Grads of Africadian Empowerment Academy find pathway to success with Red Seal certification
Ten students received their Red Seal certifications in skilled trades this year by taking part in the Africadian Empowerment Academy.
The students were honoured at an event dubbed Pathway to Success, which was hosted by the academy on Friday evening.
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.”
The long road to Emancipation Day
“Twenty-five years ago the Honourable Jean Augustine [the first African-Canadian woman to be elected to as a Member of Parliament] put forward a motion in the House of Commons to have February designated Black History Month. And at the same time, there were lobby efforts being made to have Emancipation Day recognized. So that’s how long this has been in the making. Over 25 years.”
Emancipation Day, August 1, marks the same day in 1834 when slavery was officially banned in all of the British colonies, including in what would eventually become Canada.