In Nova Scotia, a former orphanage for Black children has undergone renovations and been reopened as a community centre and business incubator.
The building where Kinney Place is located formerly housed the 1921-founded Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children.
After the orphanage closed in the Halifax region in 1978, the structure stood vacant until a local Black-led charity, Akoma Holdings Inc., started a restoration project there in 2016.
Akoma board president Kathleen Mitchell said her organization recognizes the historical significance of the building, which was granted municipal heritage status in August.
According to her, Kinney Place will improve the services offered to the African Nova Scotian community and include a space for introspection and healing.
After former residents came forward with allegations of abuse and neglect at the orphanage, the establishment came to represent the province’s ongoing battle with racism and discrimination. This prompted a public inquiry and an apology from the premier.
In a statement on Sunday, Mitchell said, “Today we reflect on the past 101 years of the building while looking toward the future.”
Offices, a cafe and catering company, a hair salon and spa are all part of Kinney Place.
A studio is also available for community members to use for meetings, workshops, and senior gatherings.
Businesses can rent out more space in the building.
According to Veronica Marsman, the property manager for Akoma, the restoration cost roughly $2. 7 million and was partially funded by the provincial government and mostly by the federal government.
Kinney Place is named after James Alexander Ross Kinney, a founder of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children and its first superintendent.
The Canadian Press first released this article on October 23, 2022.
Former Black children’s orphanage reopens as an enterprise incubator and community centre
About Author
