Education & Youth

Hadia and Oussama Bedoui. Credit: Matthew Byard
Hadia and Oussama Bedoui. Credit: Matthew Byard
Black Business Education & Youth News Sports Youth 

Halifax couple wins award for getting African Nova Scotian, immigrant children into soccer

A Halifax couple with African roots are being recognized for their work in getting African Nova Scotian and immigrant children, and families with financial barriers involved in soccer.

Oussama and Hadia Bedoui co-founded Ignite Soccer in 2020. Oussama is the president and head coach. Ignite was officially recognized as a club under Soccer Nova Scotia earlier this year. Oussama said Ignite has grown significantly in the last two years.

Read more
“On the week of the 75th anniversary of Viola Desmond’s courageous stand against racism & segregation, Marci Ien came to #Halifax to meet with black women leaders about the path forward.”
“On the week of the 75th anniversary of Viola Desmond’s courageous stand against racism & segregation, Marci Ien came to #Halifax to meet with black women leaders about the path forward.” Photo: Andy Fillmore / Twitter.
Education & Youth Elders Feature News News Racism Youth 

Closed-door meeting on Black women in leadership raises concerns for province’s only Black female political science professor

“It is not the role of the Liberal Party to reach into other people’s communities and determine what leadership looks like,” writes El Jones in letter to Andy Fillmore about meeting hosted by MP Marci Ien.

Read more
Auburn Eagles head football coach Dion Thomas-Hodges, left, with assistant coach Terrence Mendes.
Auburn Eagles head football coach Dion Thomas-Hodges, left, with assistant coach Terrence Mendes. Photo: Matthew Byard.
Education & Youth Feature News News Sports Youth 

“Anything is possible:” Black coach, officials achieve firsts in Nova Scotia high school sports

Auburn Drive High School football team’s win at the provincial championship this month, was also a big day for head coach Dion Thomas-Hodges and officials Vince Williams, Andre Williams, and Anthony Williams.

Read more
On Monday, Cikiah Thomas, Delvina Bernard, and Andrea Douglas participated in a ‘Pre-Conference Event for 2023 Universities Studying Slavery Conference, which was moderated by Isaac Saney.
On Monday, Cikiah Thomas, Delvina Bernard, and Andrea Douglas participated in a ‘Pre-Conference Event for 2023 Universities Studying Slavery Conference, which was moderated by Isaac Saney.
Education Education & Youth History News 

Virtual panel discusses the ongoing legacy of slavery and the topic of reparations

On Monday, speakers at a virtual panel discussion talked about reparations and the ongoing legacy of slavery from Nova Scotian and Canadian perspectives. The event was hosted by Dalhousie University, University of King’s College, and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia and was advertised as a pre-conference event for the 2023 Universities Studying Slavery Conference to be hosted by University of King’s College. Isaac Saney, director of the transition year program, moderated the three-person panel.

Read more
Howard Benjamin.
Howard Benjamin.
Black Business Education Education & Youth Elders News Youth 

East Preston Empowerment Academy is changing the careers of Black tradespeople

“We know that there’s a lot of people of colour who’ve been traditionally doing the concrete work in this province,” Benjamin said. “But there’s been very little-to-none that are actually Red Seal designated. Meaning they can never bid for that job, meaning they will always be subjugated to some other company, giving them second rate … subcontractor money.”

“Right now Nova Scotia’s booming in construction, and that community isn’t getting to take advantage of it like other communities are.”

Read more
Shartelle Lyon and her mother Sharmay Beals-Wentzell founded the Valley Anti-Racism Association following the murder of George Floyd.
Shartelle Lyon and her mother Sharmay Beals-Wentzell founded the Valley Anti-Racism Association following the murder of George Floyd. Photo: Shartelle Lyon
Black Business Education Education & Youth Elders Justice & Politics News 

Mother-daughter duo’s passion for anti-racism inspired creation of information sessions for seniors

A series of virtual information sessions for seniors, hosted by professionals from Nova Scotia’s Black community, was inspired by a mother-and-daughter duo who wanted to support BLM protests and fight racism in the province.

The Valley Anti-Racism Association was founded by mother and daughter Sharmay Beals-Wentzell and Shartelle Lyon, who said the group was inspired by the tragic murder of George Floyd last year.

Read more