Halifax’s living history, preserved through Africville’s legacy, immigrant stories, and maritime heritage
In Halifax, Nova Scotia, you can find history in every corner, from the vibrant Black community to the multicultural stories of immigration at Pier 21. Childhood friends Beatrice Wilkins and Bernice Arsenault-Byers grew up in Africville, a Black community displaced in the 1960s. Volunteering at the Africville Museum, they ensure the community’s legacy isn’t forgotten. Once spanning more than 20 acres, Africville is now a modest 2.5-acre site featuring a replica of its last church. As museum director Juanita Peters puts it, “The city took away the houses and the land, and yet people still gravitate here every summer to celebrate and remember their life in Africville.”