New Glasgow – The Viola Desmond Art Display adorning the exterior of the former Roseland Theatre is heading into its next and final stage of completion.
In March 2018, MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law established the Protest Art Contest, calling for artists of all ages to submit artwork inspired by Viola Desmond’s act of protest at the building in 1946. MacGillivray Law’s founder, Jamie MacGillivray, acquired the building in 2015 after it had been condemned and would soon be demolished. He has since been restoring the building, including hanging artwork on one exterior wall, paying tribute to Desmond’s legacy.
More than 400 pieces of artwork from across Atlantic Canada were submitted for consideration. The Viola Commemorative Committee, a team of community members led by Committee Chair, Henderson Paris, were tasked with choosing the pieces to be displayed on the wall. The Committee met and thoughtfully considered each submission over the course of several months, and eventually decided on a selection of pieces and a layout for the wall. The artwork was then photographed in high resolution and sent to a manufacturer in Europe who digitally imprinted the artwork onto large architectural panels.
MacGillivray Properties Limited, a construction company in New Glasgow, NS, mounted the panels on the building this summer. Robbie Cromwell, a red seal carpenter who was involved with the installation, said, “I’m glad I was involved in this project. Especially because it was a person of colour who was being ostracized many years ago, and now it’s being recognized that what happened to her was wrong. As part of the MacGillivray Properties crew, I got to be involved in memorializing her memory, and I’m glad I was a part of that.”
Now that the panels have been mounted, the Committee is waiting on the final piece of the display to be constructed: a metal filmstrip which will be woven through the artwork panels.
The installation now hangs stoically, walking passersby through the life of Viola Desmond and the injustice she faced after being forcibly removed from the Roseland Theatre in 1946 for sitting in the main level of the theatre, reserved solely for the white population at the time, and the ensuing arrest, fine, and jail time that accompanied her act of protest.
“This building, which for many decades bore nasty scars of racial injustice and unrest, has now been transformed into an artistic showcase of hope, peace, unity, diversity, and last but not least, inclusion,” said Henderson Paris, chair of the Viola Commemorative Committee, adding, “Recently, I stood across the street on Viola’s Way looking at the art pieces that memorialize Viola Desmond of the former Roseland Theatre; I cannot help but give my most sincere thanks to property owner Mr. Jamie MacGillivray of MacGillivray Law and MacGillivray Properties Limited for his incredible vision, genuine humanity, and his caring passion in seeing this Viola Desmond wall of art which now graces his building, become an educational component for all children everywhere as well as a tourism destination for all to explore.”
Message from Henderson Paris, Chair of the Viola Commemorative Committee:
Having been asked to assemble a group of individuals to be part of a committee that would select art to be put on the exterior wall of the former Roseland Theatre was something that I never really imagined myself doing. However, this new adventure coupled with also being asked to be the committee’s chair was indeed very interesting and challenging to me. Something inside of me was spurring me on that I didn’t quite understand.
Once I accepted the invitation, I immediately began compiling a wonderful group of well-known local community leaders, professional artists and business personnel. All of these energetic and enthusiastic individuals accepted the challenge without hesitation. I would like to take this opportunity to name them now: Alexis MacDonald, John Ashton, Lyn-Sue Wice, Jocelyn Pierre, Sandra Andersen, Helen Boucher, and Candace Slater.
Our mandate was to sort through over five hundred amazing pieces of artwork which had been originally submitted by individuals from all over Atlantic Canada as part of a Protest Art contest created by Jamie MacGillivray at MacGillivray Law Offices. The group would now be called, The Viola Commemorative Committee.
From the onset I can honestly say that this committee took their responsibilities very seriously as we diligently worked extremely hard in endeavouring to select art pieces that would best portray Viola Desmond’s life. Meeting after meeting we would continually research and discuss her life and the role that she played in helping to change racial acts of injustice, not only in Nova Scotia but throughout Canada and elsewhere.
