The Loyalist Connections Podcast

Host Shawn Smith launches a three-part series on Dr. Clement Courtney Ligoure, tracing his path from Trinidad to the United States, medical training in Ontario, and his 1916 arrival in Halifax. With historian Graham Nickerson, the episode situates Ligoure's story inside broader Black migration, Caribbean economic change after emancipation, and the racism and policies which shaped opportunity, incl...

This second episode revisits Dr. Clement Ligoure in Nova Scotia. It examines why, despite being qualified and recommended, he was denied appointment as Medical Officer for the No. 2 Construction Battalion during the First World War. Shawn interviews Mary Beth Sutherland, community advocate and granddaughter of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hugh Sutherland, the battalion’s commanding officer, who pushe...

In the final episode, which grounds Dr. Clement Ligoure’s history in community memory, Shawn speaks with Hal Davidson of Amherst, Nova Scotia, a town councilor, former deputy mayor, and community historian. Hal shares knowledge of the African Nova Scotian community's history, particularly the Number Two Construction Battalion and its legacy. He discusses his personal connection to this history thr...

Picking up the conversation, episode two continues studying the intersections of land, history, and racial justice. Lyndsey discusses how historic sites and land can serve as meaningful tools for education and activism, addressing white supremacy, colonialism, and the centrality of land in Black history and liberation movements. The conversation emphasizes mapping Black presence beyond single muse...

Summary Recorded after the inaugural 2023 BLACK conference, Shawn and Graham reconnect with Lyndsey Beutin as part of this two-part series reflecting on how to build spaces to discuss the legacy of anti-Black racism, media, and liberation. Lyndsey, a scholar of media studies and African diaspora studies, explains her research on the racial politics of communication and anti-trafficking campaigns....

Our final episode brings us to Cherrybrook, Nova Scotia, where I sit down with Debbie Vaillancourt-Higgins, owner of Opus Café and Catering. Debbie shares the significance of Opus Café, her family's deep ties to the African Nova Scotian community, and how those roots continue to guide her entrepreneurial journey. Together, we unlock generational wisdom and explore how food, love, and storytelling...

This episode of the African Nova Scotian Culinary series highlights the story of Chef Donna Gogan, owner of Portlander Jamaican Restaurant in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Donna shares her journey from Jamaica to Nova Scotia, bringing the bold flavours of her heritage to the Maritimes, and discusses the importance of community support, the challenges of sourcing ingredients, and the labour of love involve...

Chef Leon Hamilton joins Shawn Smith to discuss his journey in the culinary arts, rooted in African Nova Scotian traditions and innovation. Chef Leon shares stories about his inspirations, including mentors in his community, and his approach to comfort food, emphasizing complete, satisfying, and accessible meals. The conversation covers his experiences teaching youth through programs like the Frui...

This episode of the African Nova Scotian Culinary series, host Shawn Smith visits 'Honey Bees' in Yarmouth, a transformative cultural food hub transformed by Chef Sonia Park and Troy Lawrence. The episode explores the unique fusion of Korean, Japanese, and Thai flavours that define Honey Bees' offerings, as well as the couple's journey from Toronto back to their small-town roots. Troy discusses th...

In the opening episode of the African Nova Scotian Culinary series, Shawn Smith sits down with Chef Pamela Alexander Leonforde, the passionate founder of Café Caye Mange in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Chef Pamela shares her inspiring journey from St. Lucia to Nova Scotia, the cultural significance behind her restaurant's name, and her commitment to intertwining her heritage into every dish. She reflect...

In this episode, Lynn Jones to explore the rich history and ongoing impact of the Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Collection. Lynn shares stories from her decades of activism, the challenges and triumphs of Black youth organizing in Nova Scotia, and the importance of preserving community history.  Episode Highlights: The origins and significance of the Lynn Jones Collection Black youth...

Welcome to the first episode of our special two-part series on the Loyalist Connections Podcast! In this episode, we examine storytelling as both an art form and a vital tool of cultural preservation. Joining us are two distinguished scholars and community voices — Dr. Afua Cooper and Dr. Lynn Jones — who share their insights on heritage, memory, and the enduring work of documenting Black history...

