Wanda Lauren Taylor - Its Our Time: Honouring the African Nova Scotian Communities of East Preston, North Preston, Lake Loon/Cherry Brook

Copyright 2021, Preston Township Association

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission from the publisher, or, in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, permission from Access Copyright, 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E5.

Nimbus Publishing Limited
3660 Strawberry Hill Street, Halifax, NS, B3K 5A9
(902) 455-4286 nimbus.ca

Printed and bound in Canada

NB1444

Design: Jenn Embree
Text and research: Wanda Taylor

Information from Schools p. 51 from Telling the Truth Reflections: Segregated Schools in Canada by Doris Evans and Gertrude Tynes.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Its our time : honouring the African Nova Scotian communities of East Preston, North Preston, Lake Loon/Cherry Brook / Wanda Lauren Taylor.
Names: Taylor, Wanda Lauren, author.
Description: Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: Canadiana 20189068825 | ISBN 9781771087339 (softcover)
Subjects: LCSH: African American loyalistsNova ScotiaHalifax Regional Municipality. | LCSH: African American loyalistsNova ScotiaHalifax Regional MunicipalityHistory. | CSH: Black loyalistsNova ScotiaHalifax Regional Municipality. Black loyalistsNova ScotiaHalifax Regional MunicipalityHistory.
Classification: LCC FC2346.9.B6 T39 2019 | DDC 971.6/2200496dc23

Nimbus Publishing acknowledges the financial support for its publishing activities from the Government of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, and from the Province of Nova Scotia. We are pleased to work in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia to develop and promote our creative industries for the benefit of all Nova Scotians.

This book is dedicated to the men and women who worked sun up to sun down to ensure those of us who came after would have an easier life. Although there are still challenges ahead, this is a celebration of their determination and the ground they laid.

This book is also for current residents and those who live around the world: take pride in these communities and the legacies that have shaped these lands to what they are.

The book is also for the public: As this history is cherished and shared by residents, may others come to a greater understanding and appreciation of the contributions made to society, to Nova Scotia, and to our country.

Lastly, this book is dedicated to the communitys youth: the torch bearers of tomorrow and the change makers of today. The elders depend on you to keep this history alive, while focusing on your bright and prosperous futures. As it has been said, its hard to know where you are going if you dont know where you came from. So, take great pride in where you came from. The strength and resiliency that made these communities what they are also lies within you. Keep moving, keep pushing, and keep achieving. Each of your accomplishments are an homage to your ancestors!

Thank you also to researchers Nancy Sparks, Latoya Cain, and Crystal Watson, and in the final stages, Erin Fraser. Nancy and Latoya both passed away before the book went to print, in 2019 and 2020 respectively. This book is also dedicated to the late Alma Johnston Tynes, one of the original Preston Township committee members who made great contributions to the book, but passed away October 2020, before the books release. We honour their memory within every page of this book.

The Halifax market was a lively spot for Preston Township residents, who would work all week to prepare their goods for sale.
[image credits: Preston Township Committee]

The late William B. Thomas, a farmer from the Preston Township.
[image credits: Courtesy descendants]

Sometimes the media and negative press forms the publics first impression of a community or group of people, and once etched in peoples minds it can stand regardless of the many positive things that are taking place. So in 2016, when Rev. Dr. Joyce Ross heard yet another negative stereotype being spoken about the Preston community at a local university during a conference she was attending, it weighed heavy on her mind. That night, she said she prayed about it and the question that came to mind was, How do we tell the positive stories and achievement of the community? Then she said it came to her, the idea of bringing the residents and former residents of the four communities of Cherry Brook, Lake Loon, North and East Preston together for a reunion, with the purpose of sharing in the living history and celebrating the many positive aspects of each community.

Just as strong was her desire to have residents, former residents, and visitors alike learn about the accomplishments of the communities. Through this process they would have the opportunity to view another side of the communities you have to experience up close to truly appreciate. With this new-found knowledge those attending the celebrations will be able to apply a more balanced approach when considering stories and portrayals of these communities. Rev. Dr. Ross was inspired to reach out to each community seeking representation to serve on a committee to plan the celebration, and the Preston Township Homecoming Society and Committee was born. This is a non-profit organization whose mission is to research, preserve, and write about the history of the people from the Black communities in the Preston area. The Society is also committed to offering mentorship for youth in these communities. With the backing of the ratepayers associations and the community development associations, the committee is comprised of the following members, representing each community:

Cherry Brook & Lake Loon: the late Alma Johnston-Tynes, Deacon Howard Riley, Sherry Bernard, Janet Sparks, Russell Grosse.

North Preston: Rev. Wayne Desmond, Rev. Wallace Smith, Viola Cain, Joe Colley, and Rosella Fraser.

East Preston: Rev. Dr. Joyce Ross, CM, Regina James, Kevin Brooks, and Spencer Colley.

Recognizing the importance of this moment and to provide an historical account and overview, Rev. Dr. Ross felt that a written document would be a fitting and lasting testament for future generations and so, she shared her vision with the committee and they enlisted author Wanda Taylor to tell the story of the Preston Township in a commemorative pamphlet. Taylor felt the story would be better told in a book that could speak to the depth of the communities history. So she approached Nimbus Publishing and, in collaboration with the organizing committee, they refined the concept of the pamphlet into a book.