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Connect the Dots: Confronting Environmental Racism in Nova Scotia

Posted by Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities & Community Health Project on July 23, 2015 in Community Highlights

The Environmental Noxiousness, Racial Inequities & Community Health Project
(ENRICH) (Dr. Ingrid Waldron, School of Nursing, ±«Óătv University) and the
Halifax Central Library would like to invite you to "Connecting the Dots:
Confronting Environmental Racism in Nova Scotia". This free event will take
place at the Halifax Central Library (Paul O'Regan Hall) on Tuesday, July 28
from 6 pm - 8:45 pm.

Join Dr. Ingrid Waldron and a community panel to learn about and participate
in a discussion on environmental racism research and community work that is
happening to fight against the placement of toxic facilities and other
environmentally hazardous activities in communities with historically
marginalized voices.

Although environmental racism has been a long-standing issue in Nova Scotia
and is a term that is becoming more well-known, we are still far away from a
collective understanding of how this form of oppression manifests itself in
the province we live in.

This free event will increase awareness and spark more critical discussions
about the importance of incorporating “race” as a core element of
environmental justice initiatives in Nova Scotia. It also hopes to increase
community engagement in environmental racism initiatives across the province.

The event will feature five panelists who will share their challenges,
successes and strategies for mobilizing on environmental racism in Mi'kmaw
and African Nova Scotian communities.

Long-time activist Lynn Jones will moderate the panel discussion.

Panelists will include:

1) Dorene Bernard (Indian Brook)

2) Mary Desmond (Lincolnville)

3) Irvine Carvery (Africville)

4) Carolann Wright-Parks, Director, Community Economic Development &
Strategic Engagement, Halifax Partnership

5) Lenore Zann, NDP Deputy House Leader; NDP Critic for Aboriginal Affairs;
Education; Community Services; Communities, Culture & Heritage; and MLA for
Truro-BibleHill-Salmon River-Millbrook.

Free refreshments will be provided

This event will include performances by:

All Nations Drummers
Umoja Cultural Diversity Drummers

Visit the Facebook event page here:


Please invite your friends!

What is Environmental Racism?

Environmental Racism is "the inequitable and disproportionate placement of
polluting industries and other environmental hazards near to communities of
colour and the working poor. Environmental racism also refers to the lack of
democratic engagement of these communities in decision-making processes
about the location of these industries and hazards in these communities."

For this and other definitions visit ENRICH's glossary:


"In Whose Backyard?" is a documentary film produced in 2014. It's a
"30-minute documentary film on environmental racism in Nova Scotia that was
produced by Pink Dog Productions. The film captures the voices of Mi’kmaw
and African Nova Scotian community members who share their stories and
struggles against environmental racism in their communities."

You can view the film here:

For more information, contact:

Ingrid Waldron, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing
Faculty of Health Professions
±«Óătv University
iwaldron@dal.ca