Halifax appoints first Black police chief: Don MacLean
Halifax Regional Council approved the recommendation by the Board of Police Commissioners to appoint Don MacLean as the Acting Chief of Police. MacLean, who is currently Deputy Chief of Operations, assumes the position on Sept. 16 following the retirement of Chief Dan Kinsella on Sept. 15.
First African Nova Scotian Chief Judge of Provincial, Family Courts Appointed: Perry Borden
Judge Perry F. Borden will be the new chief judge of the Nova Scotia provincial and family courts.
Judge Borden was appointed to the bench in 2020 after serving as a Crown attorney with the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. His time there included five years in the special prosecutions service, focusing on cybercrime, child pornography, child-luring and sexual assault offences.
Police lay charges in homicide of Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond
Police have laid charges in the homicide of Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond that occurred earlier this month in Halifax.
On August 6 at approximately 9:40 p.m., police received a report of a disturbance that had occurred on the Halifax waterfront in the area of the 1500 block of Lower Water Street. Officers located an unresponsive man on the boardwalk. The victim was transported to hospital where he later died.
Halifax police release use of force policy, three years after request from oversight board [VIDEO]
Two years after a confrontation with protesters ended with angry shoving, pepper spray and almost two dozen arrests, Halifax Regional Police finally released its policy on use of force.
It comes as an external review by a Toronto law firm is underway into police action during a protest on Spring Garden Road in August 2021, when hundreds of people tried to stop police and city workers from removing shelters used by homeless people.
Open Letter – Anti-Black Racism at Public Prosecution Service (July 2023)
“The African Nova Scotian Justice Institute has serious concerns about systemic racism at the Public Prosecution Service. Our recent correspondence with government officials and PPS leadership have not left us with great confidence that our concerns are being heard and addressed. We are releasing the most recent correspondence to the public to initiate broader discussions on this problem to better educate all Nova Scotians about these concerns. “
Jamaican migrant worker granted federal health care after being fired from N.S. farm [VIDEO]
A migrant worker who was diagnosed with cervical cancer shortly after arriving in Nova Scotia has been granted health insurance under a federal program.
Kerian Burnett arrived from Jamaica in April 2022 to work on a strawberry farm, and says she was fired after her cancer diagnosis and left without medical coverage.
Her lawyer, Thiago Buchert, says that after nearly eight months Burnett has been admitted to the interim federal health program.
Death of 26-year-old father-to-be ruled a homicide, girlfriend speaks out, says attack was random
The death of a 26-year-old Halifax man last weekend has been ruled a homicide, police say.
In a news release on Wednesday, Halifax Regional Police identified the victim as Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond.
Justice Institute alleges systemic racism at Nova Scotia’s Crown prosecutor’s office
Systemic racism plagues the Crown prosecutor’s office in Nova Scotia, and the office’s efforts to address the problem have only made the situation worse, say critics.
Robert Wright is the executive director of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute, an organization made up of Black lawyers and legal experts whose mandate is to support Black Nova Scotians in contact with the law and to address racism and overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system.
In an open letter on behalf of the Justice Institute and in the interview with the Examiner, Wright said the institute’s correspondence with government officials and leadership at the Crown prosecutor’s office, formally known as the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), leaves them doubtful their concerns about systemic racism at the PPS are being heard and addressed.
Angela Simmonds talks leaving politics with CBC’s Portia Clark [AUDIO]
[AUDIO] – Angela Simmonds was elected as a Liberal MLA in 2021 to represent the Preston riding. She left about halfway into her first term, after running for the leadership of the party. Now, she’s taking on a new challenge! Angela Simmonds talks with Portia about her journey.
Aired: July 5, 2023
Truro council honours Dr. Lynn Jones for appointment to Order of Canada [VIDEO]
During a ceremony at Truro town council, Dr. Lynn Jones, who was recently appointed to the Order of Canada, said there are still issues to challenge and fight for in the community and province. Jones was honoured by the town of Truro during a council meeting Monday. She was one of 60 appointees to the Order of Canada in June.