This page contains City of Halifax Council minutes (102-1A) and submissions (102-1B) relating to Africville, as well as Board of Control minutes (102-2A) and submissions (102-2B). The Board of Control acted as the executive committee of Council from 1913-1918.
Minutes are presented in date-order. Each meeting date is hyperlinked to a PDF containing digitized minutes of that session, along with relevant submissions (note that submissions have not survived for every council meeting). You may need to scroll down in the PDF to find the relevant minute or submission, use Find to search for keywords. PDFs of complete Board of Control and City Council minutes can be found here.
April 16 1860
- Resolution to change of name of Africville to Ashley.
June 26 1885
- Petition from Reverend E Dixon & number of residents of Africville asking that the illicit sale of liquor in their district be stopped
May 9 1894
- Tenders for sewer trenching, including for Campbell Road
May 8 1895
- Petition for water service to Campbell Road
May 14 1895
- Water service, Campbell Road
June 11 1895
- Discussion of crematory and recommendation to construct one near Africville on city-owned land
September 12 1895
- Read report re: crematory
January 23 1896
- Update on report regarding water extension to Campbell Road
March 9 1897
- Read letter from H.C. Tully offering to sell the city land east of Campbell Road
July 14 1898
- Report from City Engineer regarding repairs to Campbell Road
October 11 1906
- Letter from Nova Scotia Fertilizer Co. offering to purchase a water lot owned by the City on Bedford Basin and applying for permission to operate a factory on a new site
April 30 1907
- Appraisal of properties at Africville by appraiser working on behalf of the City
July 4 1907
- Expropriation of land - Africville; report from appraiser on value of properties in Africville
September 23 1909
- Reports read from Committee on Works and City Engineer regarding well at Africville, including petition from residents
August 13 1913 - Board of Control
- Matter of expropriation of the properties at Africville and the use of same for industrial purposes
June 9 1915 - Board of Control
- Read petition from residents of Africville complaining of the condition of Campbell Road, asking that the road be repaired and that they be employed in the work.
June 30 1915 - Board of Control
- Read report City Engineer on petition from residents of Africville re condition of Campbell Road.
July 28 1915 - Board of Control
- Storage of Oil - Imperial Oil Co. Plant Africville.
August 2 1915 - Board of Control
- Storage of Oil - Imperial Oil Co. Plant Africville.
August 4 1915 - Board of Control
- Read telegram S.S. Shatford requesting postponement of visit of Board of Control to property at Africville until his return to the City.
August 9 1915 - Board of Control
- Proposition of the Imperial Oil Co. for the acquisition of land at Africville as a site for the storage
of oil and requesting certain concessions from the City
August 20 1915 - Board of Control
- Read letter S.S. Shatford of the Imperial Oil Co. covering a letter showing the advantages Halifax would
derive by the acceptance of their proposition to establish an Asphalt and Fuel oil Refinery in the portion of the City known as Africville.
August 25 1915 - Board of Control
- E. A. Saunders Secretary of the Board of Trade appeared before and addressed the Board on the matter of proposed oil refining plant of the Imperial Oil Co, at Africville
September 1 1915 - Board of Control
- The proposition recently submitted by the Imperial Oil Company re Africville properties was discussed
September 8 1915 - Board of Control
- Letters regarding abattoir at Africville
September 9 1915 - Board of Control
- Letter to Imperial Oil from Board regarding needing more information on Africville development proposal
September 9 1915
- Application from Imperial Oil Co. re: property at Africville; Storage of oils - Imperial Oil Co. at Africville.
