Africville was a small unincorporated community located on the southern shore of Bedford Basin, in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. During the 20th century, the City of Halifax began to encroach on the southern shores of Bedford Basin, and the community was eventually included as part of the city through municipal amalgamation. Africville was populated entirely by black families from a wide variety of origins. The community and its dwellings were ordered destroyed, and residents evicted during the late 1960s in advance of the opening of the nearby A. Murray MacKay suspension bridge, related highway interchange construction and related Port of Halifax development at Fairview Cove to the west. Bedford Basin is a large enclosed bay, forming the northwestern end of Halifax Harbour on Canadas Atlantic coast. ... The City of Halifax (1841-1996) was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, and the largest city in Atlantic Canada. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English (de facto) Government Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament House seats 11 Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... Looking towards Dartmouth from Halifax side The A. Murray MacKay Bridge is the second suspension bridge linking the Halifax peninsula with Dartmouth and opened on July 10, 1970. ...

History

Settled in earnest after the War of 1812, the community of Africville was officially founded in the 1840s. The community had a population of approximately 400 residents, mostly African. The population did not fluctuate significantly in size or character from its inception to its end; it remained a ramshackle collection of houses. In the late 1850s, the Nova Scotia Railway was built from Richmond to the south, bisecting Africville as the line wound its way along the western shores of Bedford Basin. The Intercolonial Railway, later Canadian National Railways, constructed Basin Yard west of the community and trains ran through the area constantly. This article is about the U.S.–U.K. war. ... // First use of general anesthesia in an operation, by Crawford Long The first electrical telegraph sent by Samuel Morse on May 24, 1844 from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.. First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi, Northland New Zealand. ... // Production of steel revolutionized by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Railroads begin to supplant canals in the United States as a primary means of transporting goods. ... The Nova Scotia Railway was incorporated March 31, 1853 to build railway lines from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Pictou, Nova Scotia by way of Truro, Nova Scotia, from Halifax to Victoria Beach (near Digby, Nova Scotia by way of Windsor, Nova Scotia, and from Truro, Nova Scotia to the border... Intercolonial Railway of Canada logo or herald The Intercolonial Railway of Canada (IRC), also referred to as the Intercolonial Railway, was a historic Canadian railway. ... CN redirects here, as its the most common usage of the abbreviation in Canada; for more uses, see CN (disambiguation). ...

The municipality of Halifax County, and the neighbouring City of Halifax, refused to extend basic utilities such as sanitary water and sewage or street lighting. As the City of Halifax expanded, Africville became a preferred site for all types of undesirable industries and facilities -- prisons, slaughterhouses, even a depository for fecal waste, from nearby Russellville. Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. ... For the Batman villain, see Abattoir (comics). ...

In the Halifax Explosion of 1917, elevated land to the south protected Africville from the direct blast and complete destruction which leveled the neighbouring community of Richmond. However the community did suffer considerable damage. Several residents were killed working at the Richmond Wharves. Africville received little of the reconstruction and none of the modernization which was invested into other parts of the city after the explosion. The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the City of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, that had accidentally collided with a Norwegian ship in The Narrows section of the Halifax Harbour. ...

Eviction

Although Africville was an extremely poor community, the social cohesion of its residents was strong. They fought for and won the right in the 1950s to receive municipal services, but the city council's agreement in principle was never translated into any action. The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ...

By 1960, the area was being studied by developers and municipal planners because of its prime location, and the planned construction of a second bridge to improve links between Dartmouth and Halifax. In the 1970s, the federal government's National Harbours Board was considering a major port expansion in adjacent Fairview Cove, including building a large container terminal. Many social workers and reformers also felt the community should be moved in the spirit of integration and urban renewal. Many of Africville's inhabitants were technically squatters with no legal title to their homes or land, making them exceptionally vulnerable to outside pressure to leave their community. Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ferry running between Halifax and Dartmouth, docked at Dartmouth Ferry Terminal. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Urban Renewal redirects here. ... For other uses, see squat. ...

Although its residents fought bitterly, Africville was destroyed between 1964 and 1967, and its residents were relocated into public housing downtown near Uniacke Square and Mulgrave Park, while some were sent to housing further away from the city centre in places like Spryfield. Many never forgot the stigma of having their personal possessions moved by municipal dumptrucks instead of moving vans. The last remaining resident, Aaron Carvery, left Africville on January 2, 1970, following a protracted dispute. The last building of the community to be demolished was the Seaville African United Baptist Church.[1] Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Uniacke Square is a public housing residential area in the north end of Halifax, Nova Scotia. ... Spryfield is a neighbourhood in Hardcore Pornland Sexyville, Nova Scotia. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Baptist is...

