Back in 2018, when Viola Desmond first graced the $10 bill, the North End Business Association was deep in revelry, with a host of events marking the occasion. However, one element missing from the celebration of the Nova Scotia civil rights icons was something, well, iconic. A permanent, public monument to Desmond. But it was […]
Viola Desmond
Posted inArts + Music
Halifax’s north end given $111,000 in funding for public art
Earlier today, Andy Fillmore—Halifax’s member of parliament—announced the North End Business Association will receive $111,000 from federal funding (namely, through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund). The money is earmarked for creating a permanent monument to civil rights icon Viola Desmond in her own neighbourhood, which a statement says is to be created by a local […]
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Viola Desmond and Alexander Keith’s graveyard clears heritage hurdle
Halifax’s Camp Hill Cemetery got almost perfect marks in its evaluation at a special meeting of the HRM heritage advisory committee. Among the thousands of marked and unmarked graves at the 177-year-old burial ground are the final resting place of both civil rights activist Viola Desmond and brewer-politician Alexander Keith. In a virtual meeting last […]
Posted inArts + Music
Viola Desmond and the Controlled Damage done
Controlled Damage Feb 4-23; Tue-Fri, 7:30 pm; Sat-Sun 2pm & 7:30pm Neptune Theatre, 1593 Argyle Street $30-$51 Andrea Scott’s new play Controlled Damage—about the life of Viola Desmond—is having its world premiere on Friday at Neptune Theatre. The Coast spoke with the playwright about the continued importance of Desmond’s story. Do you remember when you […]
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Halifax’s north end to Celebrate Viola
Canada’s brand new $10 bill isn’t the only celebration of Viola Desmond happening this week. Businesses and organizations in Halifax’s north end are hosting Celebrate Viola—a multi-day festival honouring the new banknote’s release and Desmond’s legacy as a business leader and Civil Rights activist. Marika Paris, event coordinator for the North End Business Association, says […]
Posted inArts + Music
Inaugural Halifax Black Film Festival honours iconic women
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise screening and movie talk Saturday, March 4, 7pm Spatz Theatre, 1855 Trollope Street $25 “This is a necessary festival for diversity on screen,” says Fabienne Colas, the founder and president of the inaugural Halifax Black Film Festival. “It gives a voice to people who wouldn’t have a voice otherwise.” […]
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Viola Desmond wins Halifax ferry naming contest
[Image-1] Halifax Transit’s newest ferry has a name, and it’s Viola Desmond. Mayor Mike Savage made the announcement on Thursday afternoon at the Black Cultural Centre, drawing a standing ovation from those in attendance. According to HRM, “Viola Desmond” received just under a third of the 19,230 votes cast in the two-week naming period for […]
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Viola Desmond: The original Ivany Report champion
[Image-1] They really couldn’t have planned it any better. A year ago, the Ivany Commission issued its report, calling for three “critical areas of change” to help turn around the Nova Scotia economy: more community and business leaders; more people staying in the province; and more innovative, value-added businesses. Then, as if by some feat […]
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Why Viola Desmond deserves her day
In case you’re like the people in this video and don’t actually know much about Viola Desmond except that you’re currently enjoying a day off thanks to her, you better check this out. Related Stories