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Summer 2022 festivals and events in Nova Scotia and beyond

Summer 2022 festivals and events in Nova Scotia and beyond

Indigenous Peoples Day X Grand Oasis
Right outside City Hall, the Grand Oasis Festival Series begins on June 21—both Indigenous Peoples Day and the official first day of summer. The day kicks off with opening speeches and a Mi’kmaw flag raising. The musical performances begin in the late afternoon, starting with openers Iron Tide, Boogát and Fawn Wood, ending with the main performer DJ Shub presenting War Club Live.
7pm Tue, Jun 21 | Halifax City Hall

Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
Beginning in 1979 as a one time celebration of the International Gathering of the Clans outside of Scotland, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo continues this summer once again over 40 years after its start. This show is renowned around the world and blends the historical and modern through wonderful pipes and drums, dancers, acrobats, military pomp and many more fun activites for the whole family.
Sat, Jun 25-Jul 30 | Scotiabank Centre

Harbourside Ribfest
Prepare yourself for sticky fingers and messy faces as the Harbourside Ribfest returns for the eighth year. With a new name and location, Alderney Landing, the festival will feature five unique rib trucks and local vendors. Don’t miss out on this satisfying opportunity. Your stomach and taste buds will thank you.
Thu, Jun 30-Jul 3 | Alderney Landing

Grand Oasis x Canada Day Weekend
Friday, July 1, there will be outdoor live performances at the Grand Oasis Festival from 7-10:30pm from Crown Land, Neon Dreams, DeeDee Austin, Drives the Common Man and Eastern Eagle. On July 2 there will be Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Salute To Ukraine and a performance from the Ukrainian band Balaklava Blues.
Fri, Jul 1-2 | Halifax City Hall

Antigonish Highland Games
One hundred and sixty years after The Antigonish Highland Society was founded, the society still aims to uphold Scottish tradition at the Antigonish Highland Games. Help keep the culture and traditions alive this summer by attending the many events like piping and drumming, highland dancing, fiddle music and athletics, and the ancient Scottish Heavy Events.
Sat, Jul 2-10 | Antigonish

Lebanese Cedar Festival
Since 2007 the Lebanese Cedar Festival has been a dynamic and successful festival that focuses and appreciates Lebanese culture. The aim is to bridge the gap between Canadian and Lebanese cultures by providing a space and opportunity for people from both communities to commence and enjoy delicious Lebanese foods while listening to music, dancing and more.
Sun, Jul 3-5 | Clayton Park Drive

Granville Green
The Granville Green free outdoor concert series returns to Port Hawkesbury every Sunday this summer. There will be many excellent Canadian acts performing like Tyler Shaw, The Stanfields, Classified and more. After the two years we’ve all endured in the wake of COVID, the festival is dedicated to highlighting the importance of community, resilience and comradeship.
7pm Sun, Jul 3-24 | Granville Green

Peggy’s Cove Area Festival of the Arts
This non-profit celebration of the arts at Peggy’s Cove is a spectacular way to spend an afternoon by the water and to get in touch with your artistic side. There are two main events, the first is a three-day air painting event in the little village of Peggy’s Cove on July 8, 9 and 10. The second is a Studio Tour on July 15, 16 and 17, where more than 60 studio artists, galleries and art groups open their doors to have people meet and interact with artists that range from painters to wood and glass workers.
Wed, Jul 6-17 | Scotiabank Centre

Cavendish Beach Music Festival
The Cavendish Beach Music Festival is entwined in the roots of the country music family tree with 13 years experience providing a stage for country music performers to hone their talents. This year’s lineup includes Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, Dustin Lynch and The Cadillac Three and more. Dust off your cowboy hats and boots cause you don’t want to miss this chance to spend a fantastic weekend outside in the sun with friends, listening to some of the genre’s best artists.
Thu, Jul 7-9 | Cavendish Beach

A Final Folly Fest
This magical and free-spirited festival situated alongside the beautiful Wolastoq river, is the perfect camping and festival spot. All you need to bring to stay is your tent and camping gear as the festival provides free water and showers. The Folly Fest isn’t only music but includes markets, performance art, workshops, kid zones, Silent Discos, and much more. The headliners include big names such as G-Nome Projects, Zamani and Apollo Suns.
Fri, Jul 8-10 | Village of Gagetown

