Africville

Probably founded in the middle of the 18th century, the African Canadian village of Africville was demolished between 1964 and 1969 following a decision by the City of Halifax, of which it was a part. Populated by freed slaves, Jamaican maroons, and Black loyalists, it was a dynamic and supportive community with its own institutions. Although the city taxed the residents of Africville, it did not provide any municipal services there and installed facilities deemed undesirable elsewhere. In the name of urban redevelopment, the city evicted the inhabitants and demolished their buildings without obtaining consent or offering compensation. Designated a national historic site in 1996, Africville became a symbol of the fight against racism.