A Black woman credited with spearheading the modern civil rights movement in Canada, is now immortalized by a plaque at the site of her infamous arrest in New Glasgow.
Viola Desmond was arrested on November 8, 1946 for refusing to leave a whites only section of the theatre.
She was there to watch a movie and wanted to get a better view. At the time, the theatre was segregated with Black people only allowed to sit in the upper section.
Desmond would not leave her seat and was forcibly arrested.
She was fined, held in jail for 12 hours and charged with (and convicted of) tax evasion. Her case is one of the most publicized incidents of racism in our country’s history.
The plaque was unveiled by Parks Canada on Friday, and is located at the site of the former Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow.
Desmond was granted a posthumous pardon in 2010, it was the first to be granted in Canada.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am honoured to commemorate the national historic significance of Viola Desmond. 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.” – Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Central Nova
In 2018, Desmond became the first Canadian woman to appear alone on our bank note, the $10 bill.
She was born in Halifax, on July 6, 1914 and after she graduated from high school, she taught in segregated schools for African-Canadian students.
National historic designations reflect the rich and varied heritage of our country and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about their history. The designation process is largely driven by public nominations.
To date, more than 2,200 designations have been made.
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