International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: Historically Black Dartmouth Communities - Member's Statement

MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, on this day, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I rise to recognize the historical Black communities in my own constituency of Dartmouth South.

In one of the many waves of Black immigration to Halifax, Loyalists from Chesapeake Bay arrived in Dartmouth after the War of 1812 and settled along parts of Crichton Avenue, Prince Albert Road, Park Avenue, and Victoria Road. Today, over 200 years later, some small pockets of these communities continue to occupy the same neighbourhoods.

While the presence in history of Black communities like North Preston, East Preston, Cherrybrook are widely known, the communities and legacies of these early settlers are not. Many have been forced to move due to the systemic racism, bureaucratic punishments, and economic oppression that are and have been endemic in our institutions, including a constituent of mine who just recently was required to sell her family home after her mother passed away and she couldn't afford to pay an outstanding home improvement debt to the Department of Community Services.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to a time when we recognize, support, and celebrate the legacies and accomplishments of all our racialized communities, not just on this day but every day.

---

Published by Order of the Legislature by Hansard Reporting Services and printed by the Queen's Printer.

Available on INTERNET at http://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/hansard-debates/