Brandy Whitford

Hello from the Black Cultural Centre and welcome to May! As we gear up for the summer season, we wanted to share some of our work during the past month. We plan to provide monthly updates to keep you informed about what we do at the Centre. Read on for more information, and as always, feel free to reach out or visit us in person. Happy Spring!

As we welcome the start of a new month and look ahead to the summer season, I want to thank everyone who continues to stand with the Black Cultural Centre. April was a month of strong momentum, meaningful partnerships, and steady progress across our work.

We were proud to participate in Museums Canada in Newfoundland, joining important national conversations about the future of museums, storytelling, and community impact. Here at home, we continued to strengthen our operations, deepen our archival work, host impactful events, and help launch the Dr. Clement Ligoure Project. Partnerships remain essential to this work, and we are grateful for the collaboration and shared commitment of organizations such as the Association of Nova Scotia Museums, the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, the Africville Museum, Events East Group, and the Halifax Chamber. 

We are also grateful for the support of Federal and Provincial Government partners, who champion our work. These efforts reflect our commitment to honouring Black history, uplifting our community, and building a future grounded in truth, pride, and possibility.  

What continues to inspire me most is the power of community. The Centre is more than a building. It is a living place of memory, culture, learning, and connection, shaped by the people who believe in this work and help move it forward. We want to hear from you, because your voice, your support, and your shared sense of purpose are an important part of this journey.

As we move ahead together, let us draw strength from those who came before us and confidence from what we can achieve together. The road ahead is full of opportunity, and I truly believe our best work is still to come. 

We started April with our annual staff planning session, graciously hosted by DASC (Dartmouth Adult Services Centre) Industries. DASC is a social enterprise whose mission is to empower people with intellectual disabilities to become self-advocates through program and employment opportunities. In addition to services ranging from promotional buttons to packaging services, they offer facility rentals in their beautiful space in Burnside. We are thankful to DASC for hosting us and encourage you to reach out to them next time you need a meeting space! 

As we continue to grow our archival collection, we began work this month to create a new records room in advance of our expansion. We continue to update and streamline our processes for loan agreements, donations, and research requests. This work is ongoing, but the goal of it is to make our collection more accessible to both partner organizations and the public. Check out NovaMuse, the future public home for our digital collection, to view artifacts and resources from other museums across the province.

Each month, the Centre plays host to many events and activities that support and empower the community. Consider hosting your next event or activity at the Centre. Here is a look at some events from this past month both at the Centre and within the community.

This month, we were honoured to host a night of the Charles Taylor Theatre and Media Arts Association’s Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival at the Black Cultural Centre. The Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival is a festival with a mandate to educate, empower and inspire by honouring the influence of African Canadian and other cultural filmmakers and to bring recognition to their work. The festival blends film screenings with live arts and opportunities for networking.

BCC staff were invited to attend the NSCC Africentric Early Childhood Education’s Family Reunion event called A Legacy in Action: A Celebration of Community and Togetherness. The event was a community gathering and showcase of the work that the Africentric ECE students have been doing, including a photography project and learning kits reflective of African Nova Scotian identity. Three community elders were honoured at the event as well, underlining the importance of intergenerational connection. You can learn more about the NSCC’s Africentric Early Childhood Education offering here.

Established in 2023, CBC Nova Scotia’s Community Advisory Board plays a crucial role in shaping CBC Nova Scotia’s coverage and reporting by sharing local perspectives, identifying issues, and providing feedback on content relating to the Black experience in Nova Scotia. This month, the BCC hosted a reception and info session as the board sought new members. It was a chance for perspective members to hear from current members and others involved with CBC Nova Scotia, and to learn more about the steps CBC Nova Scotia has taken as they strive to provide accurate, empathetic coverage of Black communities in the province. Although applications for the board are now closed, you can learn more about the Community Advisory Board and what it does here.

In partnership with the Association of Nova Scotia Museums, the Loyalist Connections Podcast, and the Africville Museum, we celebrated the launch of the Dr. Clement Ligoure Project this month. Born in Trinidad and educated in Canada, Dr. Clement Ligoure was a tireless champion for equity in healthcare for African Nova Scotians. A physician, editor, advocate, Dr. Ligoure is believed to have been the first Black doctor to practice in Halifax. He played a crucial role in this province’s history, providing critical care for those wounded during the Halifax Explosion, as well as recruiting for the No.2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only all-Black military battalion. The project features a pop-up exhibit, a podcast series, cultural competency training sessions, and resources for educators and students. You can read the media release for the project here.

Dr. Wayne Adams’ seemingly endless list of accomplishments and roles includes being the first Black Canadian elected to the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly, and subsequently the first Black cabinet minister in the province’s history, a champion of the environment, a writer, a founding member of the Black Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, a business man, and a broadcaster who hosts the Sunday Morning Gospel Hour on 105.9 Seaside FM – just to name a few. This month, Dr. Adams was honoured at Life Branch Church with two evenings of live performances of gospel favourites. The setlist was chosen to celebrate the rich history of gospel music, and BCC staff were honoured to attend and film the celebratory event. Look for a future broadcast of the event on our YouTube channel!

During the past month, the Black Cultural Centre was pleased to welcome several distinguished visitors whose work and leadership continue to make an impact in communities across Canada. Among them were Rosemarie Powell, CEO of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, Don Bureaux, President and CEO of the Halifax Chamber, and Craig Wellington, CEO of the Black Opportunity Fund. We were honoured to share the Centre’s work with them and value the opportunity to strengthen relationships with leaders who share a commitment to community growth, equity, and lasting impact.

Thank you for taking the time to stay connected with the work of the Black Cultural Centre. We hope this update has given you a meaningful glimpse into the progress, partnerships, and community impact that continue to shape our work. As we move into the months ahead, we remain committed to preserving our history, sharing our stories, and building a strong future together. Your support makes that work possible, and donations play an important role in helping us expand programs, care for our collections, and continue creating spaces for education, reflection, and community connection. We encourage you to stay engaged, visit the Centre, and, if you are able, consider making a contribution to support this important work. Support our work: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/52709