Viola Desmond Timeline
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Viola Desmond Timeline July 6, 1914 Born Viola Irene Davis in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she was the daughter of James Davis, a self-employed barber and businessman, and Gwendolyn Irene Johnson, a homemaker. 1924 (?) When she was refused admittance to Nova Scotia’s hairdressing school because of her race, Desmond was forced to move to Montreal, then New York City, and eventually Atlantic City, New Jersey, to complete her training. Date (?) She returned to Halifax where she married Jack Desmond and opened her first salon. She later opened a school to train other beauticians. November 8, 1946 In New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, while waiting for her car to be repaired she took in a movie at the local Roseland Theatre, which was segregated with a main floor for white patrons and a balcony for black patrons. Unaware of the segregation policy, Desmond proceeded to the main floor. She was ordered by the manager to go to the balcony. November 9, 1946 Viola Desmond refused, the manager called the police. Viola was charged with tax evasion for her failure to pay the proper tax for a downstairs ticket. She was, according to prosecutors, one cent short. November 10, 1946 Desmond was convicted and fined twenty dollars and court costs. January 1947 Viola launched an appeal with the support of the Nova Scotia Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NSAACP) she was defeated when the Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the application for judicial review. 1954 Nova Scotia dismantled its segregation laws. 1965 Viola Desmond died while on a visit to New York City. She was 50. 1964-1967 The relocation of Africville 1969 The Seaview African United Baptist Church at Africville was demolished at night to avoid controversy. January 2, 1970 The last Africville home was demolished. May 2005 The introduced of a bill in the provincial legislature called the Africville Act called for a formal apology from the Nova Scotia government, a series of public hearings on the destruction of Africville, and the establishment of a development fund to go towards historical preservation of Africville lands and social development in benefit of former residents and their descendants. Black Canadian Curriculum – ETFO – 2014 2005 A replica of the Seaview African United Baptist Church was built. February 23, 2010 The Halifax Council ratified a proposed “Africville apology” with an arrangement with the Government of Canada to establish a $250,000 Africville Heritage Trust to design a museum and build a replica of the community church April 15, 2010 Forty-five years later, the Honourable Mayann Elizabeth Francis, the Lieutenant Governor for Nova Scotia and the first Afro-Canadian to hold the post, invoked the Royal Prerogative and posthumously pardoned Desmond, declaring her innocent of wrong doing. September 25, The Seaview African United Baptist Church, demolished in 1969, was 2011 rebuilt and was ceremonially opened. Black Canadian Curriculum – ETFO – 2014.