September 20 1915 - Board of Control
- Letter from Imperial Oil stating a representative would be happy to talk to the Board when in Halifax next
September 20 1915
- Imperial Oil Co. at Africville and municipal concessions
October 7 1915
- Imperial Oil Co. at Africville and municipal concessions
October 15 1915 - Board of Control
- Fire Department report - loss of ship at Africville wharf
October 18 1915 - Board of Control
- Letter from Imperial Oil Co. deferred
October 20 1915 - Board of Control
- Same letter as above read; request for draft of report to be submitted to Board by 2 Controllers
October 22 1915 - Board of Control
- Different Controller assigned above report
October 29 1915 - Board of Control
- Draft report submitted; sent back with amendments
November 1 1915 - Board of Control
- Imperial Oil Company Proposition re property at Africville and municipal concessions
November 5 1915 - Board of Control
- Further discussion of the Imperial Oil Company re property at Africvllle and municipal concessions
November 10 1915 - Board of Control
- Letter from Imperial Oil Co - Because of difficulties, decision to locate oil refinery elsewhere
April 5 1916 - Board of Control
- Mayor informed the Board that Rev. A. Hagell, pastor of the Africville Church, had complained about the railways undermining the church
April 17 1916 - Board of Control
- Africville Church - Report read from City Engineer
April 17 1916
- Read reports Board of Control and City Engineer re Africville Church
June 28 1917 - Board of Control
- Wooden Ship Building Site -- land called Tulley Lot in Africville could be suitable (letter to Board); referred to City Engineer for report
July 10 1917 - Board of Control
- Report from City Assessor and Acting City Engineer re: Tulley Lot and ship building; proposal to lease the land instead
July 17 1917 - Board of Control
- Report from City Engineer re: Tulley Lot; decision deferred til conference between McKean (original letter-writer re: ship building) and Board
July 24 1917 - Board of Control
- Read report Controller Murphy recommending that the City sell to W.K. McKean for 3,500.00 the portion of the Tully property at Africville which he desires to acquire for a ship building site.
August 7 1917 - Board of Control
- McKean looking at other sites, no longer free to discuss Africville site (correspondence re. shipbuilding on Tully property available in 102-1B-1917#343 and #357 - not scanned)
March 7 1918 - Board of Control
- City Fuel Yard reports - 1917 coal supplied to schools, including Africville school
June 28 1918 - Board of Control
- Board of School Commissioners report on damage done to schools in Halifax Explosion, including Africville school
June 19 1919
- Africville police protection
June 24 1919
- Africville police protection
September 19, 1927
- Members of Seaview Baptist Church permitted to hold a tag day
January 16 1930
- Street Lighting Africville
June 11 1936
Tag Day - Africville United Baptist Church
July 14 1938
- Sale of Tully property
August 11 1938
- Sale of property - Africville
September 15 1938
- Fire victims at Africville
November 17 1938
- Assistance - Residents of Africville
March 15 1939
- Tully property
- Assistance for families whose homes had been destroyed by fire
May 11 1939
- Sale of Tully property, Africville
- Assistance for families whose homes had been destroyed by fire
August 11 1944
- Sewer and water proposed for Africville
October 12 1944
- Artesian well at Africville [corresponding City Clerk's subject file on the artesian well: 102-5A.304]
November 15 1945
- Lease City Abattoir at Africville
January 15 1948
- Extension of water to Africville
February 12 1948
- Africville Situation
- Extension of water to Africville
March 11 1948
- Extension of water to Africville
May 17 1951
- A request has been received from Mr. David A. Dixon to lease a portion of City land in the Africville district.
July 16 1953
- Disposition - Africville school
October 15 1953
- Africville school
- Taxes - Greenbank and Africville
January 21 1954
- Public Hearing re: Rezoning the area bounded by Charles, Gerrish Streets, rear of Gottingen and rear of Agricola Streets from 02 Zone to 03 Zone
September 17 1954
- Development of Forrester Street area - Africville
January 13 1955
- Development Bedford Basin shore
September 15 1955
- Supplementary appropriation $2,300 bus service Africville school children (also see Board of School Commissioner records related to Africville School)
April 12 1956
- Discussion of removal of Africville school
July 27 1961
- Transportation of Africville children to and from playgrounds
October 25 1962
- Report submitted from the Committee of the Whole Council re: Africville, removing "blighted housing and dilapidated structures"
September 12 1963
- Borrowing Resolutions: Africville
- Submission of the Halifax Advisory Committee on Human Rights recommending Dr. Albert Rose to make an in-depth study re: Africville
November 28 1963
- Payment to Dr. Rose and to appraiser for Skinner property
January 2 1964
- Finance and Executive Committee - Africville Dr. Rose report
January 16 1964
- Report - Dr. Albert Rose - Africville
February 27 1964
- Official Plan - Africville ( Plan No. TT-1-15899)
Note that all property numbers referenced below correspond with those on the P500/46 map.
- Appointment of Committee re: Africville
April 16 1964
- Appointment - Social Worker: A Relocation of Africville Residents
May 28 1964
- Alderman LeBlanc asked if a progress report could be made available respecting the Africville problem.
