Blog Post: Africville and the Legacy of Environmental Racism
Once nestled along the shores of Halifax’s Bedford Basin, Africville was a close-knit Black community shaped by strength, self-reliance, and enduring resistance. Though demolished in the 1960s under the banner of urban renewal, Africville’s history exposes how environmental racism operated in Canada—and how its effects continue to resonate today.
Surrounded by Industry, Denied Basic Services
By the 1960s, Africville was encircled by polluting industries and undesirable infrastructure: a cotton factory, a city abattoir, a dump and incinerator, a Nova Scotia Light and Power facility that didn’t provide electricity to residents, and the sprawling yards of the Canadian National Railway (CNR). These installations were not incidental. They were deliberately placed, concentrating environmental hazards near the community while isolating it from essential services like water, sewage, and garbage collection.
In city planning documents, these very conditions—created by municipal neglect—were later used to justify the community’s removal. The logic was circular and cruel: deny basic services, blame the residents for poor living conditions, and then displace them under the guise of progress. Africville stands as a stark example of how racialized communities are too often made to bear the costs of urban development.
The Roots of a Community
Africville’s origins date to the mid-19th century, when Black settlers relocated from Preston and Hammonds Plains in search of economic opportunity in Halifax. By 1848, community members like William Brown and William Arnold had purchased land in what was known as Division Letter “K” on the Halifax peninsula. These early residents built homes, raised families, and formed a thriving, though marginalized, neighbourhood.
Despite legal land purchases, Africville residents were frequently cast as squatters. Many did not possess formal title deeds—common in early Nova Scotian settlements—but this was later weaponized by city officials. In 1962, when the decision to expropriate Africville was made, the lack of formal title became a key justification. Yet research has
shown that many families had longstanding, legitimate claims to their land, passed down through generations.
Resilience in the Face of Injustice
Throughout its history, Africville’s residents met hardship with resourcefulness. Many found employment with the CNR or salvaged items from the nearby dump to reuse or sell. Though materially poor by the city’s standards, the community was rich in social ties, cultural traditions, and mutual support.
However, this resilience could not shield the community from institutional racism. The City of Halifax’s refusal to provide services—paired with its decision to surround Africville with industrial development—was not a coincidence. It was a pattern of environmental racism, in which race and place intersected to justify systemic neglect and eventual erasure.
A Community Remembered
Africville’s demolition did not mark the end of its story. In recent decades, its memory has become a focal point for understanding environmental racism in Canada. Its history reveals how governments have used planning, infrastructure, and policy to marginalize racialized communities—while disguising these actions as improvements.
Today, Africville serves both as a cautionary tale and a call to action. Remembering Africville means recognizing that justice must include not only legal and economic redress, but also environmental equity and respect for community history. It reminds us that progress cannot come at the cost of those who are most vulnerable—and that dignity, belonging, and justice must guide the cities we build.
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Sources: D. H. Clairmont and D. W. Magill, Africville Relocation Report (1971); historical deed records; archival maps and community accounts.
