-434-2306 Application Deadline: May 19, 2023

Only successful candidates will be contacted.

Job Title: Multi-Media Programmer 

Location: Cherry Brook

Be a part of sharing the rich history and diverse culture of African Nova Scotians. The Black Cultural Centre established in 1983 is looking for energetic and creative individuals to inspire and welcome visitors to the museum.

Job Description: To be part of the Black Cultural Centre’s program team, responsible for community virtual programs, and the development of multi-media content. Assignments, which will include assisting with multi-media creation of exhibits and virtual displays that portray African Nova Scotian heritage. Development of virtual content for online sharing as well as the gathering of oral and community histories from Canada’s Black community. Digitizing of digital records and artifacts in various formats, such as audio, video and animated graphics. Providing services that assist researchers and the public at large in gaining valuable knowledge of Black history and culture through digital content. Interacting with members of the African Nova Scotian communities throughout the province to create virtual content. Access to a computer and internet for remote work may be required.

Duties: Development and create of digital content and multi-media content that promotes and protects Black history and culture.

Qualifications: -University and/or college student (returning to studies); -General knowledge and interest of African-Nova Scotia History; -Video and photography knowledge is an assets -Digital graphics computer skills (Photography, Photoshop etc); -Good verbal and written communication skills; -Video and Audio editing skills -Ability to read/write French would be an asset; -Basic computer skills: Microsoft Office

Job Title: Community Researcher / Archivist

Job Description: To be part of the Black Cultural Centre’s program team, responsible for community virtual programs, outreach and youth programs. Assignments, which will include assisting with exhibits that portray African Nova Scotian heritage through special programs and community activities. Development of virtual content for online sharing as well as the gathering of oral and community histories from Canada’s Black community. Providing services that assist tourists and the public at large in gaining valuable knowledge of Black history and culture through the many displays, exhibits and artifacts at the Black Cultural Centre. Interacting with members of the African Nova Scotian communities throughout the province to hold virtual events and in-person programs. Provide creative youth programs and be able to deliver youth programming, such as day camps and special virtual cultural education programs. Access to a computer and internet for remote work required.

Duties: Conduct community research by way of oral histories and community resources, provide support to the creating and carrying out of outreach programs and events associated with the Black Cultural Centre; assist in research programs and community outreach and virtual events.

Qualifications: -University and/or college student (returning to studies); -General knowledge and interest of African-Nova Scotia History; -Digital graphics computer skills (Photography, Photoshop etc); -Good verbal and written communication skills; -Ability to conduct research via internet and library; -Customer service skills an asset; -Ability to read/write French would be an asset; -Basic computer skills: Microsoft Office

February is African Heritage Month 2023

CELEBRATE AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2023

This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme, Seas of struggle – African Peoples from Shore to Shore , outlines the struggles of people of African Decent faced from the shores of Africa to the shores of Nova Scotia. Recognizing that the one thing that has remained constant in our history is the Atlantic Ocean. The long-standing history of people of African Descent in the development of Canada, the sea has played a vital role. This theme explores the struggle and adversity that was overcome and examines the effects of slavery and sea faring of African Nova Scotians. The theme also aligns with the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD) 2015-2024. The goal of DPAD is to strengthen global cooperation in support of people of African descent, increase awareness and the passage towards presence in all aspects of society. 

Nova Scotia has 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep and complex history dating back over 200 years. African Heritage Month provides us with another opportunity to celebrate our culture, legacy, achievements and contributions of our people – past and present. 

Reserve Your 2023 African Heritage Month Poster

www.bccns.com/ahmposter/

The commencement of Black Heritage Month (now referred to as African Heritage Month) is traced back to 1926. Harvard-educated Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, founded Negro History Week to recognize the achievements made by African Americans. 

For over the past decades, contributions of African-Canadians have been acknowledged informally, however Nova Scotia has set a path for Canada’s recognition of African Heritage Month. Our province has been a leader in the promotion and recognition of our African heritage to our country. Some efforts of Nova Scotia include: 

• 2008 – The Senate officially declared February as Black History Month by Nova Scotia Senator Donald Oliver, Q.C., the first Black man appointed to the Senate. His motion was the final parliamentary procedure needed for Canada’s permanent recognition of Black History Month.

The African Heritage Month Information Network (AHMIN) is a partnership between the Black Cultural Centre/ Society, African Nova Scotian Affairs, African Nova Scotian Music Association, African Heritage Month Southwest Network, Black Educators Association, Black History Month Association, Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association, Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association, Halifax Regional Municipality’s African Nova Scotian Integration Office, and Guysborough, Antigonish Strait African Regional Network.

The AHMIN also facilitates African Heritage Month events and municipal proclamations across the province. A full listing is available at http://www.ahm.bccnsweb.com .

Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia

Phone: (902) 434-6223

Email: [email protected]

A Gospel Christmas

A Gospel Christmas – December 3, 2022

The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia is pleased to present: A Gospel Christmas, featuring the Nova Scotia Mass Choir & special guests. The concert will be in collaboration with New Beginnings Ministries.

Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 6:30 pm. New Beginnings Ministries – 26 Cherry Brook Road.

Tickets are $25.00 and $20.00 for Students (aged 5 to 25 with valid student ID) and Seniors (age 60 +). Available now online and at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia.  

All proceeds to support programs and activities of the Black Cultural Centre, New Beginning Ministries and the Nova Scotia Mass Choir.

Remembrance Day 2022

Annie V. Johnson Chapter of the IODE & The Preston Area Remembrance Day Committee

Preston Area Remembrance Day Ceremony Honoring Black Veterans who served in: World War I & II Korean, & Afghanistan Wars Regular & Reserve Forces

Friday, November 11, 2022 – 10:45 AM (Atlantic) North Preston Cenotaph

Also available online (Livestream): www.bccns.tv

CELEBRATE AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH 2021

This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme, Black History Matters: Listen, Learn, Share and Act, recognizes the important legacy of people of African Descent and the long-standing history in the development of Canada. This theme brings focus and increased awareness of racialized issues of a community that has overcome great adversity for inclusion in all aspects of Society. It further calls on us to listen, learn, share and act to make society a better place.