City Dump

Ask anyone from Halifax who was around and can remember the 1960s, and they will tell you that Africville was water warning built on a dump. Far from the truth. In fact, the dump was unceremoniously 'dumped' on the residents of Africville by the City of Halifax with no concern for their safety.

Leaching of the dump eventually destroyed the water wells in the area. While some residents combed the hauls for castoff clothing or other reusable items, today such items are redirected for reuse, charity or recycling. To damn a community because of the entrepreneurial spirit of making the best of a bad situation is a sad comment on some long-held prejudices toward the community.

While some dogs lived off the dump, the residents did what they could to control them. Police came out at random times and shot every dog they saw, even the ones chained up or confined on a porch. When the police showed up with shotguns, children were kept at home from school and indoors, as the ensuing chaos resembled hunting season.

Africville was there before the dump. It was not the choice of residents that the dump came, but it certainly added to the reasons to eradicate the community in the name of urban renewal.

The Africville Genealogy Society gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Department of Canadian Heritage for this project.
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