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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Isaac Saney, chair of the Black and African Diaspora Studies Degree Major Committee at Dalhousie University. Credit: Matthew Byard

Black and African Diaspora degree program at Dalhousie may be first in Canada, professor says

A Black history professor at Dalhousie University says a proposal to expand the university’s Black and African Diaspora studies minor program into a full degree could make it the first program of its kind in Canada.

The current minor program started online in 2017 within the faculty of arts and social sciences. Isaac Saney, chair of the Black and African Diaspora Studies Degree Major Committee, is now working with other Black professors at Dalhousie on the final proposal for the full degree program.

“Then the idea came out,” Saney said. “Why don’t we have a major where somebody can come in and graduate with a degree in Black and African Diaspora Studies?”

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David Woods accepting an honorary degree. Credit: Matthew Byard

‘Exemplary artist’ David Woods receives honorary doctorate from Dalhousie University [VIDEO]

“All of these stories had a consistent theme of an individual or an event of significance that had been ignored by history and by an accident had been brought to my attention, and through my passion and commitment to create an excellent work I was allowed to become a conduit for their public recognition to give them a second life.”

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Viola Cain, left, and June Ross hug after a ceremony where they were recognized for their longtime roles as foster parents. Credit: Contributed

Women from North Preston, Cherry Brook recognized for longtime work as foster parents

Two women from North Preston and Cherry Brook have been recognized for their work as the most tenured foster parents in the Halifax area.

Viola Cain and June Ross were honoured for their 75 combined years as foster parents at a recent foster families appreciation banquet.

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Hadia and Oussama Bedoui. Credit: Matthew Byard

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.

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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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