Annual Africville Homecoming Celebration

For the next ten days, former residents of Africville are gathering for their annual reunion at the site of their old homestead to revisit, reminisce and reconnect with the past.

Africville was a small African Nova Scotian community located on the shores of the Bedford Basin in Halifax. In the 1960s, the City of Halifax expropriated the land. The community and its dwellings were destroyed and families were evicted.

The area is now known as Seaview Park, named after the Seaview African United Baptist Church that once existed there. For one weekend each year since the early 1980s, a reunion is held and the site becomes Africville once again for former residents.

"The Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs has supported this community celebration since we opened our doors in 2004," said Barry Barnet, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs. "It is an important event for this province as it allows all Nova Scotians to experience a unique and significant part of our collective history."

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the homecoming reunion, hosted by the Africville Genealogy Society. To commemorate this milestone, the reunion is longer, running from today, July 18 to Sunday, July 27 with activities and events on- and off-site.

"There will be something for everyone this year, including the return of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, a gala dinner and dance, art exhibit, church service, a performance by Joe Sealy of his Africville Suite, and more," said Irvine Carvery, president of the Africville Genealogy Society.

In 2002, Ottawa designated Africville a national historic site and erected a monument there.

More event information is available by calling 902-222-9011 or on the African Nova Scotian Affairs website at www.gov.ns.ca/ansa/events.asp .