News

Tara Taylor & Shelley Fashan
Arts Entertainment News 

New union for Black artists launches in Nova Scotia to fight for fair wages, more protections

The founder and president of a new union for Black artists that launched this week says its mandate is to support Black talent and fight for fair wages, unlike local unions from the past that she says were “flawed from the beginning.”

Tara Taylor said the Union of Black Artists Society (UBAS) will have collective agreements for artists in theater, film, television, music, and fashion. 

“It’s for anyone that is interested in the industry. So, either you join with an interest and we train you to do what you want, or you join with credits and then we put you to work. It should be as simple as that,” Taylor said.

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Acting chair of the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute, social worker, Robert Wright. Photo: Matthew Byard.
Feature News Justice News Racism 

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. 

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The Secret Codes, African Nova Scotian Quilts - curated by: David Woods
Arts History News 

Nova Scotia Black artist, historian hopes Secret Codes quilt exhibit inspires younger generations

An artist and Black historian says he hopes an exhibit of African Nova Scotian quilts inspires a new generation to take up “a dying craft in the Black community.”

David Woods is the curator of the exhibit titled The Secret Codes, which is currently on display at the Dalhousie Art Gallery in Halifax. The exhibit features works from over two dozen predominately African Nova Scotian painters and quilters.

While the exhibit runs until Aug. 6, the gallery will host other events for Emancipation Day on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. Those events will include a curator’s talk, a guided tour with Heather Cromwell of the Vale Quilters Association whose work is featured in the exhibit, and a “family quilts gathering” where people are invited to bring in their quilts to share stories about them.

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Arts News 

Women with a Vision: North Preston mother continues annual celebration in honour of late daughter [VIDEOS]

Vivian Cain’s daughter, Latoya, died in 2020, but it’s her daughter’s memory that keeps Cain motivated to continue planning and organizing the annual North Preston Day Celebration. The event took place last Saturday, the 16th year for the celebration.

“It was so hard when she passed,” Cain said in an interview. “It’s still hard.”

“I worked hard because I didn’t want to think about her, and I just kept busy, busy, busy. That kept my mind so that I wouldn’t have to, you know, be crying and… It helped me.”

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Dr. Lynn Jones with Truro Mayor Bill Mills
Dr. Lynn Jones with Truro Mayor Bill Mills
Elders News Politics 

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.

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Three-picture Collage: Tim Houston, Lionel Desmond, Warren Zimmer
Feature News Justice Justice & Politics News Politics 

Desmond Inquiry Final Report Delayed Again [AUDIO]

“The Nova Scotia government has dismissed the judge presiding over an inquiry that has spent much of the past five years investigated why Afghanistan war veteran Lionel Desmond killed three family members and himself in 2017.

Brad Johns, Nova Scotia’s attorney general, confirmed Tuesday he has asked the chief judge of the provincial court to assign a new judge to finish the work started by provincial court Judge Warren Zimmer, saying the province has waited long enough for Zimmer’s final report.” – City News

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Carolann Wright leads a presentation by the African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Plan (REPP)
Feature News Housing Justice Justice & Politics News Politics Racism 

Stats Canada data show income, housing disparities between Black, white Nova Scotians [INFOGRAPHICS]

Statistics Canada data compiled in a presentation by an organization led by African Nova Scotians show socioeconomic disparities between Black people and other visible minorities compared to white people in Halifax, and across Nova Scotia and Canada.

The African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Plan (REPP) has been sharing the data with Black Nova Scotians through a series of presentations at community meetings.

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