In the early 1900s, there was an influx of immigrants who came to Cape Breton in search of work for the Dominion Iron and Steel Company. Skilled Black workers were recruited from America, the West Indies, and other parts of Nova Scotia to work in the extreme conditions of the steel plant. They predominantly settled in the “Pier”. Through storytelling, our special guest Bradley Sheppard highlights the experience of the Black migration to Cape Breton as part of this wave.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to the community, Job opportunities & Work conditions, Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, and The African Orthodox Church.

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Home to one of the oldest and largest Indigenous Black populations in Nova Scotia, the community of North Preston saw settlers from multiple migration waves starting with the Black Loyalist in 1783, the Jamaican Maroons in 1796, and the Black Refugees from the War of 1812. With our special guest Nevell Provo we uncovered the geographical boundaries and some of the ongoing challenges within the community.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to Community, How land ownership within the Community Impacted the Provo family, International Travel for education and basketball, and Inspiration behind Nevell's Long Lake Article.

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We are starting where it all began. Birchtown is one of the oldest African Nova Scotian communities, established in 1783. Shelburne is the site of the first documented race riot in North America. Our discussion with historian Graham Nickerson uncovers the arrival of the Black Loyalists, their resourcefulness, and what led to the 1784 Race Riot.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to Community, Introduction to the Black Loyalist, Significant and Influential figures within the community, and the 1784 Shelburne Race Riot.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode and want explore and uncover more of this historical content, please follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionsPodcast, and join Loyalist Connections Community on Patreon.com (patreon.com/loyalistconnections) and to unlock exclusive content including the unedited version of this episode. Until next time… Stay Connected!

The New England Planters first arrived with slaves to Yarmouth in 1760. Following the 1784 Shelburne Race Riot, Black Loyalists migrated to Yarmouth in search of freedom, land, and employment opportunities. Shawn caught up with Yarmouth resident Bruce Johnson to share his lived experience growing up in Yarmouth. We discuss the unwritten rules of segregation in Yarmouth, how land ownership actually worked for his parents, and our ties to the Yarmouth singing group the Mission-Aires.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to Community, The Central Gathering Point for Blacks In Yarmouth, Inspiration for Pursuing Career in Pharmacy, and Overview of Segregation within the community

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode and want explore and uncover more of this historical content, please follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionsPodcast, and join Loyalist Connections Community on Patreon.com (patreon.com/loyalistconnections) and to unlock exclusive content including the unedited version of this episode. Until next time… Stay Connected!

From 1812-1816, a contingent of Black Refugees settled Beechville on the outskirts of Halifax. Once a predominantly Black community spanning over 5000 acres, Beechville’s geographical boundaries have declined over the years as a result of “urban” development. Our inspiring conversation with special guest Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch discusses her connection to Beechville, how the community has changed over the years, and the motivation behind her research.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to Community, Research Inspiration, Domestic Servitude, and Community identity as a result of urban development

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode and want explore and uncover more of this historical content, please follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionsPodcast, and join Loyalist Connections Community on Patreon.com (patreon.com/loyalistconnections) and to unlock exclusive content including the unedited version of this episode. Until next time… Stay Connected!

Loyalist Connections is a journey of rediscovery, led by hosts Shawn Smith and Laurice Downey. These two old friends want to better understand their Black Loyalist ancestors and what happened to the communities they settled. In this episode, you will get to know our hosts a little better, why they are doing this podcast, and what they hope to achieve.

The Loyalist Connections is a podcast hosted by Shawn Smith and Laurice Downey. Together, they are determined to shed light on lost or disappearing Black Nova Scotian communities, discuss why these communities could not survive or are fading, and what these collapses tell us about the historic and modern systemic racism Black Nova Scotians face today.

Follow us @loyalistconnectionspodcast