Addressing Anti-Black Racism

photo showing kente

In the fall of 2019, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) asked for the development of an Anti-Black Racism Working Group, supported by the African Nova Scotian Affairs Integration Office (ANSAIO), to identify recommendations to help create a safer and more inclusive workplace.

In early 2020, the Working Group provided its recommendation report to the CAO. The CAO then engaged with the Working Group to review its recommendations and determine the path forward. The first step was to acknowledge that the municipality has a long way to go to ensure our efforts to address anti-Black racism are rooted in the needs of our African Nova Scotian community.

In mid-2020, as the global health pandemic intersected with the Black Lives Matter movement, Regional Council asked for the development of an anti-Black racism action plan in support of the Proclamation of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024.

Anti-Black Racism Strategy and Action Plan 

As part of the mandate to develop this action plan, new measures will be required to acknowledge and address anti-Black racism related issues with respect to municipal government service delivery.

To achieve this, in 2020 an Anti-Black Racism Steering Committee was formed to develop and implement an action plan. In June 2021, Regional Council approved the Anti-Black Racism Framework, which will guide the development of an Anti-Black Racism Strategy and Action Plan.

Future engagement will be planned, and schedule accordingly based on phased out approach of the strategy and action plan implementation. 

Timeline of Anti-Black Racism Initiatives 

The municipality is committed to addressing anti-Black racism in our workplaces and communities and will continue to take steps to advance change. The following is a timeline of anti-Black Racism and diversity initiatives that have been completed, as well as next steps towards this commitment.
 

2010 - Africville Apology

On February 24, 2010, Mayor Peter Kelly formally apologized for the loss of the historic Halifax community of Africville in the 1960s.

2016 - Employment Systems Review

The municipality conducted an employment policies and practices review. The review provided recommendations for addressing systemic, cultural and attitudinal barriers to a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace.

2016-Present - African Heritage Month

Each February, the municipality honours African Heritage Month to celebrate the rich culture, achievements and contributions of African Nova Scotians and communities of African descent in our region and across the nation.

The municipality partners with Halifax Public Libraries and community-based groups such as the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia to host speaker series and events to showcase African Nova Scotian people and traditions. It also organizes tours for staff to African Nova Scotian historic sites such as the Africville Museum and the Black Culture Centre for Nova Scotia

2018 - Diversity & Inclusion Framework

The municipality’s Diversity and Inclusion Framework aims to help the municipality in its continued effort to build a diverse and inclusive workforce and provide programs and services to residents by using a diversity and inclusion lens. The framework identifies key priorities to help advance these efforts, both in the organization and within municipal communities, now and in the future.

The framework also acknowledges that embracing diversity and inclusion helps strengthen the economy and helps attract and retain talent that will become the cornerstone of a strong community and an anchor of inclusive public service.

2019 - Street-Check Apology

On November 29, 2019 Chief Daniel Kinsella offered an apology on behalf of the Halifax Regional Police to the African Nova Scotian community. The intent of the apology was to acknowledge negative experiences of the African Nova Scotian community with the police department and to reaffirm Halifax Regional Police’s commitment to building trust with the community.

2019 - Anti-Black Racism Working Group

In the fall of 2019, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Jacques Dubé established an Anti-Black Racism Working Group, supported by the African Nova Scotian Affairs Integration Office (ANSAIO), to identify recommendations that will help guide our organization in our efforts to become a safe and inclusive workplace. Recommendations from the working group were provided to the CAO.

2020 - Regional Council request for Anti-Black Racism Action Plan

On July 21, 2020, Regional Council asked for the development of an anti-Black racism action plan in support of the Proclamation of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024. The framework for this report was presented on June 8, 2021. 

2020/2021 - Black Lives Matter street art installation

On Sept. 26, 2020 the municipality painted the words "Black Lives Matter" on the following streets:

•    Alderney Drive between Ochterloney and Queen streets

•    Brunswick Street between Carmichael and Prince streets

The art installation is the municipality’s way of supporting the Black Lives Matter movement as directed by the CAO with the mayor’s endorsement. This public solidarity augments several measures being taken by the municipality corporately, to help address anti-Black racism and continue to build better relationship with the municipality’s communities of African descent.

The municipality repainted these art installations in August 2021.

2021 - Hired ABR Coordinator

In 2021 a full time Anti-Black Racism Coordinator was hired with ANSAIO.

2021/2022 - Completed ABR Public Engagement

To further the Anti-Black Racism Framework, a phased approach for public engagement was undertaken to aid the development of the Anti-Black Racism Strategy and Action Plan. Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to receive input, suggestions, and recommendations into the process was central to the development the strategy and plan. In all, 11 external engagement sessions were held throughout the municipality throughout the spring of 2021.

These sessions resulted in the Anti-Black Racism What We Heard Report. Staff, in collaboration with a community engagement consultant, heard how each individual African Nova Scotian community in the municipality experiences anti-black racism. This report provided ANSAIO with the tools and knowledge to further develop the Anti-Black Racism Framework.

2023 - African Descent Advisory Committee

On October 18, 2022, Regional Council approved the creation of the African Descent Advisory Committee, which will advise Regional Council, through Executive Standing Committee, on the impact of municipal policies, programs, and services for People of African Descent.

 

Related efforts

In 2020, and again in 2021, the municipality painted the words "Black Lives Matter" on the following streets:

•    Alderney Drive between Ochterloney and Queen streets
•    Brunswick Street between Carmichael and Prince streets

The art installation is a way of supporting the Black Lives Matter movement as directed by the CAO with the Mayor’s endorsement. This public solidarity augments several measures being taken by the municipality corporately, to help address anti-Black racism and continue to build better relationship with the municipality’s communities of African descent.

During her July 2020 prestation Unpacking Anti-Black Racism in the Halifax Regional Municipality, to Regional Council, Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard shared some difficult truths and they will not be ignored. One question she left us with was ‘what will you do?’

It’s clear there is much work to be done. The municipality is advancing the adoption of internal and externally-focused anti-Black racism strategies and actions. Staff will also deliver on key priorities set out in the Diversity & Inclusion Framework – designed to assist the entire organization in our continued efforts to build a diverse and inclusive workforce and provide programs and services to our residents by using a diversity and inclusion lens. 

In 2020, Regional Council adopted the African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Action Plan that was informed by members of our African Nova Scotian communities who worked many months together with staff to create this significant blue print for economic and social development with and for our African Nova Scotian resident and communities.

The municipality is committed to addressing anti-Black racism in our workplaces and communities and will continue to take steps to advance change.

For more information on the African Nova Scotian Affairs Integration Office, visit their webpage.