Halifax and Its People / 1749-1999

Writing in Africville: A Spirit that Lives On (1974), Donald Clairmont observed:

In the early 1960s total relocation finally occurred. At that time Africville was home for eighty families, some four hundred persons (all but a handful of whom were black). Compared to other Haligonians, black and white, the Africville residents had very low incomes and were very underemployed. Sewerage, piped water, paved roads and public lighting were conspicuously absent....There was still enough community spirit to initially reject the idea of relocation as it had been rejected in the past in favour of community development approaches. But City officials were adamant: Africville had to go. Equally important was the fact that local, and even national, community and civil rights leaders concurred with that assessment. Believing the stereotypes of Africville, they decried segregation and poor living conditions. The actual relocation took place between 1964 and 1967. The City spent about $400,000 for the lands and the homes; another $200,000 were budgeted for welfare assistance, furniture allowances and the waiving of unpaid taxes and hospital bills. Relocation planning had called for education and training programs and, in general, the creation of new and better opportunities for the relocatees. In actuality, virtually none of these programs ever happened.

Photographer: Bob Brooks

Date: ca. 1962

Reference: Bob Brooks Nova Scotia Archives 1989-468 series C