July 16 1964
- Africville property settlement - No 94 Mrs Iona Dixon
September 17 1964
- Settlement Africville - Buildings No 41, 42, 43
October 1 1964
- Permit application to operate business on the Lord's Day (grocer in Africville)
October 15 1964
- Property Acquisition at Africville - Buildings #110 & 111
- Property acquisition at Africville - Building #49 50 89 90
- Building #40
October 29 1964
- Africville Building #110 & #111
1964-65 Committees
- Including Committee to Deal with Africville
November 12 1964
- Acquisitions: Buildings #97 and #98
December 17 1964
- Property Acquisition: Properties #130 and 131
- Properties #125 and 126
- Steede request for exchange of Africville property for property on Gottingen
- Properties #105, 106, 107, 108
- Provision for Legal Fees Africville Residents
- Assistance Re: Housing & Purchase of Furniture for Africville Residents
January 14 1965
- Buildings #110 & 111
- Buildings #63 & 64
- Building #91
- Purchase of Steede property
February 25 1965
- Acquisition of Building #58
- Policy re: Household Furnishings - Africville Families and Supplementary Welfare Assistance - Africville Families
April 15 1965
- Property Acquisition —Property #44, 45 & 46
- Water System for Residents of Africville
April 29 1965
- Statement by Welfare Director Re: Africville
- Report - Chief of Police Re: Dogs — Africville
- Possible Acquisition — #47 and #48 Africville
May 27 1965
- Alderman LeBlanc asked if the discussion held a few weeks ago concerning the Welfare Officer and Africville had been resolved
June 17 1965
- Possible Acquisition — Building #14; Property #20
- Possible Acquisition - Property #78. 87 and 88
- Purchase - Property #104
- Household Furnishings w Mr. Clarence Brown and His Mother, Hazel Cassidy
June 29 1965
- CBC program concerning Africville
July 29 1965
- Property Acquisition — Property #97 and 98
- Furniture Settlement - Clarence Brown; Property #120 & 121
September 30 1965
- Acquisition -Property #92; Properties #72 and #74; Properties #65,#66, #67 and #68; Properties #141, #142 and #143
- Furniture allowance
October 28 1965
- Building #127; Building #73
December 16 1965
- Human Rights Advisory Committee appointments
- Additional Funds - Purchase of Household Items - Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Dixon
- Acquisition of Property #116; #112 & 113
- Salary - Social Worker on Loan from Province of Nova Scotia
December 30 1965
- Question - Alderman Connolly Re: Articles of Press Respecting Africville
March 17 1966
- Acquisition property #117 - Mr. and Mrs. Romeo Byers
- Acquisition property #71 - Mr. and Mrs. WM Clayton
- Acquisitions #80, 81, 82, 83
- Acquisitions #75 & 76
- Repairs for Mr and Mrs Stanley Dixon
- Assistance to Mr and Mrs H Carter
- Additional borrowing: Africville relocation program
- Brief to Provincial and Federal governments for financial assistance, Africville program
- Assistance to Clarence Brown
May 12 1966
- Acquisition Property #69 - Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Farrell
June 30 1966
- Acquisition of interest of Mrs. Phyllis Oulton
- Furniture allowance to Lawrence Brown Jr.
- Acquisition of #55;
- Acquisition of #58; #70; #118; #123 & 124
- Information report from City Manager re: Africville relocation
September 15 1966
- Report - Sub-Committee on Africville - Progress Report — Relocation Program
- Acquisition — Property #119; Property #135;
- Acquisition - Property #57A
- Appointment of Reverend Mr. W. Bryant to the Africville Sub-Committee, replacing Reverend Mr. Coleman as representative of the Human Rights Advisory Committee, be approved.
October 13 1966
- Property Acquisition: #132 and 133
December 1 1966
- Additional Capital Funds - Africville Relocation Program
- Possible Acquisitions - Property #59 and 60 — Owner Mr. Nolan Carvery; Property #105, 106, 107 and 108 - Owner, Mrs. Sarah A. Mantley; Property #57 — Owners, Heirs of Samuel Brown; Property #91 - Owner, Mrs. Theresa Dixon; Property Owned by Mrs. Frances Cain, not numerically identified on City Plan No. P500/46; #16, 19, 21, 21A, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, & 38
December 15 1966
- Property acquisitions, Africville (#95, 96, 99, 109)
- Furniture Allowance - Mr. Robert Cassidy
- Report Finance and Executive Committee Re: Furniture Allowance for Certain Residents at Africville
March 2 1967
- Recommendations from Africville Committee
June 15 1967
- Possible Acquisition — Property #84 and 85, Owner - Mr. David A. Stewart; Property #51,52,53,54,56 and 128 - Owner Mrs. Ella Thomas; Property #12,13 and 15 - Owner William Welsh; Property Mr. Joseph Skinner; Property — Miss Hattie Carvery; Mr. and Mrs. George (Rose) Grant as the owners of Property #100 and 101
- Property Settlement Estate David Dixon
June 29 1967
- Property — Mr. Joseph Skinner, Africville Item deleted — Committee consideration.
