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Africville: First Record of Settlement
Halifax was a city in Nova Scotia founded in 1749, it is said that the digging of the roads and building of the city was mainly done by enslaved Africans. The first record of settlement in Africville was in 1761. The first settlers in Africville were several white families, including some people who imported and would sell African men and women who were enslaved. There were about 7 African families which first settled in Africville. -
Africville: Churches and Schools
In 1849, the Seaview African United Baptist Church was established for 80 residents of Africville. This church was a very significant place for Africville residents as it was known as “the beating heart of Africville”, and was significant for both people who visit church and don’t visit church. Eventually in 1883, they had opened a church in Africville after lots of petitioning, previously a local Africville resident would teach the children before the school was established. -
Africville: Railway
A railway expansion was built through the community in 1854. Many houses were seized and demolished. Several landowners complained that they had not received payment for their property and that the fast trains were dangerous and polluting the community. -
Africville: Undesirable Services
Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, Halifax continued to locate unfavorable services in Africville. They included a fertilizer plant, slaughterhouses, the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Rockhead Prison (1854), and the "night-soil disposal pits" (human waste) (1870s). -
Africville: Halifax Explosion
Plans to convert Africville into an industrial area were abandoned in 1917 after the Halifax Explosion. Most of Halifax's North End was destroyed, while Africville suffered damage. Millions of dollars were donated as part of a global relief effort, but none of it was used to reconstruct Africville. It's believed that they were in the North End when the explosion happened, about four African Americans died. -
Hogan's Alley: Creation
Hogan’s Alley was a community in Vancouver, BC, home to many immigrant families, majorities being African-Canadian. The name “Hogans Alley” was not considered an official name for this small community, rather it was a popular term used. The black community had established in that area around 1923, which is when the African Methodist Episcopal Fountain Chapel was created. Most Black peoples settled there due to their job as railway porters in the Great Northern Railway. -
Africville: Petitioning for Equality
Residents petitioned the city for running water, sewage removal, paved roads, rubbish collection, electricity, street lights, police protection, and a cemetery throughout the 1930s. Most of their demands were turned down. -
Africville: Creation
Africville was home to the Nova Scotian African Canadian community created in the early 1800s, by Black Settlers who first arrived in Canada. They were socially marginalized and forced to live in hostile conditions on inhabitable land due to the racism they received because of race. The first few African Canadians created this community as a safe haven for their progeny. -
Africville: Urban Renewal
The plans to turn Africville into industrial land were approved by Halifax City Council in 1947. Residents would be relocated in order to make room for industrial initiatives, according to reports written for the council in 1956 and 1957. The city gave approval for a motorway that would cross Africville and lead to downtown Halifax in 1962, but it was never built. -
Africville: Open-Pit Waste Dump
In Africville, Halifax constructed an open-pit waste dump in the 1950s. Council decided to locate the dump 350 metres from Africville's western boundary. The council minutes make no mention of any health-related worries for Africville residents, nor do they include any consultation with or objections from Africvillians. -
Africville: Destruction
The city had promised Africvillians the process of “urban renewal”, in which they would receive loftier housing in Halifax. The first house had been removed in 1964. Many Africvillians had to rent out public housing. Halifax sent in dump trucks to transport residents and their belongings. The fact that families arrived at their new houses on the backs of dump trucks added to the stigma associated with being from Africville. The final property was destroyed in 1969. -
Africville: Legacy
After the relocation, many residents realized that the “home for home” deals didn’t eventuate. The sum which the Africvillians were paid was only enough for a downpayment or renting of a home. Peter Kelly, the mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality, issued an apology for the the devastation of Africville on February 24, 2010, and promised to erect a duplicate of the church, which would serve as a museum.