The relocation programme has been criticized for its poor planning as it failed to take into account the way the people lived. Most were simply transplanted into a city and community they did not know, in impersonal apartments. During the demolition, some of the residents were still in their homes as the bulldozers came to demolish the area. Social networks were disrupted, causing depression and a great deal of social distress. To this day the areas of resettlement have a reputation for poverty, crime, and other related social problems.

For many Nova Scotians, Africville remains a symbol of racial discrimination. The relocated residents have almost universally remained impoverished and few, if any, have benefitted economically from the destruction of their former homes in the name of development. Even today, Africville is little heard of outside of the province. An African-American drinks out of a water fountain marked for colored in 1939 at a street car terminal in Oklahoma City. ...

Part of Africville is now occupied by a highway interchange that services the A. Murray MacKay Bridge, however the port development at Fairview Cove did not extend as far east as Africville, leaving the waterfront intact. In light of the controversy surrounding the community, the city of Halifax created Seaview Memorial Park on the site in the 1980s, preserving it from development. Former Africville residents have carried out periodic protests at the park throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including one squatting attempt which lasted over two years. Looking towards Dartmouth from Halifax side The A. Murray MacKay Bridge is the second suspension bridge linking the Halifax peninsula with Dartmouth and opened on July 10, 1970. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ...

In May 2005, New Democratic Party of Nova Scotia Member of the Legislative Assembly Maureen MacDonald introduced a bill in the provincial legislature called the Africville Act. The bill calls for a formal apology from the Nova Scotia government, a series of public hearings on the destruction of Africville, and the establishment of a development fund to go towards historical preservation of Africville lands and social development in benefit of former residents and their descendants. Halifax mayor Peter Kelly has offered land, some money and various other services for a replica of the Seaview African United Baptist Church. After the offer was originally made in 2002, the Africville Genealogy Society requested some alterations to the Halifax offer, including additional land and the possibility of building affordable housing near the site. The Africville site has been declared a national historic site. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Canadian political party. ... A Member of the Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature or legislative assembly of a subnational jurisdiction. ... Maureen MacDonald is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the riding of Halifax Needham for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. ... Peter J. Kelly is the current mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Baptist is... Affordable housing is a dwelling where the total housing costs are affordable to those living in that housing unit. ...

Other references

Canadian jazz pianist Trevor Mackenzie released the album Ain't No Thing Like a Chicken Wing in 1997 as a tribute to the neighbourhood where his father grew up.

African Canadian singer songwriter Faith Nolan released an album in 1986 called Africville. Black Canadian is a term used to identify a Canadian of African descent. ... Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to performers who write, compose, and sing their own material including lyrics and melodies, often providing the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song. ... Faith Nolan (born 1957 in Halifax, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian folk and jazz singer-songwriter and guitarist of mixed African, Mikmaq and Irish heritage. ... An album or record album is a collection of related audio or music tracks distributed to the public. ...

Montreal-born jazz pianist Joe Sealy released a CD of original music, Africville Suite, in 1996. It won a Juno Award in 1997. It includes twelve pieces reflecting on places and activities in Africville, where Sealy's father was born. Sealy was working and living in Halifax during the time of the destruction of the community, and began the suite in memory of his father. The Juno Awards are awards of achievement presented to Canadian musical artists and bands. ...

In 1999, Eastern Front Theatre produced a play by George Boyd, Consecrated Ground, which fictiously chronicled the Africville eviction. The story of Africville is also a significant influence on the work of George Elliott Clarke. George Boyd, one of a family of nine, was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. ... George Elliott Clarke (born February 12, 1960) is a Canadian poet and playwright. ...

In 2007, the Newfoundland metal/hardcore band Bucket Truck released a video for their song "A Nourishment by Neglect", which details the events surrounding the destruction of the Africville community.

External links

• CBC Digital Archives - Africville: Expropriating Nova Scotia's blacks
• Documentary on the History of Africville
• TheCyberKrib.com Interview by Neil Acharya with author Stephen Kimber about fictional novel Reparations: A Story of Africville

Coordinates: 44°40′28.5″N, 63°37′6.6″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...