2022 Lobster Bash
Prepare to have full bellies and your cravings satisfied, as all your lobster dreams will come true at the annual Lobster Bash celebration. Along the western shore of the Annapolis Basin, lip-licking lobster rolls, lobster chowder, and steamed lobster will be served. There will be many family-friendly events, including lobster banding, lobster trap stacking and hauling, row boat races, and much more.
Fri, Jul 8-10 | Digby Waterfront

Under the Spire Music Festival
Enjoy a secular experience in the most sacred of spaces. Situated in a former church constructed for music in rural PEI is the summer-long music festival, Under The Spire. Returning for the 27th season, the festival previously known as the Indian River Festival, announces many performers such as Reeny Smith & The Sanctified Bros, Twin Flames, David Myles and Catherine MacLellan.
Fri, Jul 8-Sep 2 | Historic St Mary’s

Grand Oasis Reunion
At the Grand Oasis Festival on July 8, 2022, Alan Doyle the lead singer of the Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea and the band Fortunate Ones will be performing live. On July 9th, there will be performances from Classified and Owen O Sound Lee.
Fri, Jul 8-9 | Halifax City Hall

Halifax Jazz Festival
Spend a couple days of your summer boogie-ing and jive-ing to some funky jazz music at the infamous Halifax Jazz Festival. A collection of renowned performers from all around the world, each with their own unique take on jazz, are brought to Halifax to perform. The lineup for this summer’s event consists of names such as Tank and The Bangas, Perfume Genius, Milly Johnson and The Weather Station.
Wed, Jul 13-17 | Halifax Waterfront

Halifax Pride Festival
Partake in the over 150 colourful and uplifting community and pride organized events for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Celebrate the history, activism, and perseverance of the community at the many exciting and joyous events like the Pride Parade, Queer Music Fest, Comedy Night and much more. Put on your most colourful outfit and join in the vibrant celebration of this extraordinary community.
Thu, Jul 14-24 | Halifax Pride

Acoustic Maritime Music Festival
Get your groove on at the family-friendly four-day Acoustic Festival. Listen to some of Canada’s best artists like JP Cormier, Andrew Waite Band and The Divorcees all weekend long while enjoying good eats and drinks from Smokinstein Food Truck and School House Brewery. If you like to sing, there will also be an open mic session to show off your talent.
Thu, Jul 14-17 | Kempt Shore Ocean View Campground

East Hants Tide Fest
If you’re looking for something entertaining to do, look no further. After two years, The East Hants Tide Fest returns for a jam-packed weekend full of events for everyone. There will be events and tournaments such as the world’s largest washer toss tournament, youth ball hockey, local music, Atlantic Canada’s strongest san and woman, a community fair and many more exciting things.
Fri, Jul 15-16 | East Hants Sportsplex

Lunenburg Arts Fest
Instead of watching something live on tv, head to Lunenburg to watch live and in-person painters’ artistic expressions take tangible form on canvases. For 21 years, The Lunenburg Art Gallery Society has hosted this annual event, formerly known as Paint Sea On Site. During this art festival, participating artists will be scattered in and around the town of Lunenburg painting, providing the public with the opportunity to watch and engage with the artists at work.
10am-5pm Sat, Jul 16-17 | Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic Wharf

Halifax Summer Opera Festival
Listen to the sweet melody of the opera at The Halifax Summer Opera Festival this summer. This year the Halifax Summer Opera Festival presents four fully-staged productions of Glick’s Armide. The festival will also participate in Pride events, Opera Backwards, and performances at the Halifax Public Library.
Mon, Jul 18-Aug 14 | Alderney Landing

Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal
Hop, boogie and leap over to the Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal to watch contemporary dance, dance theatre, acrobatic movement, Indigenous dance and works from Canada’s best choreographers in rural Nova Scotia. The artistic director and award-winning Canadian choreographer Randy Glynn, brings his vision to life through the mesmerizing and flawless movements of the dancers.
Tue, Jul 19-23 | King’s Theatre

Saint John Contemporary Dance Festival
Watch as both professional and emerging choreographers from New Brunswick strut their exceptional dance moves on stage. This festival aims to provide an array of creative performances in contemporary dance for both audience entertainment and for dancers to hone and show off their skills.
Fri, Jul 22 | Halifax Public Gardens

Nova Multifest
Enter a cross-culture utopia and be mesmerized by the celebration of the rich culture and diversity of Nova Scotia at the Nova Multifest. This electric festival embodies Nova Scotia’s multiple cultures through music, art and delicacies local to each culture. Feast your eyes at the festival’s live shows and cave to the temptations of culinary delights, cold beers from a local brewery and one-of-a-kind gifts.
Fri, Jul 22-24 | Alderney Landing

Harmony Bazaar
Did you know that only a two-hour drive from Halifax sits a mile-long white sand beach and the Harmony Bazaar music festival? What could be better than live music and a beach. The Harmony Bazaar music festival stands to promote female artists and songs. This female-only festival consists of great female artists and music coupled with activities like youth stages, industry dinners, art galas, theatre performances and mentorships.
Fri, Jul 22-24 | Seacaps Memorial Park

Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Enter the world of traditional folk music and more at the 25th edition of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival. Gather with the extended community to hear a wide range of music that goes beyond folk music such as rock, funk, gospel, and singer-songwriter acoustics. Performers include artists such as Carolyn Dawn Johnson, George Canyon and more.
Fri, Jul 22-24 | Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival

Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival (PIPAF)
PIPAF selects artists from across North America to compete in painting the marvellous sea and landscapes of the Parrsboro Shore. The festival aims to rejuvenate the community and develop the areas cultural economy through artists and artisans. Its success has been chronicled in media across North America, reaching thousands of artists, art galleries and art collectors’ organizations across the continent.
Wed, Jun 22-26 | Parrsboro Band Hall

East Coast Kite Festival
Spend the day outside under the open sky scattered with colours and shapes at the East Coast Kite Festival. Whether you just wish to watch or wish to fly your own kite, this free family-friendly no alcohol event is a great way to spend an afternoon. There will be 50 different types of kites for purchase, food trucks and vendors, craft workshops, kite flying lessons and much more.
10am Sat, Jul 23-24 | Citadel Hill

Hantsport Music Festival
Following the closure of large industries and town amalgamations, local volunteers decided to accumulate and showcase their love for the town by creating the Hantsport Music Festival. The festival focuses on raising money for the community and bringing the best Atlantic Canadian artists like Pail Lamb and Laura Conner with Wreckhouse, The Usual Suspects, Mark Riley Project and many more to the stage.
12pm Sat, Jul 23 | Hantsport Music Fest

Halifax Buskers Festival
No matter what side of the bridge you reside on, you can now enjoy the festivities of the Halifax Busker Festival without having to cross over into Halifax or Dartmouth. The Dartmouth side will have amusement rides, international buskers and music, while the Halifax side will also include international busker performances but will have food and craft vendors. It’s the perfect family-friendly event that everyone will enjoy no matter which waterfront you choose to visit.
Wed, Jul 27-Aug 1 | Seacaps Memorial Park

The Island Fringe Festival
This weekend-long festival is committed to supporting and encouraging independent artists while providing a unique experience outside the conventional theatre and live performance boundaries. Despite being a small festival, it stands loud and proud, offering unconventional performances in unconventional spaces for a rare and uncommon experience, making this an unforgettable music festival you don’t want to miss.
Wed, Jul 27-31 | Various Locations

Natal Day X Grand Oasis
Check out the live outdoor performances from Ria Mae on July 29, and Haviah Mighty, Aquakulture and Mass Choir all on August 1, at the Grand Oasis Festival to celebrate Natal Day.
Fri, Jul 29-Aug 1 | Halifax City Hall

The Riverfront Jubilee
If you love to immerse yourself in the euphoric sounds of music, you’re in luck. The award-winning music festival, the Riverfront Jubilee, opens its stage for national and international acts. Their outdoor amphitheatre is the perfect place to let loose, enjoy the summer sun and listen to great tunes from artists such as Tom Cochrane, Serena Ryder, Glass Tiger, Reeny Smith and more.
Fri, Jul 29-31 | Various Locations

Area 506
Every year around the August long weekend holiday, the AREA 506 festival takes place on the waterfront in Saint John, New Brunswick. Area 506 consists of a shipping container village that showcases vendors’ goods, brands and culture groups, plus the music festival that this summer features artists such as the Arkells, The Glorious Sons, Mother Mother, Sloan and many more.
Fri, Jul 29-31 | AREA 506

Rock the Hub
The annual Rock the Hub event returns. Grab a rock and get rollin’ cause this festival will definitely meet all your rock’ n’ roll fantasies with performances from Monster Truck, Three Days Grace, The Glorious Sons and many others.
Fri, Jul 29-31 | Truro Civic Square

Nova Scotia Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival
Whether it’s your first or 49th time attending, Canada’s oldest continuously running Bluegrass Festival is bound to be a great time. This event is more than a music festival as not only can you enjoy great music and food, but you can also partake in their interactive workshops to hone and improve your musical talents. The performers this summer include artists and bands such as Ray Legere and Acoustic Horizon, Matt Lunn & Echo Mountain, The Stiff Family Band and more.
Fri, Jul 29 | Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival

Sappyfest
Channel your inner good vibes and peaceful nature for this year’s Sappyfest. The festival returns this year better than ever to bring great live music you know and love. No matter your M.O., you are bound to fit into one of the many different groups at the festival like musicians, artists, dancers, punks, hippies and poets!
Fri, Jul 29-31 | Sappyfest

Nova Scotia Folk Art Festival
Lunenburg’s Folk Art Festival is back for the 32nd time this summer. Spend Sunday afternoon at this fundraising initiative looking at the artworks created by over 50 Nova Scotia artists working with wood, pencil, paint, metal, fibre and other materials. Good luck returning home empty-handed after seeing all the amazing art pieces.
12pm Sun, Jul 31 | Lunenburg War Memorial Arena

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
Embrace your twinkle toes as you groove to the music in this charming town, listening to charming music. This family fun festival brings some of the best traditional and contemporary folk music artists to the stage from far and wide. Amidst the stunning seaside views Lunenburg has to offer and with the salt in the air and possibly in your hair, explore Nova Scotia’s longest-running folk music festival.
Thu, Aug 4-7 | Lunenburg War Memorial Arena

Halifax Seaport Cider & Beerfest
Those who have attended this event in the past know it always calls for cloudy with a chance of a hangover. All jokes aside, head over to the beer and cider event of the season and drink responsibly from a range of 300 craft beer, imports, seasonals and ciders from over 20 countries. Hopefully, it’s not cloudy but sunny, however, either way, this indoor event also has live music and delicious eats from Halifax favourites like East of Grafton and The Cake Lady!
Thu, Aug 4-6 | Halifax Seaport

Future Forest
If the idea of getting out of the city and being one with nature tickles your fancy, then the Future Forest Festival is the place for you. This EDM music festival is built from the natural resources provided by the forest its located. In the middle of the wilderness, far away from any houses or city lights, perfect for stargazing, there will be three stages where more than 140 musicians will perform. The festival includes not only music but world class performance arts, artisan and food vendors, a yoga village, learning workshops, art installations, family camping and more.
Fri, Aug 5-8 | Future Forest Festival

East Coast Classics x Grand Oasis
Spend your Saturday evening at the Grand Oasis Festival listening to live outdoor performances and celebrating East Coast artists Mo Kenney and Joel Plaskett.
7pm Fri, Aug 5-6 | Halifax City Hall

Country Rocks the Hub
Saddle up and get ready for this year’s annual Country Rocks the Hub music festival. This year Alexander Keith brings artists and bands such as Terri Clark, The Reklaws, Brett Kissel, Lonestar, and Tyler Joe Miller to the stage to rock your socks off.
Fri, Aug 5-7 | Truro Civic Square

19th Annual Northern Lights Lantren Festival
Light up your day literally and figuratively by attending the Northern Lights Lantern Festival. This four-hour long festival will give you the chance to celebrate the dynamic and vibrant North End. There will also be activities like bouncy castles, lantern making, carnival games, live music, and free community BBQs. The night will finish with fireworks to light up your night just a bit more.
5:30-9:30pm Sat, Aug 6 | Halifax north end

Chester Race Week
Drift on over to Chester, Nova Scotia for Canada’s largest annual Keel Boat Regatta. Not only will you be entertained watching the sailors set sail and race around the stunning Mahone Bay, but there will also be lots of on-land activities to enjoy over the course of the week. The on-land schedule consists of days sponsored by Keith Brewery and Blue Lobster, a visit from the Bluenose, great food and live music on the deck from artists such as Tyler Key and Scott Harnish and the local band Dark and Stormy.
8:30am-11pm Thu, Aug 11-13 | Chester

Outdoor Runway Weekend X Grand Oasis
Channel your inner glamours side and spend the evening of August 12, enjoying the one-night-only outdoor fashion show, THIS IS US! This outdoor runway is created by SOLI Productions and includes an After Party with DJ BAMBII. 20+ countries and designers will be represented during the show. DJ BAMBII returns to perform again on August 13.
Fri, Aug 12-13 | Halifax City Hall

India Fest 2022
Join the hundreds of other visitors immersing themselves in the true colours of Indian culture at this three-day celebration. If you can attend, you will no doubt enjoy the incredible experience being offered to engage yourself in a variety of Indian foods, dances, music, clothing, art & craft, jewellery and henna.
11am-8pm Fri, Aug 12-14 | Halifax Forum

White Rabbit Arts Festival
The free all-ages celebration of comics and cartooning returns to Dartmouth this summer. Take inspiration from the dozens of artists, writers and vendors that you’ll meet while they show off and sell their work.
11 Mon, Aug 15 | Alderney Landing

The Halifax County Exhibition
Make sure you and your family get the chance to enjoy all the fun the Halifax County Exhibition has to offer this summer. The community-run exhibition has been running since 1884 and offers an old-fashion county fair feel. The exhibition offers four days of livestock displays and competitions, games and activities for children, yummy treats, local entertainment and loads more.
Wed, Aug 17-20 | Halifax County Exhibition Grounds

Vibrancy Festival X Grand Oasis
Head to City Hall to hear live outdoor performances. On August 19, see Cloverdale, B2B and Famba perform and on August 20, see American singer, record producer, and DJ, Green Velvet. August 27, and August 28, performers at still TBD.
Fri, Aug 19-20 | Halifax City Hall

Nova Scotia Summer Fest
It’s not a true Nova Scotian summer without a celebration of its music and culture. Therefore, find the heart of summer at the Nova Scotia Summer Fest. Not only will there be great performances from artists such as Walk Off The Earth, Myles Goodwyn and more, but there will also be some of the province’s finest seafood, wines, micro brews and art. You could say this festival has everything you could ever need.
3pm-11pm Fri, Aug 19-20 | Columbus Field

Riverfest
Thanks to Country 100.7 announcer Jonathan Crouse and musician Jason McCorrisstion the Riverfest festival was born. Their dual vision has brought great indie music to the south shore and continues to do so this summer. Join the party and rock out to artists and bands such as Heymaker, The Shifters, Chesterdoom, Diamond City and many more.
6pm-1:30am Fri, Aug 19-20 | Columbus Field

Clam Harbour Beach Sandcastle Competition
Dust off your hibernating beach toys from the garage, grab your sunhat and head over to the Eastern shores. After a two-year hiatus due to the Provincial Government’s State of Emergency, the 42nd Clam Harbour Beach Sandcastle Competition returns this summer. Whether you watch or partake in the competition, this is a great way to spend a Sunday with friends and family at the beach.
9am Sun, Aug 21 | Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park

The Wellness Escape Festival
Start or continue your wellness journey this summer and discover your inner peace at this festival. Connect to your mind and body through mindful movements and mediation classes, holistic health workshops, and mindful practices. Unearth your calmest and healthiest self by spending your day doing yoga, pilates, meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, bath salts making, mindset training and a sound healing workshop. Finish your day with a spectacular outdoor 3-course dinner amidst the vines under the Nordic Kata Tipi tent.
10am-6pm Sat, Aug 27 | Avondale Sky Winery

Halifax Urban Folk Festival
This festival is all about collaboration and bringing Nova Scotia’s amazing artists together in Halifax. You too can collaborate by joining other Nova Scotians in the great decision to attend the festival and see the outstanding performances from artists such as Postdata, Christina Marin, Zamani, Reeny Smith and Matt Mays.
Mon, Aug 29-Sep 5 | Truro Civic Square

Frosh Returns + Halifax Urban Folk Fest Main Event
The Canadian singer, songwriter and rapper BBNO$, with 1.1 million Instagram followers and 800 million streams on Spotify, is coming to the Grand Oasis festival. BBNO$ is well known for this collaboration with Young Gravy in 2019 to create the hit song “Lalala”. The performer for September 3rd is TBD.
Fri, Sep 2-3 | Halifax City Hall

Music Nova Scotia Takeover X Grand Oasis
Performers for the Grand Oasis festival September 9, 2022, and September 10, 2022, are still to be announced.
Fri, Sep 9-10 | Halifax City Hall

Dear Summer x Grand Oasis
Head to City Hall for an electric night of music on September 16, as Grand Oasis Festival presents performers NOBRO, Like a Motorcycle and Hello Delaware. NOBRO is an all-female rock band dedicated to rockin’ it out. Like a Motorcycle is a local punk rock band and Hello Delaware is a glam punk pop band. The performers on September 17, is  alternative, indie and rock artists Jon Samuel and DJ Douvet.
Fri, Sep 16-17 | Halifax City Hall

Nova Scotia Craft Beer Festival
Head over to the Salt Yard on the Halifax waterfront to socialize and sample over 40 craft beers. This event showcases and celebrates craft beer made throughout the province. Tickets include a tasting glass, sample beer tickets for individual breweries and an opportunity to meet people in the Nova Scotia brewing community. Note: Age identification is required at this 19+ event.
6pm-12am Fri, Sep 16-17 | Salt Yard

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Washington Black events aim to connect production crew with Black Nova Scotian communities | CBC News

Washington Black events aim to connect production crew with Black Nova Scotian communities | CBC News

The showrunner of a TV series based on Esi Edugyan’s novel Washington Black says shooting in Nova Scotia for the past few months has felt like coming home.

Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, who is also a writer and executive producer on the Disney+ series, called Nova Scotia “one of the most gorgeous places” he’s ever shot. He also said the cast and crew have particularly appreciated connecting with local communities.

“Being able to tangibly touch and feel the Black Nova Scotian community here, which is such an important part of the book and important part of the show,” he told CBC Radio’s Information Morning on Friday.

“A barber cut my hair one day and just casually mentions that his family have been here for 500 years.”

Listen to Selwyn Seyfu Hinds’s full interview with Portia Clark:

Information Morning – NS10:17Washington Black production wraps in NS

The novel Washington Black follows a young Black man, George Washington Black — Wash for short — on an extraordinary series of adventures after he flees his former life as a slave on a sugar plantation in Barbados.

Wash’s journey takes him all over the world, but one of his first stops is Nova Scotia.

The TV adaptation of Edugyan’s story began shooting in the province in March, including in Lunenburg, The Ovens, Mount Uniacke and Halifax. It’s expected to wrap up production here next week.

Edugyan told CBC News in a recent interview that she wanted to show the complexities of Black settlement in Nova Scotia.

Esi Edugyan is the author of Washington Black. (CBC)

The character of Wash expects Nova Scotia to be a haven for him, given Canada’s connection to slavery as being the last stop on the Underground Railroad.

“He’s going into it, expecting to find that he’s fully accepted and greeted,” Edugyan explains, “and that ends up not being the case. He finds that this is a place of great fractiousness.”

The migration of Black Loyalists during the American Civil War made Shelburne, the town where Wash takes refuge in her book, the site of the largest colony of free Black people outside of Africa at the time.

However, as a result of the racism and discrimination the Black Loyalists faced, Shelburne was also where Canada’s first recorded race riots took place in 1784.

Will the Black community benefit?

An open letter written by Shekara Grant, a founding member of the Change is Brewing Collective, and posted on Instagram in February expressed concerns about people profiting from this difficult history without sharing the benefits with, or addressing the current problems facing the community the story is about.

Grant’s letter questions the inclusion and consultation of Black Nova Scotians in the show’s production planning. She wrote that while it’s important to share their stories of historic inequality, the Black community of south Shelburne is still dealing with environmental racism.

Since 2016, a group called the South End Environmental Injustice Society (SEED) has been lobbying unsuccessfully for access to uncontaminated drinking water.

From left: Actors Sterling K. Brown and Iola Evans, showrunner Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Dwayne Provo with the Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs, director Wanuri Kahiu and actor Ernest Kingsley Jr. (Adams Photography)

When asked about these concerns, Hinds said, “I wanted to be able to come to this community and make and leave a tangible difference as much as I could.”

Hinds said his team has hired Black Nova Scotian background actors and crew members. In order to engage and involve the community, the production is hosting a series of events called Washington Black Talks.

“No single production can change the entire face of things, but I certainly think we’ve been able to have a substantial impact here,” Hinds said.

Washington Black Talks

Hinds said the events are open to the public, and a chance to meet and have open conversations with himself, other Black writers, actors and co-executive producer and star actor Sterling K. Brown.

While not exactly consultation events, he hopes having direct access to Black people who are making a living in Hollywood will make the dream more accessible for Black Nova Scotians who are also interested in careers in the industry.

“[It’s] just us talking to the community,” Hinds said. “I can tell you personally that my own path, what I’m doing now, didn’t come about until I met a director, Mr. Reggie Hudlin, who looked like me.”

The next Washington Black Talks event is Sunday, June 19, at the Black Cultural Centre in Cherry Brook from 1 to 3 p.m. AT.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.

Being Black in Canada highlights stories about Black Canadians. (CBC)

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The parallels between the Norwegian and Nova Scotian mass murders: how commanders responded to unfolding events

a woman and a man
a woman and a man

Bjorn Ivar Kruke (right), a prof at Norway’s University of Stavanger, speaks with Mass Casualty Commission staffer Krista Smith on June, 1, 2022.

“The next crisis never happened before but that doesn’t mean we cannot prepare for it,” Bjorn Ivar Kruke told a roundtable discussion on Critical Incident Preparedness hosted by the Mass Casualty Commission Wednesday. 

Kruke is a Professor in risk management at the Faculty of Science and Technology/Department of Safety, Economics and Planning who appeared via Zoom from the University of Stavanger in Norway. The panel also included other researchers: the manager in charge of the 911 Communications Centre in Toronto, a deputy Police Chief from Cape Breton, and a veteran Police Superintendent from Ontario.

But back to Kruke. On July 22, 2011 a right-wing terrorist set off a bomb in a government district of Oslo that killed eight people and severely injured nine others. Within two hours he had driven to a summer camp hosted by the Norwegian Labour Party on the island of Utoya, where he gunned down 69 children before being arrested by the police. The massacre was a shock for Norwegians on the scale of what Nova Scotians experienced with the mass murder at Portapique. 

Kruke told participants in the roundtable that the Oslo Police Incident Commander had ”never seen anything like this.” In Kruke’s opinion, such events are not preventable but the key is to “assess the risks” — for example, are schools, mosques, certain communities, or politicians vulnerable to attacks of violence? 

Once the risks are identified, how do police forces and emergency organizations prepare and protect the public in the event of an extreme incident? (As an example, are there enough fire extinguishers in the hotel where the Mass Casualty Commission is meeting?, asked Kruke. For sure there is no shortage of security guards stationed in the halls outside the meeting room.) 

Do police have the equipment and training necessary to confront an “active shooter” as witnessed only last week as yet another mass tragedy involving children unfolded at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas? One of the panellists, Hunter Martaindale, is the director of research at the American Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center located only two hours away from that school in Texas. 

ALERRT was launched following the shooting at Columbine in 1999. As has been previously reported by several media outlets, Martaindale confirmed dozens of police officers who had been ALERRT trained to approach and engage an active shooter were inside the school for 45 minutes before the gunman quit and then took his own life. 

“Police training broke down,” said Martaindale. “The officers were not able to get into the classroom because it was locked and the Commanding Officer, the chief, came in and basically halted it and said it was a hostage situation. But there were more options to get into the classroom. We have boxes with keys at the schools, there is breaching equipment at the fire department across the street. Our training tries to instil an options approach in all our trainees to come up with a solution and figure it out.”

Kruke said once the risks have been assessed and police have made a plan to react to a threat, officers must rehearse and revise the plan. “In real life,” he acknowledges, “the level of preparedness is a political decision.” How much time and money do citizens want to spend on SWAT teams and drones and dogs to react to crime compared to investing in more proactive approaches to prevent crime?

In Finland, the retired head of the Police University College told the roundtable that police became more proactive following two mass shootings at schools outside Helsinki in 2007 and 2008. Finland has not had a school shooting since. “Police sought closer cooperation with school authorities and we went to an early alarm system,” said Kimmo Himberg. “We built up a risk assessment system where students of various ages could be psychologically assessed.”

Supt. Wallace Gossen is the Operations Commanding Officer for the York Regional Police force outside Toronto. He’s been on the force for 32 years. He also teaches the Critical Incident Commander course at the Canadian Police College. His take was that where there has been a major loss of life, the weak link has not been the police officers on the ground but the failure to establish a clear chain of command and communications prior to the crisis event.

 “The men and women who arrive first on the scene will respond the way they have been trained,” Gossen said. “But as events increase in scope and complexity and commanding officers start coming in, typically we find that is where it begins to break down. Who’s in charge? Where does decision-making lie? So many times when we walk away from these events and ask ‘who’s in charge?,’ three people put up their hands. 

 “We focus a lot of the training on tactics and operations — the team leader on the ground — but as we scale up the event and more pieces come into play, historically that’s where a lot of the problems have hit,” continued Gossen. “We have spent a lot of time focussing down but we haven’t spent a whole lot of time focussing up. And that’s where you see an awful lot of change in command. A lot of the officers on the ground will maintain that skill set and move through their careers but their bosses change. And that boss wasn’t at the last scenario and they don’t have the background. Those are things that are a very real struggle across North America.” 

Nova Scotia and Norway

The Mass Casualty Commission has paid a number of researchers to produce written reports (you can find them here) on various subjects to do with policing, sociology, and stress. “The Institutional Context of Crisis: A study of the Police Response during the July 22 Terror Attacks on Norway” is an online article published October 2018 in the Safety Science Journal. The article is a source used in one of the reports prepared for the commissioners that examines the police response to the bomb in Oslo followed by the mass shooting at the summer camp in Utoya less than two hours later.

The Incident Commander in Oslo received two descriptions of the perpetrator (he was wearing what looked like a police uniform) as well as the getaway vehicle from civilians who called 112 — Norway’s equivalent of Canada’s 911 — just 10 minutes after the bomb exploded. (Sound familiar?) 

Call takers advised the Incident Commander, who passed the information to the anti-terrorist police unit that was also involved. The head of that unit decided the information was too vague to warrant action but changed his mind after video camera footage surfaced 15 minutes later. A neighbouring 112 dispatch office provided the description of the suspect and the car to police patrols outside Oslo, but those officers did not heed the heads-up to pursue.

The shooter began gunning down summer campers an hour before the first police officers arrived on the island of Utoya. The boat police used had engine trouble because too many officers were onboard. The SWAT team was unfamiliar with the geography and there was a misunderstanding/delay about where two groups of police were to meet before moving in to stop the shooter. 

Here’s part of the article’s summary of the response during Norway’s worst mass casualty event: 

The police response presented challenges in terms of managing actor complexity (the number of actors involved and the need for coordination) and uncertainty. Our analysis of the course of events shows that the resources dedicated to strategic management were marginalized during the event and that insufficient attention was directed to intelligence and investigation. This contributed to an ineffective police effort to track and capture the perpetrator and prevent or respond to the secondary attack.

Roundtable participants agree debriefings after critical incidents with police and communications operators (call-takers and dispatchers) can be an important means to prepare for future events. Kruke described it as “a delicate process” where incomplete information or “fear of blame” may get in the way of the lessons learned.

“I have found in my experience, our communications operators want to know that they followed all the policies and procedures and that they did everything they could to make sure the response was what it should have been,” explained Kerry Murray-Bates, the manager of the Communications Centre for the Toronto Police. “Did they do their part? So often our debriefs will be very informal and quick, where a supervisor will sit down with that person and they will review the call and the procedure and perform some mentoring or guidance. This helps the communicator not just professionally but emotionally and I find that that is very important.”

Today’s roundtable discussion includes topics such as the training of Incident Commanders and the impact of stress on decision-making in the field. 


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