What is the Africville Genealogy Society (AGS)?

The AGS was founded in 1983 by former residents Deborah Dixon Jones, Brenda Steed-Ross and Linda Mantley to reunite former residents of Africville. It is governed by a board of directors drawn from former residents of Africville. Each year, AGS organizes the Africville reunion and picnic which brings together former residents and their descendants from across Nova Scotia, Canada, and beyond.

Recently, AGS completed a five-year strategic plan which established the objectives of reconstructing Seaview United Baptist Church, and creating of an interpretive centre to tell the story of Africville. The organization also oversaw the completion of a detailed feasibility study/business plan for the Seaview Church replica and Africville Interpretive Centre in 2006.

Most recently AGS successfully negotiated with HRM to resolve outstanding issues and achieve a settlement with the municipality, based on the direction received from the community.

Why did HRM enter into an agreement with the AGS?

For more than 150 years, Africville was home to a community of African Nova Scotians. In the 1960s, the City of Halifax obtained the Africville lands and residents were relocated resulting in the loss of the community. Former residents, descendants and the Africville Genealogy Society have been seeking a resolution to address the impacts of this loss.

Since 2001 representatives of the former Africville community (Africville Genealogy Society) have been actively working toward with the Halifax Regional Municipality toward a resolution. In June 2005 a Committee was established with representation from all three levels of government and the Africville Genealogy Society with the purpose of working towards building a fitting memorial for the former community.

What is the Africville Heritage Trust?

The Africville Heritage Trust will be a new organization established specifically to operate the replica Seaview United Baptist Church and the Interpretive Centre, which will be phase two of the memorial project.

The Founding Board of Directors for the Africville Heritage Trust will include:

• six  representatives from the Africville community, including representation from the  Africville Genealogy Society;
• five external members, chosen for their expertise in the areas of work and challenge that the new organization will face.
• up to three non-voting positions available to be filled by representatives from government agencies, to ensure continuity and ongoing dialogue.

 What are the details of the agreement?

An outline of the agreement can be found at www.halifax.ca/africville .You can also find details about an announcement made by the Province of Nova Scotia by visiting http://gov.ns.ca/ansa/news.asp.

In summary, the agreement includes the following:

• Acknowledgement of loss
• $3 million contribution
• Land by Seaview Park
• Park maintenance contract
• Renaming of Seaview Park in honour of Africville
• Community development with creation of African Nova Scotian Affairs function in HRM

Why build a church and interpretive centre?

A feasibility study was conducted by the Africville Genealogy Society (AGS), with support from HRM, the Nova Scotia Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs, the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). A team lead by A.L. Arbic Consulting was contracted to prepare a study and business plan for the reconstruction of a replica of Seaview United Baptist Church and the creation of an Interpretive Centre that would tell the story of the community of Africville. This study was completed and the Final Report submitted to AGS and its partners in December of 2006.

The study involved extensive consultations with the community, former Africville residents and descendants as well as other key stakeholders. Overall, those who were consulted expressed openness to the concept of the reconstruction of a replica of Seaview United Baptist Church and the creation of an Interpretive Centre that would tell the story of the community of Africville.

The Seaview United Baptist Church replica will be built on the site where it once stood, along with an adjacent Interpretative Centre, which will be phase two of the Africville Memorial Project.             

When will the church and interpretive centre be built?

 The museum/interpretive centre project is currently conceived in two phases: the first phase being the construction and opening of a replica of Seaview United Baptist Church, which used to stand at the heart of the Africville community. This replica of the church will house an introductory exhibit on the history of Africville.

The Africville Genealogy Society has been working closely with all three levels of government to secure the capital necessary to complete this first phase of the project. The second phase will involve the development of a larger interpretive centre that will allow the full story of Africville to be told, as well as providing space for educational programs and gatherings.

 It is anticipated that construction of Phase One of the project, the Seaview Church Museum, will begin in 2010. In the longer term, the AHT Board will work towards the realization of Phase Two of the project - construction of the Africville Interpretive Centre.

Why was there no individual compensation?

The terms of this agreement were reached through the hard work and dedication of the AGS and HRM and other levels of government. Individual compensation was not part of the HRM offer. The municipality focused on recognition of the Africville’s community’s loss and creating a lasting legacy to ensure the story of Africville continues to be told and that positive actions are taken for the future.