MP Gerald Keddy Announces Federal Funding for Black Loyalist Heritage Society

August 12, 2009

Shelburne, NS – Gerald Keddy, Conservative Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margaret’s, today took part in the Community Welcome of the Amistad Freedom Celebration on the Shelburne Waterfront where he announced federal funding of $13,700 for the Black Loyalist Heritage Society.

“Our Government is proud to support the Black Loyalist Heritage Society and its Amistad Freedom Celebration 175,” said MP Keddy. “By partnering with associations to support activities that celebrate our history and our rich cultural diversity, we are fulfilling our government’s commitment to strengthen our communities and support arts, culture and heritage.”

In September 2007, the Conservative Government announced the new Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) program to provide Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Black Loyalist Heritage Society for their hard work in organizing this event,” said MP Keddy. “Events, such as this one, help the general population to understand the history of slavery. It also allows residents of this area - many of which can trace their ancestry back to slavery - to commemorate and celebrate the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery and to do so in the collective of community.

The "Amistad Freedom Celebration 175" is a non-recurring event organized by the Black Loyalist Heritage Society that will be held in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, from August 10 to August 16, 2009. This event will commemorate and celebrate the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the former British Empire resulting from the implementation of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1834. Activities planned for this celebration include concerts with performances by local artists, tours of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, a march from Shelburne to Birchtown to commemorate the anniversary, the Junior Leaders Freedom Camp, the "Celebrate 175" reception honouring elders from the local African Nova Scotian community; and a display of quilts and art.