Elizabeth Cromwell (activist) facts for kids

Elizabeth Ann Cromwell (born Gallion) was an important leader from Nova Scotia, Canada. She was an African Nova Scotian and a descendant of the Black Loyalists. These were Black people who came to Canada after the American Revolutionary War.

Elizabeth Cromwell spent her life celebrating African Nova Scotian history. She worked hard to share the stories of the Birchtown Black Loyalists. In 2019, she received the Order of Nova Scotia, a very high honour.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Cromwell grew up in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Her parents were James and Annabelle Gallion. She went to Shelburne Regional High School.

Later, she studied social work at the Halifax Vocational School. She then worked for the Children's Aid Society. There, she helped families as a case work supervisor.

Protecting History

Cromwell is famous for starting the Shelburne County Cultural Awareness Society. She created this group after a landfill was planned near her community. This landfill would have destroyed important historical items from African Nova Scotian history.

Her society successfully stopped the landfill project. Because of this success, the Black Loyalist Heritage Society was created. Cromwell led this society for many years. She was the leader until 2002, and again from 2008 to 2016.

An archaeological dig near her family home found over 10,000 artifacts. These items were from the late 1700s. In 1996, the Black Loyalist Heritage Society helped create a national historic site in Birchtown. This site honours the arrival of the Black Loyalists in Canada in 1783. When Birchtown was founded, it was the largest settlement of free Black people in North America.

Sharing the Stories

The society bought several properties to show their growing collection. They had many artifacts and historical information. Cromwell worked with the Nova Scotia Museum to create an exhibit. It was called Remembering Black Loyalists, Black Communities. This exhibit became a permanent display.

The society also made a heritage walking trail for visitors. This trail helped people explore the museum, a burial ground, and an early settlement. Cromwell hired researchers to protect the history of African Nova Scotians. They collected family information about the Black Loyalists.

The main office for the Black Loyalist Heritage Society was a small building. It was on Old Birchtown Road. Sadly, this building was destroyed by a fire. Cromwell worked hard to raise money to rebuild the centre. In 2015, she helped officially open the new Black Loyalist Heritage Centre.

Elizabeth Cromwell passed away on October 2, 2019.

Awards and Honours

Elizabeth Cromwell received many awards for her important work. In 2014, she was given an honorary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University. An honorary degree is a special award from a university.

In 2017, she received another honorary doctorate from Dalhousie University. She was also made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest civilian honours.

Cromwell had also received the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal. She also got the Canada Medal. In 2019, she was honoured during African history month in Birchtown. After she passed away, she received the Order of Nova Scotia in November 2019. She was the second person from Shelburne to get this honour.