We all knew that she was a beautiful, young black woman only thirty two years of age, who was intelligent, a former school teacher, entrepreneur, and a successful business woman. She had this determination in her to help establish career opportunities for other young black women with similar aspirations. The committee members continued to remain focused on selecting outstanding art pieces that would fulfill our objectives.
For me personally, as we passionately navigated our way through the process my thoughts and emotions would sometimes be quite overwhelming. Many times, I would find myself thinking about this young woman being dragged out of a movie theatre by police because of the segregation laws of the day. Then reality would sink in and I remembered it was November 8th, 1946 and racial discrimination and segregation were the norm of the day.
So there it was, racial discrimination, prejudice, inequality, and bigotry were alive and well promoted, practiced, and executed from slavery until when? This is the year 2020! Will it ever end? The ugliness, hurtfulness, and wrongfulness has been endured for over four hundred years now. Enough is enough!
We are here to stay and we are Making a Difference and change will and must happen now!
When you actually stop and look at any picture or painting of Viola Desmond being dragged out of the theatre and really study it and think about it, Viola probably couldn’t breathe either. After all she would have been embarrassed, scared, hurt, and alone on that dreadful evening of November 8th, 1946.
Ironic enough, George Floyd couldn’t breathe when he died as the result of a police officer kneeling on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds in Minneapolis, USA, on May 25, 2020. Really, 1946 to 2020, seventy-four years later, albeit in different parts of the world, racism still plays a major role within our global society.
Over decades many amazing people, groups and organizations have done an incredible job of trying to rid our world of racial injustice, however, these were valiant attempts which have led to some success and notable changes. But there is still so much more to be done and it will require the support of like-minded people from all walks of life to support the Struggle for Change. Together We Can Make A Difference!
Black Lives Matter is leading the charge now which cannot and will not be ignored or swept aside any longer. Young adults are demanding positive action to occur, and they want it now. The wait is over.
Recently, I stood across the street on Viola’s Way looking at the art pieces that memorializes Viola Desmond of the former Roseland Theatre. I cannot help but give my most sincere thanks to property owner Mr. Jamie MacGillivray of MacGillivray Law Offices and MacGillivray Properties Limited for his incredible vision, genuine humanity, and his caring passion in seeing this Viola Desmond Wall of Art which now graces his building, to become an educational component for all children everywhere as well as a tourism destination for all to explore.
This building, which for many decades bore nasty scars of racial injustice and unrest, has now been transformed into an artistic showcase of hope, peace, unity, diversity, and last but not least, inclusion.
Finally, I believe that if Viola Desmond was alive today she would say when I was last there in 1946 I couldn’t sit where I wanted to sit, I was dragged out by police, jailed, and found guilty, all for being Black. Now, here I am neither on the main floor or in the balcony but spread all over the entire length of the building where everyone can see my face and my story, in part, for years to come.
Like the great American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou wrote and I quote:
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Members of the Committee and MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law’s team were honoured to be a part of the unveiling of this historic mural and are anticipating its completion.
Wayne Desmond, a former summer student at MacGillivray Law and current student at Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law noted, “As I am older and wiser, I often think about why it took so long for the Viola Desmond story to be told? Why it took so long for society to realize that Black Lives are in danger? And what we as a society are going to do in order to eliminate these inequalities and injustices in our society? As Rev. Al Sharpton said, “The time is now.” We as a society must work together to ensure that history does not replay itself. This requires the commitment of allies and governments to join the Black Community in this fight for equality and justice.”
Message from Wayne Desmond, former summer student who recently began his studies at the Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law:
As the Black Community rallies in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement, I must stop and acknowledge the pain and trauma that many people of African descent are facing. The death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department has influenced conversations about police brutality throughout our society. In the United States, police brutality is the leading cause of death among young men. More specifically, 1 in every 1,000 Black men can be expected to be killed by the police.
In Pictou County, we are fortunate that the level of hatred and police brutality that happens in the United States does not happen here. However, we must acknowledge the inequalities and injustices that people from the African Nova Scotian Community and non-white communities face on a daily basis within the country of Canada, the province of Nova Scotia, and the county of Pictou.
