Halifax, NS – The Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group (NSPIRG) is hosting a public educational event about issues with the current name of the park and the Cornwallis statue in the centre.
The event begins at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 28, at the statue in Cornwallis Park (at South and Barrington). The event will feature speakers, discussion, and information on the history of this issue.
The event is planned to precede a consultation on the future of the park held by Waye Mason, the district's city councilor, at 7:00 PM in the Westin Hotel.
“Edward Cornwallis, the founder of Halifax, is responsible for incredible crimes, murders, and genocide against the Mi'kmaq people who originally inhabited this land. Uncritically celebrating Cornwallis, by having this statue of him on display, hides the true history and does nothing to help us remember our colonial past,” says Brian Crouse, Resource and Admin Coordinator at NSPIRG.
“We call on Councilor Mason to show leadership on this issue and initiate a process to see this park name changed and this statue removed, including proper consultation with local Indigenous groups,” says Crouse.
However, the goal isn't simply to remove the statue and forever forget about this terrible history, either:
"I think it's really important that we don't erase history and that we remember the legacy of Cornwallis' actions. We're more focused on making sure that this history is not honoured, because it is a violent and terrible history," says Holly Lobsinger, an NSPIRG Board Member and an organizer of this event.
“Mi’kmaq people have brought up a lot of concerns about his honouring here so we want to elevate those concerns and continue debate around this issue,” Lobsinger concludes.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/743658619018922/
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