Africville: The Halifax Explosion In Canada

Even though Africville was an area of which African Canadians felt accepted and safe, many problems occurred with poverty being one of the major ones. Due to discrimination people would refuse to hire or gave low paying jobs. About 65 percent of Africville residents worked as household employees or care takers. During this time Halifax was retrieving taxes and not returning any major services like running water or street lights. It wasn’t until 1883 when Africville received their first school, however not even one of the teachers gained proper training till 1930. Also, about the time of 1917, The Halifax Explosion occurred; many homes were greatly damaged if not completely destroyed. Another major problem was in 1854; Halifax created a railway

extension that travelled through Africville. This led to many destroyed homes creating more homeless people in the already over populated town. At the time around 1962 Halifax wanted to relocate those of Africville. Therefore with that being said approximately 100 Africville citizens argued against the idea of relocation. Halifax promised to give these citizens better, more superior and stronger houses with more land. Unfortunately many citizens felt that Halifax just wanted to get rid of them. By 1969 the last bit of property was demolished with the 400 plus residents scattering and moving to designated areas such as Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg.