Halifax Relief Commission

The Halifax Relief Commission was incorporated in April 1918 with the power to expend and disperse money to repair, rebuild and restore buildings and property damaged, destroyed or otherwise lost as a result of the Halifax Explosion on 6 December 1917. The Relief Commission records (MG 36) are held at the Nova Scotia Archives, with detailed finding aids available to assist researchers.

The records themselves, which include textual records, print material, photographs and plans, are organized in several large series — Series 'A' (Appraisal Board), Series 'C' (Correspondence), Series 'F' (Financial Records), Series 'P' (Pension Claims) and Series 'R' (Real Estate and Property Records). Overall, they provide a wealth of detail for built-heritage research, including contemporary town-planning concepts; large-scale project management; the role of government in disaster recovery and reconstruction; building materials; general repair, reconstruction and building techniques; interior decoration and fittings; and rebuilding the fabric of life at the neighbourhood level and across the larger city.

Our virtual exhibit 'A Vision of Regeneration' features extensive original documents, print material and photographs from the Relief Commission records; the final section, titled 'One Family's Survival: The McTiernans,' provides a case study for family members and their new home at Number 783 (now 3107) Robie Street in Halifax.