Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia facts for kids

The Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia is a special place in Cherry Brook, Nova Scotia. It is a museum and a library that teaches everyone about the history and culture of Black people in Nova Scotia. This group of people is also known as African Nova Scotians.

The idea for the Centre started in 1977. It officially opened its doors in 1983. Its main goal is to educate and inspire people. It also works to protect, save, and share Black culture in Nova Scotia. You can find the Centre on Trunk 7 at 1149 Main Street.

The Centre often hosts many events each week. It is open for everyone to visit. There is also a special exhibit about a community called Africville that used to exist.

The Centre's Beginning

William Pearly Oliver, who helped start the Centre.

The idea for the Black Cultural Centre came from a man named William Pearly Oliver (1934 – 1989). He was a community leader who wanted to help Black communities in Nova Scotia. He first suggested the idea in 1972.

The Centre's main goals are to keep the culture of African Nova Scotians alive and strong. It does this through exhibits and talks. These events teach about community life, religion, military service, and how people moved to Nova Scotia.

Honoring Black Soldiers

In 2007, the Cultural Centre found something very important. They bought an Order of Canada medal and thirty Victory Medals online. These Victory Medals were special. They were first given to Black soldiers who fought in World War I. These soldiers were part of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. This was Canada's first and only Black military battalion.

The Centre worked with a person named Dave Thomson to buy these medals. In February 2007, the family of a soldier named Sapper P.F. Fenton found out his medal was for sale online. The community worked together and raised thousands of dollars. They paid over CDN$7,400 to buy the medal. This made sure the medal could be kept safely at the Centre.