July 13 1967
- Acquisition — Property #130 and 131
July 31 1967
- Property Acquisitions - Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Stella Carvery, 3801 Macintosh Street; Property of Mrs. Tessie MacDonald, Property #140; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carvery; Property #137, 139 and 139A, Mr. Herbert Carvery, Mr. Wilfred (Jack) Carvery, Miss Myrtle Carvery and Miss Cora Howe ; Estate of William Brown; Property #147, 148 and 149 - Owner, Mr. Joseph Skinner
September 14 1967
- Alderman Ivany asked if staff are considering the replacement of Mr. Peter MacDonald, the social worker who has been working on the Africville Relocation Programme
- Report - Africville Committee
- Africville Acquisitions: Property #37 — Owner, Mr. Edward Carvery, Sr.; Property #136 and 138 - Owners: Miss Hattie Carvery and Mr. Milton Carvery ; Property #128 - Owners: Mrs. Ella Thomas, Mrs. Louise Izzard and Miss Irene Thomas; Property #86 - Owner - Mr. and Mrs. Stanley {Alice} Carvery; Property #137, 139 and 139A; Property #127; #84 and 85 - Owner: Mr. David A. Stewart; Estate of David Dixon; Property #77 and 86 - Owner: Mr. Percy Almon Carvery
September 28 1967
- Possible Acquisition - Seaview United Baptist Church
October 12 1967
- Letter - Mr. Peter MacDonald, Social Worker re: Termination of employment with City (Africville Programme)
- Disbanding of Africville Sub-Committee
- Property Acquisition - Dwelling #30
- Property Acquisition - Dwelling #25
October 26 1967
- Africville —-Additional Borrowing - $70,000.00
- Disposition of Land Bounded by Leeds Street, Gottingen Street, Robie Street and Africville Area
November 16 1967
- Expropriation of Land — Africville Area
- Expropriation of Land — Creighton Street Housing Project
November 30 1967
- Presentation to Peter MacDonald, Africville Social Worker
- Question Alderman Ivany Re: Statement to MacLeans Magazine and Television Programme with with respect to Africville
April 11 1968
- Estate of David Dixon - Africville - Payment to Mr. Osborne Farrell
June 13 1968
- Property Acquisition — Properties #144, 145 and 146
October 31 1968
- Report — Social Planning Committee and Housing Committee: Assistance to Families Relocated from Africville
February 26 1969
- Question Alderman Ahern Re: Africville -- what to do with the land that has been cleared
March 12 1969
- Proposal for Africville Follow-Up
April 2 1969
- Loan fund for former Africville residents - Nova Scotia Credit Union Act Supplemental By-laws
July 2 1969
- Settlement - William Carvery Property — Africville
October 15 1969
- Settlement of Last Africville Resident — Mr. Aaron Carvery
October 29 1969
- Additional Requirement for Africville Land Acquisition
November 26 1969
- Staff report Expropriation - Carvery Property — Africville
January 29 1970
- Letter dated January 20, 1970 from the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People re: Carvery
- Response from Social Planner
- Delegation — Board of Directors of the Black United Front of Nova Scotia - re: Carvery negotiations
December 17, 1970
- Council appoints a committee to meet with the Africville Action Committee (Elsie Desmond, Yvonne Carvery and Linda Mantley) to consider their proposal for financial compensation, financial aid for housing, employment program for relocatees and revitalization of the Seaview Credit Union.
January 25 1979
- Development of Park to be known as Seaview Memorial Park
March 15 1979
- Petition - Former Residents of Africville — the proposed North End community park be named "The Africville Memorial Park“.
September 26 1985
- Question Deputy Mayor O'Malley Re: Seaview Park Monument
December 12 1985
- Question Alderman O'Malley Re: Monuments - Seaview Park
April 11 1991
- The Deputy Mayor submitted a letter received earlier in the evening from the Africville Genealogy Society (dated 11 April 1991) addressed to Halifax City Council and urging that a public hearing he held on the proposed road to Seaview Park.
