Gibson Woods Homecoming... A Welcoming Experience

Our very first community outreach session took place in Gibson Woods, a rural African Nova Scotian community in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia today (July 28, 2017).

Gibson Woods was once know as "Gentlemen's Bridge". It was renamed Gibson Woods after the name the influential Gibson family who settled in the region. Early records indicate a Black settler by the name of George Gibson purchasing forty acres of land in 1804 for a King's fortune of 40 pounds. Gibson died in 1847 at a healthy 93 years of age. It is believed that Gibson was a Black Loyalist.  - Black Cultural Centre Collection

 Our visit took place during the Gibson Woods Homecoming 2017, we were welcomed with open arms and learned a lot about this community. A community that has a long reaching history and genealogy of some of the surnames: Gibson, Clements, Jackson and Browning to name a few. During the opening ceremonies history was shared by community members.

Dennis Jackson, Community Elder, (l) with

Homecoming Committee Co-Chair Craig Gibson

The Black Cultural Centre board and staff were on hand to record the history and capture the stories that were shared. Black Cultural Society, President Craig Smith addressed the crowd and presented the Gibson Woods Homecoming Committee with a special certificate honouring the work they have done in preserving the history.

Doris Evans, descendant of Gibson Woods being interviewed by

Black Cultural Centre summer employee Gabrielle Everest

In addition to the Gibson Woods Homecoming the Black Cultural Centre also launched a traveling exhibit on African Nova Scotian Culture and Heritage that is touring the province at various Nova Scotia Museum sites. During the Gibson Woods Homecoming the display was shown and remained in the region at Prescott House Museum for an additional week. 

The Gibson Woods Homecoming continued for the rest of the weekend with activities on Saturday and Sunday. We were also glad to attend the special outdoor church service that featured Pastor Stephen Gough and the musical group Shoulder To Shoulder.

A wonderful and welcoming first remote visit. We learned a lot and gathered some great history and content for the achieves of the Black Cultural Centre. 

The beauty of Gibson Woods at sunset, with the historic
Gibson Woods Baptist Church

- Russell Grosse

Community Outreach Starts

And we're off. Today (July 28, 2017) we began our journey of visiting select African Nova Scotians communities, 12 this year in particular.  In recognition of the Black Cultural Society of Nova Scotia’s, 40th Anniversary, the Black Cultural Centre (BCC) is embarking on a province wide community outreach and pop-up museum project entitled: “Inspire: The History and Legacy of African Nova Scotians”. Between July and December 2017, the BCC will collaborate with various African Nova Scotian communities to organize engagement sessions to discuss its mission “To Protect, Preserve and Promote the history and culture of African Nova Scotians” and gather feedback on its future direction and its role serving communities across the province. This project will also include a traveling exhibit that will be hosted by participating Nova Scotia Museum sites across the province.

In addition, the sessions taking place in African Nova Scotian communities will provide an opportunity for the public to share stories, artifacts and photos associated with one of Nova Scotia’s founding cultures. Individuals can bring in artifacts for us to photograph and record, old photos to be scanned or oral histories to be recorded.

Peoples of African descent are a vibrant part of Nova Scotia’s past, these individuals made Nova Scotia home and contributed to the fabric and success of today’s province. Nova Scotia can be said to be the birthplace of Black Culture and heritage in Canada, boasting the largest indigenous Black community in Canada.

During the first year of this special outreach project the BCC plans to visit the communities of Gibson Woods, Truro, New Glasgow, Whitney Pier, Digby, Shelburne, Upper Big Tracadie, Amherst, and various locations in the Halifax Region.

- R. Grosse

Great Music and Food

The Black Cultural Centre celebrated with Jazz Music with a BBQ and Live Concert on July 15th as part of the TD Halifax Jazz Festival - Jazz Connects Series. The featured performers were local artists Keonte Beals, Jody Upshaw , Kristen Olivia,  and Maje.

All performances took place on the grounds of the Centre on the TD Halifax Jazz Fest Portable Stage. It was an amazing atmosphere, beautiful weather and great food.

Maje Performing

In addition to the live music and family BBQ, Halifax Councillor Lorelei Nicoll was on hand to make a special presentation to the Black Cultural Centre. A special funding grant as part of the Halifax Community Grants program was presented to the Centre to support upgrades to the basement community space that will take place this fall.

(l-r) Howard Riley, Councillor Lorelei Nicoll, Russell Grosse, Executive Director

and Twila Grosse, Board Member

This wonderful event brought folks of all ages together as they enjoyed great music and a BBQ. Looking forward to next year's activities. Stay tuned!

- Russell Grosse

No. 2 Construction Battalion... 101 Years Later

This year marks 101 years since the formation of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada's first and only all Black regiment that served in WWI. 

When the First World War broke out, Canadian black men wanted to serve their country by joining the armed forces as their fellow whites did, but faced a long uphill battle.  In spite of official Canadian government policy—which clearly stated black volunteers could be accepted—many suffered rejection. 

After two years of perseverance and tireless lobbying by black community leaders—assisted by supportive whites—the government authorized a black unit, allowing patriotic blacks an opportunity to serve King and Country. 

 Formed on July 5, 1916, with headquarters at Pictou, the construction unit built and repaired trenches, roads, bridges and railways, among other tasks.  No. 2 Construction Battalion became the first and only black unit ever established in the Canadian armed forces.  - John Boileau, Historian

On July 8, 2017 at the deCoste Centre along the Pictou waterfront we held our 24th annual commemoration and remembrance ceremony. Despite the damp overcast skies close to 200 people showed up to take part including many Canadian Forces and RCMP personnel. The event started with an honour parade along Caladh Ave. adjacent to the monument. 

This year's keynote speaker was Lieutenant Commander Paul A. Smith, CD, Commanding Officer - Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship SUMMERSIDE. LCdr Smith shared detail about his recent historic visit to Western Africa and the impact it had on him and the link between Sierra Leone and Nova Scotia. Remarks were also given by various dignities including Douglas Ruck, son of the late Senator Calvin Ruck, who brought the story of the Battalion alive in his book "The Black Battalion - Canada's Best Kept Military Secret".

(l-r) Russell Grosse, Dolly Williams, LCdr Paul Smith, Sgt, Craig Smith,

Anne Simmons, Bernadette Hamilton-Reid and Douglas Ruck

To learn more about the No. 2 Construction Battalion, be sure to visit our extensive exhibit on the second floor of the Black Cultural Centre. Truly an inspiring legacy. 

- Russell Grosse

A New Way To Keep You Updated...

This summer season at the Black Cultural Centre has been extremely busy (we're not complaining 😀). We wanted to develop a way to keep you up to date on the latest news, updates, initiatives and happenings at the Centre. Rather it be highlights from our across the province community outreach road trips, our personal thoughts and reflections, or special visitors that have dropped by the Centre, we want to keep you informed.

Established in 1983 by the Black Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia has a focus to Protect, Preserve and Promote, African Nova Scotian culture and heritage.

It is our hope that this blog, which will have various staff members and board members contributing will provide some insight on some of the amazing things that happen at the Centre and throughout the province of Nova Scotia.

Be inspired and stay connected with us.

- Russell Grosse