The Nova Scotia government has named the next seven heritage day holidays for notable people, places and events in the province's history.
The new holiday, known as “Family Day” in many provinces, honours African Nova Scotian Viola Desmond this year, and some think that shouldn’t change.
Today government laid out the next seven honourees for the provincial holiday.
Deputy Premier Diana Whalen says “this is a terrific opportunity to learn about our history and celebrate the people and events that shape our province."
Not surprisingly, Viola Desmond’s family says the holiday name shouldn’t change each year.
Wanda Robson is Desmond’s sister. She says "the day itself is a reminder of what she had done and I don't want it ever to be forgotten"
Desmond was arrested and jailed in 1946. She refused to leave a whites-only area of a New Glasgow theatre and was subsequently convicted of a minor tax violation used to enforce segregation. The province granted her an apology and pardon in 2010.
Robson says "her act had been the beginning of awareness in Nova Scotia of racial segregation."
Others felt Desmond was a good choice because February is also Black History Month.
Her family is open to other ways to commemorate Desmond’s memory however, as next year in February Nova Scotia’s will instead be celebrating Joseph Howe Day.
Future Heritage Days will honour:
- 2016: Joseph Howe
- 2017: Mi'kmaq Heritage
- 2018: Mona Louise Parsons
- 2019: Maud Lewis
- 2020: Africville
- 2021: Edward Francis Arab
- 2022: Grand Pré
With files from CTV Atlantic's Sarah Ritchie
