Long-standing Africville activist says he will fight latest eviction notice
Africville Heritage Trust says Eddie Carvery's protest trailer must be removed due to safety issues
Standing in front of his RV on the grounds of Africville Park in Halifax, Eddie Carvery vowed that after more than 50 years of protest, he's not going anywhere in the face of yet another eviction order.
The 79-year-old activist was born in Africville and has maintained a camp on the lands of the former Black community for decades, resisting multiple attempts from the municipality to end his crusade.
Carvery has recently been asked to remove his protest trailer once again, but this time by the Africville Heritage Trust Society. The trust, which owns the piece of land where the trailer sits, runs the nearby Africville Museum in a replica of the community's former church on the shore of the Bedford Basin.
While he says he is struggling with his health and nearing the end of his life, Carvery said he's not leaving until he achieves his goal of reparations for the descendants of the people of Africville.
"I wanna give it up. I wanna sleep nice, like normal people. I'm tired, but until they find someone else to champion our cause to fight for Africville, I've got no choice," Carvery said in a recent interview.
"I'm not going nowhere."
Originally a tight-knit Black community founded in 1848, Africville was home to some 400 residents from 80 families who took pride in their school, post office, dance hall and church.
The community was bulldozed by the former City of Halifax in the 1960s to make room for industrial development, including the MacKay Bridge.
Residents with deeds to their property were provided compensation equal to the value of their home, but residents without deeds — many of whom had lived in Africville for generations — were offered $500.
In a statement on July 7, the trust said it had asked Carvery to remove his trailer from the property. Carvery was given a deadline of July 13, but he has not moved.
"While we recognize the emotional and historical importance of these efforts, we also have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all visitors to the site," wrote Carrie Hill, trust chair.
Hill said the trust was concerned that "if something were to happen" in or around Carvery's trailer, the trust could be held liable.
The society declined CBC's request for an interview.
Carvery said he stays at the trailer as often as he can, but because of his declining health he does have an apartment.
Africville is now a National Historic Site. In 2010, former Africville residents and their descendants received an apology and $3 million from the city along with one hectare of land and a commitment to rebuild the Seaview United Baptist Church on the site.
The trust was set up as part of the settlement to keep "the memory and spirit of the community of Africville alive" through education and dialogue, a Halifax staff report said.
But there was no offer of individual compensation, which Carvery had demanded along with a public inquiry. He rejected the settlement and refused to leave the property.
In 2024, Halifax sold the piece of land where Carvery's trailer sits to the trust for $1. The society had asked for the parcel to expand the parking lot beside the museum to accommodate more tourist buses. The trust has said it hopes to eventually build a marina off the property.
On Monday, nearly 50 people gathered around Carvery's trailer to protest the eviction.
Eddy Carvery III said he was grateful to see the support for his grandfather, whose fight has been "symbolic" and important to so many Africville descendants.
"With this new news, I can see the heartbreak in him," Eddy said Monday about the trust's eviction notice.
"How did we get here? How as a society, how as a city, are we letting this happen to a man that's dedicated his life, peacefully, for something that everybody knows was wrong?"
Eddy said he plans to continue his grandfather's fight, and wants to see individual compensation for Africville descendants, homes returned to the land, a community centre, and one day a long-term care home.
"Things for us to develop and flourish, and contribute to society the way we always wanted to," he said.
The municipality also issued Carvery a $25 ticket on July 14 for parking on private property following a request from the Africville Museum.
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore declined an interview request from CBC News about the eviction and the ticket.
After CBC contacted the municipality Friday, spokesperson Mark Gough said the ticket was cancelled on Monday morning "and efforts are underway" to inform Carvery.
Gough said after senior staff with traffic and parking management examined the ticket, they realized Carvery's trailer did not have a licence plate, valid vehicle identification number or motor vehicle inspection sticker, leaving the ticket "invalid."
Halifax staff are not planning on additional parking enforcement, including tickets, Gough said.
In a statement Tuesday, Irvine Carvery, president of the Africville Genealogy Society, expressed support for Eddie Carvery and "the longest civil rights protest in Canada."
"His presence on the sacred grounds of our demolished and stolen community is not one of disruption but of remembrance, resilience, and rightful protest," wrote Irvine, Eddie's brother.
"We remind the Africville Heritage Trust that attempting to erase their most visible voice of protest will come with push back and is deemed wrong!"
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.
