In the early 1900s, there was an influx of immigrants who came to Cape Breton in search of work for the Dominion Iron and Steel Company. Skilled Black workers were recruited from America, the West Indies, and other parts of Nova Scotia to work in the extreme conditions of the steel plant. They predominantly settled in the “Pier”. Through storytelling, our special guest Bradley Sheppard highlights the experience of the Black migration to Cape Breton as part of this wave.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to the community, Job opportunities & Work conditions, Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, and The African Orthodox Church.

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The New England Planters first arrived with slaves to Yarmouth in 1760. Following the 1784 Shelburne Race Riot, Black Loyalists migrated to Yarmouth in search of freedom, land, and employment opportunities. Shawn caught up with Yarmouth resident Bruce Johnson to share his lived experience growing up in Yarmouth. We discuss the unwritten rules of segregation in Yarmouth, how land ownership actually worked for his parents, and our ties to the Yarmouth singing group the Mission-Aires.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to Community, The Central Gathering Point for Blacks In Yarmouth, Inspiration for Pursuing Career in Pharmacy, and Overview of Segregation within the community

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode and want explore and uncover more of this historical content, please follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionsPodcast, and join Loyalist Connections Community on Patreon.com (patreon.com/loyalistconnections) and to unlock exclusive content including the unedited version of this episode. Until next time… Stay Connected!

We are starting where it all began. Birchtown is one of the oldest African Nova Scotian communities, established in 1783. Shelburne is the site of the first documented race riot in North America. Our discussion with historian Graham Nickerson uncovers the arrival of the Black Loyalists, their resourcefulness, and what led to the 1784 Race Riot.

Episode Summary: Community Introduced, Guest’s Connection to Community, Introduction to the Black Loyalist, Significant and Influential figures within the community, and the 1784 Shelburne Race Riot.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode and want explore and uncover more of this historical content, please follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionsPodcast, and join Loyalist Connections Community on Patreon.com (patreon.com/loyalistconnections) and to unlock exclusive content including the unedited version of this episode. Until next time… Stay Connected!