Birchtown Home to First Black Heritage Site

A partnership between the federal and provincial governments will help make Birchtown, Shelburne Co., home to Canada's first black heritage tourism site. Birchtown is the site of North America's first settlement of free blacks.

The Black Loyalist Heritage Project will research, interpret, preserve and promote Black Loyalist history. The Black Loyalist Heritage Complex will include a theatre, genealogical lab, library, interactive computer centre and retail centre.

Funding for the project was announced today by Andy Mitchell, Secretary of State for Rural Development and the Federal Economic Development Initiative, on behalf of the federal government; and by Shelburne MLA Cecil O'Donnell on behalf of Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser and Community Services Minister Peter Christie.

The Government of Canada will invest $87,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and $50,000 through Human Resources Development Canada's local labour market partnership. The provincial government is also investing in the project with $50,000 from the Department of Economic Development and $25,000 from the Department of Community Services.

"This project gives us an opportunity to not only preserve Nova Scotia's black culture and heritage, but also to share it with others," said Mr. Balser. "Our investment in this national heritage site will encourage visitors to spend more time in this scenic and culturally rich area of the province."

"This project is an integral part of government's efforts to support the revitalization of Shelburne County," said Mr. Christie. "It will provide new opportunities for individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency."

"Working together, the Government of Canada and its partners are committed to finding ways to help stimulate economic growth in rural communities," said Mr. Mitchell. "This project is an excellent example of our efforts to build sustainability in the area by creating long-term employment opportunities, expanding tourism activity and capitalizing on its natural strengths such as its heritage and culture."

The funding will also enable the Black Loyalist Heritage Society to launch the first Black Loyalist Registry, a directory of people descending from the original 3,500 Black Loyalist settlers to the area. The society is a non-profit organization, incorporated in 1991, dedicated to preserving, interpreting and promoting African-Canadian history.