As a 21-year-old African Nova Scotian male who grew up in the Town of New Glasgow, I have witnessed multiple inequalities and injustices within this town. From the Education system to the Justice system, systemic racism is embedded in the policies and procedures that govern these systems; that I often refer to as systems of oppression. I remember the stories of my grandfather, the late James Reddick, on the conditions of Black people in Pictou County. How hard it was to get a job, segregated movie theatres and restaurants, and the over-policing of Black bodies.
To reflect on my life, I started school at Temperance Street School Elementary in 2002. While in elementary school, I could not understand why my mother was so protective of my older sister and I until I became of age to understand how racism is presented in different environments. I remember sitting in class when my teacher handed back the math test marks. I was always a student who took great pride in my academics. After reviewing the test, I noticed that I scored a 78 out of 100. Although this was an exceptional mark, I wanted to figure out where I went wrong so that I could work on improving my mathematical abilities. When I asked my teacher she responded with, “A 78 is a good mark for you.” As I got older, I started understanding the prejudice and biased opinion towards people that looked like me.
However, I would like to mention that I did have many supportive teachers throughout my education who impacted my life for the better, including Trevor Boyd, Jane Purdy, Denise Graham, Dawn MacLean, and Trevor White.
I also remember the 2010 Black Gala Homecoming. I was 11 years old. When cousins and friends would come home from Toronto, Montreal, and Edmonton, the younger generation would often hang out at the Africentric Park and the Ward One Community Centre. I wish I had a record of how many times we were stopped and heavily policed by the New Glasgow Police Department.
When I was 15-years old, I was working for an elderly man who lived across town. I would often cut his grass and complete other routine maintenance. This man would often pick me up at my house and drop me back off at home. One day, on the drive back to my house, he asked me if I had any plans for the future. I responded and said I wanted to become a lawyer. With a puzzled look over this man’s face, he said that I should reconsider my career goals. This made me quite uncomfortable. This man said, “You should consider becoming a plumber. They make good money, and who would hire you as a lawyer when there are so many good white lawyers?” Those words stayed with me. They hurt, but more importantly, it spoke to the perception of my skin color. Today, I take great pride in knowing that I did not let his words of hatred deter me from my goals.
These stories I share are just my experiences as a Black male growing up in this town. There are many more horrific stories that members of my community can share.
As I am older and wiser, I often think about why it took so long for the Viola Desmond story to be told? Why it took so long for society to realize that Black Lives are in danger? And what we as a society are going to do in order to eliminate these inequalities and injustices in our society?
As Rev. Al Sharpton said, “The time is now.” We as a society must work together to ensure that history does not replay itself. This requires the commitment of allies and Governments to join the Black Community in this fight for equality and justice. I often remind individuals of privilege and power; to use their privilege and position of power to speak out and address inequalities and injustices. Whether it be at home, in the workplace, or at social gatherings, your voice can make a difference.
As a part of the MacGillivray Law Family, the firm is committed to ensuring that the different forms of racism shall not persist. As a member of the Black Lives Matter movement here in Pictou County, I am confident in saying that my MacGillivray Law Family stands behind the movement, community, and myself.
If your business, corporation, or non-profit has not spoken out and offered support to the Black Lives Matter movement, I strongly encourage you to. Remember, silence is acceptance.
Lathia Stubbs, a lawyer with MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law was honoured to be a part of the unveiling, stating, “Viola’s immense bravery to step out and take the seat that challenged racial discrimination helped to spark the Nova Scotia civil rights movement. Not only did Viola face discrimination for the seat she rightfully took at the Roseland Theatre, but also for the education and skills she rightfully sought. Viola’s determination to succeed as a professional black woman, and her courageous act displayed in the face of injustice, served as a catalyst for the black community to stand against racial discrimination in Nova Scotia. Her act of courage led to a movement that rallied for equality against racial segregation. It’s no secret that in this day and age, all around the world, black people continue to experience inequalities, injustices, and unequal opportunities. Change is needed from this systemic way of life. This change can only occur when we unite in love and unity, understanding that all mankind are created equally, no matter our background, race, or status. Over the years, MacGillivray Law has worked to honor Viola’s legacy through the expression of artwork. The artwork of Viola is now muraled on the walls of the building that was once the Roseland Theatre as a way to bring unity within the community. MacGillivray Law is committed to ensuring that Viola’s legacy is not only honored – but remembered.”
