Nova Scotia Buzz
Viola Desmond, an African Canadian Halifax business woman, ignited nationwide attention to the African Nova Scotian Community’s struggle for equal rights and is recognized as an icon of the human rights and freedoms movement in Canada. Today, Viola Desmond was officially recognized as a Person of National Historic Significance by The Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada.
In 1946, Desmond refused to give up her seat in the white only section of New Glasgow’s Roseland Theatre. She had been sold a ticket for the balcony. Nova Scotia had no segregation laws for movie theatres and there were no signs explaining the policy, but main floor seats were reserved for white movie goers, a discriminatory practice permitted in all Canadian provinces.
She requested to exchange her balcony ticket for the floor at an added cost, but she was refused and forcefully removed from the Roseland. She was arrested and spent 12 hours in jail, and had to pay a $26 fine for tax evasion. The tax on the balcony price of 30 cents was two cents; the tax on the floor price of 40 cents was three cents. She was found guilty of depriving the government of one cent in tax She was kept in jail over night and not offered a lawyer.
Her appeal to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia was unsuccessful but attracted nation-wide attention to the African-Nova Scotian community’s struggle for equal rights. Despite the outcome of her legal case, Desmond’s act of resistance against anti-Black racism has come to represent a turning point in the struggle for equal rights in Canada.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am honoured to commemorate the national historic significance of Viola Desmond.” said The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova. “Through her courage, and an unwavering commitment to equal rights, she helped shape our country and improve life for all Canadians. Her legacy is as important today as it has ever been, as we continue the work to combat racism. I encourage all Canadians to learn more about Viola Desmond’s significant role in our country’s history.”
On April 14, 2010, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Mayann Francis, invoked the Royal Prerogative and granted Desmond a posthumous free pardon, the first to be granted in Canada.