November 17 1994
- Africville Genealogy Society - Council agrees to form a Committee to meet with the black community towards bringing healing and closure re. Africville, but not to consider individual compensation.
December 15 1994
- A report from His Worship Mayor Walter Fitzgerald, Chairman, Africville Council Committee, dated December 1, 1994, was submitted and passed to support an application for funding to reconstruct the Seaview United Baptist Church, donation of parkland, a $100,000 education fund for the descendants of Africville residents and access to relocation records .
March 2 1995
- His Worship Mayor Fitzgerald made reference to the revised copy of the proposed Parks Ordinance which had been distributed to members of Council earlier in the evening, emphasizing that as a result of discussions with Africville Genealogical Society, a section has been added specifically authorizing the Society's annual picnic and reunion at Seaview Park.
March 30 1995
- City Parks Ordinance discussion and approval. The issue was contentious as Africville supporters were upset about the Ordinance's effect on Vic and Ed Carvery's protest at the site of the new municipal park, especially with the impending G7 Summit. There is a request for compensation for Africville residents. Includes a petition, correspondence and presentations by Betsy Petersen, Ann Duffy, Harold Flint, Errol Sharp, Fred Furlong, Randy Mapp, Ed Carvery, Victor Carvery (and their solicitor), Rocky Jones, Charles Vemb, Lynn Jones, Metro Coalition for a Non-Racist Society, Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
- Case No, 7140: Rezoning of Lands for Rebuilding of Seaview United Baptist Church and Seaview Memorial Park
- Public Hearing for above Case No, 7140, including presentation by Irvine Carvery of the Africville Genealogy Society and Ann Duffy
- Case No, 7140 rezoning approved.
- Interest on the Africville Genealogy Society bursary trust fund - matter deferred
- Campers - Seaview Park - staff asked to investigate the protest camp
- Council approves Africville Memorial Education Endowment Trust
- Case No, 7140 - Public Hearing scheduled re. changes to street lines for Seaview Memorial Park and land grant to Africville Genealogy Society
- Public Hearing re. above including presentation by Irvine Carvery of the Africville Genealogy Society
- Council approves street line changes for Seaview Memorial Park and transfer of land to the Africville Genealogy Society
- Alderman Blumenthal requests update on Seaview Park lands
- Environmental audit of lands west of Seaview Memorial Park authorized
May 25, 1999
- Irvine Carvery, President of the Africville Genealogy Society speaks at a public hearing about By-law P-800 Respecting Municipal Parks to correct the spelling of the name of his organization in the by-law.
December 10, 2002
- In Camera 2. Legal Matter - Community Initiative (to be circ) [minutes and report not yet public; contact Clerk's Office for access]
May 24, 2005
- In Camera 4. Legal Matter - Community Initiative (oral) [i.e. no staff report] [presentation and minutes not yet public; contact Clerk's Office for access]
June 14, 2005
- Confidential Information item 2. Legal Matter - Community Initiative [information report not yet public; contact Clerk's Office for access]
March 28, 2006
- In camera session Legal Matter - Africville Update (oral) (deferred from March 21/06) [presentation and minutes not yet public; contact Clerk's Office for access]
October 21, 2008
- In camera session 3. Legal Matter - Community Initiative [minutes and report not yet public; contact Clerk's Office for access]
January 27, 2009
- Municipal Clerk reports that a request by Victor Carvery of the Africville Liberation Movement Association to present to Council was not granted at this time "as negotiations are ongoing".
January 26, 2010
- In Camera 5. Legal Matter - Community Initiative (Staff Presentation) [presentation and minutes not yet public; contact Clerk's Office for access]
February 23, 2010
- After lengthy negotiations with the Africville Genealogy Society and all levels of government, Regional Council approves the eight terms of settlement outlined in the attached report, including commitments to an apology, to renaming Seaview Park to Africville, to transfer land and reserve funds to Africville Heritage Trust, to establish an African Nova Scotia Affairs Office, but not to personal compensation as sought in the ongoing litigation. The document also has a summary of the negotiations and correspondence received from Amanda Carvery, Andrea Macnevin, and Clifton Reddick.
2010- present
Regional Council minutes continue to document the interactions between the municipal government and the community of Africville. Their minutes and reports are available on-line, but no summary of post-apology Africville related items has been created yet.