Robert Wright is the acting interim director of African Nova Scotian Justice Institute. Photo: Matthew Byard

African Nova Scotian Justice Institute to continue ‘invisible’ legal work with renewed funding

The man in charge of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute says its legal work is largely “invisible,” but with renewed funding, it’s increasing its workload.

“Our role in shaping the law, and improving the law, and improving how the criminal justice system responds to and relates to Black people has already been substantial,” interim acting director Robert Wright said.

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Photo: Angela Simmonds / Facebook.

Angela Simmonds resigns as Preston MLA, deputy Speaker

Angela Simmonds, the Liberal MLA for Preston, will be stepping down as a member of the provincial legislature. Her last day will be on April 1.

Simmonds made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in an open letter to her constituents.

“There are many different reasons people get into politics. For me, it has always been about the people. I wanted to help others believe in change and feel inspired to find the courage to make those changes a lasting part of our community. I wanted people to look at me and see opportunity within themselves,” Simmonds wrote in the letter.

“For me, this decision is necessary to stretch out the legacy of changemakers, lifting up new voices while also preserving my own. This experience has taught me a great deal, and I’m ready to take that knowledge into our community, create opportunities and make change — now.”

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Artist and historian David Woods speaks outside City Hall where people gathered as Halifax regional council voted on heritage designation for the former home of Dr. Clement Ligoure. Credit: Matthew Byard

‘Mission accomplished:’ home of Nova Scotia’s first Black doctor gets heritage designation

Halifax regional council voted unanimously Tuesday to designate the former home and clinic of the late Dr. Clement Ligoure, the

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Alonzo Wright is the new director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT). Credit: Nova Scotia Government/Twitter

[VIDEO] – SIRT’s first director of African descent welcomes questions from Black community

One of the longest-tenured Black senior crown prosecutors in Nova Scotia’s history recently appointed as director of Nova Scotia’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is encouraging and welcoming questions from the Black community about cases in his new role.

Alonzo Wright becomes the fourth director of SIRT since its 2012 launch. He’s SIRT’s first director of African descent.

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Community land trusts could mean more affordable housing for Preston, advocates say

“I don’t know that they’re entirely interested in community land trusts for all the community support benefits that come along with it. They’re really interested in it as a way to get affordable housing built. As long as you set yourself up to give government confidence, I think there very likely could be community investments in community land trusts to make these things happen.”

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Social work student collecting data about Black mothers’ experiences with child welfare system

A social work student in New Brunswick wants to interview Black mothers in Nova Scotia who’ve been involved with child welfare servces and the Department of Community Services for child neglect within the past five years.

Renise Robichaud is working on her masters thesis at Université de Moncton. She said Black mothers are overrepresented in the child welfare system and the main issue is the Department of Community Services relies heavily on people reporting parents to the offices of child welfare, which accounts for the majority of the cases they receive.

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Bobby Taylor from Parks Canada looks at his work after installing a commemorative plaque honouring Viola Desmond on the side of the former Rosland Theatre where Desmond was arrested in Nov. 1946. Photo: Matthew Byard.

Plaque honouring Viola Desmond unveiled outside former Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow [VIDEO]

On Friday, a plaque was unveiled outside of the former Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow where Viola Desmond was arrested in 1946 for sitting in the whites-only section. The plaque was unveiled on behalf of Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC).

Rev. Dr. Peter J. Paris was one of the speakers at the unveiling cerermony. Paris was 13 years old and living in New Glasgow when Desmond was arrested.

“I clearly remember hearing my parents and others discussing the incident and lamenting the injustice inflicted on such a young fine businesswoman,”

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