In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith are joined by Erin Isaac, a PhD candidate and Renewal Coordinator for the Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum in Shelburne. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of cultural preservation, community engagement, and the evolving interpretation of Loyalist and Black history in Nova Scotia. Episode Highlights: Introduction to the...

In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson welcome Gabriel Jones, a seasoned museum professional with over 30 years of experience in curating Indigenous arts and visual culture across Canada and beyond. Together, they explore the intersection of cultural preservation and digital innovation—discussing the complexities of digitizing cultural resources, the importance of building commun...

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith are joined by guest Chuck Smith for a heartfelt conversation about the importance of cultural preservation within the African Nova Scotian community. They discuss the power of storytelling, the role of family traditions, music, and sports in maintaining cultural identity. The conversation also addresses the challenges and opportu...

In this special episode of the Loyalist Connections podcast, we sit down with legendary Canadian boxer and community leader, David Downey Sr. Joined by his son, David Downey Jr., this conversation explores the rich history, personal stories, and lasting impact of the Downey family in Halifax and beyond. Episode Highlights: David Downey Sr. shares memories of growing up in Halifax, his early days i...

In this episode, Shawn Smith and Graham Nickerson of the Loyalist Connections Creative Society partner with the South Shore Multicultural Association to host "Around the Table," a dinner series designed to foster meaningful connections within our community and highlight African Nova Scotian culinary and history.  The episode also features dinner by R&B Kitchen and a detailed discussion of the...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections podcast, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson discuss the significant influence and contributions of Black Women, particularly African Nova Scotian Women, in instigating social change with special guest Dr. Rachel Zellers, a professor in Social Justice and Community Studies, the discussion covers topics such as the maternal influence in activism, the...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Laurice Downey and special host Graham Nickerson discuss Capacity Building from an Urban Perspective with special guests Rodney Small and Andre Anderson. This episode explores social entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship in the filmmaking industry, highlighting opportunities and experiences. Rodney shares his deep connections to African Nova Sc...

We're starting where it all began! In this episode our hosts and their special guest Graham Nickerson discuss some of the key cultural traditions, practices and connections between the Black Loyalists that settled in Birchtown and Shelburne. These communities were made of Black people across the region who represented different cultural, religious, and linguistic backgrounds that they transported...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections podcast, Laurice Downey and special guest hosts Graham Nickerson introduce a discussion on cultural preservation, food sovereignty, and Afrocentric learning with special guests Wendie Wilson. Wendie shares her background as an artist, writer, educator, and advocate for BIPOC educators. The conversation covers African Nova Scotian culture, traditional foo...

In episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Laurice Downey and special guest host Graham Nickerson, discuss the deeply rooted history of Activism and Advocacy within the African Nova Scotian community featuring special guests Dr. Isaac Saney and Irvine Carvery. The episode sheds light on their personal connections to community activism, discussing key figures such as Rocky Jones and organizati...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Sean Smith and special guest host Itai Kuwodza, discuss Capacity Building from a Rural Perspective, featuring special guests Andrea Davis and Shekara Grant. Topics include the importance of understanding one's history, identity, community engagement, storytelling, and the preservation of cultural heritage. This episode highlights their personal...

In this episode of the Loyalist Connections Podcast, Laurice Downey and Shawn Smith explore the history of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, focusing on resilience, cultural preservation, and the impact of storytelling. Featuring key insights from special guests Douglas Rock and Chuck Smith, discussing their personal narratives, the struggle against institutional racism, and the significant contri...

Season 3 of the Loyalist Connections Podcast kicks-off with a focus on the Cultural Preservation and Capacity Building Forum we held in February. In this trailer Laurice and Shawn discuss the two-day event that brought together students, educators, and community members together to explore Black and African Nova Scotian Cultural Preservation and Community Capacity Building. Highlights include the...