Message from Lathia Stubbs, a lawyer with MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law in Halifax
Behind the walls of the building once known as the Roseland Theatre lies the story of a strong black woman who broke the silence of racial segregation. Taking her seat on the main floor of the theatre with a paid movie ticket in 1946, Viola Desmond was forcefully removed from the theatre for sitting in a section reserved for whites only. She was locked in a jail cell overnight, charged with attempting to defraud the Canadian Government, and later tried and convicted of one cent tax evasion. At no time was Viola informed of her right to legal representation. This one cent represented the difference in ticket price for seats on the main floor of the theatre reserved for whites, and seats on the balcony reserved for blacks. It was not until 2010, 64 years after her conviction and 45 years after her death, that the government of Nova Scotia granted her a post-humous pardon, acknowledging that her arrest and conviction was unjust and racially influenced.
Viola’s immense bravery to step out and take the seat that challenged racial discrimination helped to spark the Nova Scotia civil rights movement. Not only did Viola face discrimination for the seat she rightfully took at the Roseland Theatre, but also for the education and skills she rightfully sought. Restricted from entering salons and pursuing beauty education in Nova Scotia, Viola attended beauty school in Montreal and New York. She obtained her certification as a beautician; opened her own salon and supported black Nova Scotian women by establishing a beauty school and creating her own line of beauty products. As a professional black woman, I am immensely inspired by the legacy Viola left behind. Her drive to succeed as a black woman, despite the norms of society and the limited opportunities for black women during that time is to be commended. An honest, successful, hardworking business owner is just some of the ways she has been described.
Viola’s determination to succeed as a professional black woman, and her courageous act displayed in the face of injustice, served as a catalyst for the black community to stand against racial discrimination in Nova Scotia. Her act of courage led to a movement that rallied for equality against racial segregation. It’s no secret that in this day and age, all around the world, black people continue to experience inequalities, injustices, and unequal opportunities. Change is needed from this systemic way of life. This change can only occur when we unite in love and unity, understanding that all mankind are created equally, no matter our background, race, or status.
My message is that we continue to pursue equal rights against racism, against injustice, against inequalities – and that we never grow weary in our pursuit. My hope is that we let our motivation be our confidence in our own abilities, our talents, our strengths, and our self-worth. Viola broke the silence by taking her seat – seeing herself as equal. In the same way, let us not remain silent in pursuit of equality among humanity; and in doing so, let us keep Viola’s story alive.
Over the years, MacGillivray Law Offices has worked to honor Viola’s legacy through the expression of artwork. The artwork of Viola is now muraled on the walls of the building that was once the Roseland Theatre as a way to bring unity within the community. MacGillivray Law is committed to ensuring that Viola’s legacy is not only honored – but remembered.
About Viola Desmond
Viola Desmond was a businesswoman from Halifax who was traveling to Cape Breton on a business trip on November 8, 1946. After being derailed as a result of vehicle issues, she decided to take in a show at the Roseland Theatre in downtown New Glasgow.
Desmond sought to purchase a ticket in the main level of the theatre but was refused because it was a “whites only” section and was instead sold a ticket for the upper level. In an act of protest, Desmond sat in the lower level and when she refused to leave her seat, Desmond was arrested, injured, fined, and jailed overnight. Desmond fought the conviction and was supported throughout the proceedings, however, lost her case and her subsequent appeal.
It was 64 years later, and 45 years after her death, before Desmond received her pardon from the Province of Nova Scotia.
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