Weymouth Falls receives community spirit award alongside reunion celebration
Reunion is the first since the pandemic began
On Saturday, the historic African Nova Scotian community of Weymouth Falls is receiving the Lieutenant Governor's Community Spirit Award.
Weymouth Falls was selected for the award in 2022, but the ceremony was delayed so it could happen alongside the community's biennial reunion celebrations — the first since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Up to four Nova Scotian communities are chosen each year for the award, which celebrates their power, strength and diversity.
Weymouth Falls is my heart, it's my love, it's my home.- Marveline Clayton
Marveline Clayton was born in Weymouth Falls and submitted details about her life growing up there as part of the award process.
"Growing up … everybody was one big family, one big community," Clayton said. "You had freedom to walk the roads, play games in the field, play ball on the corner."
She moved to Ontario in 1976 for better job prospects and to follow her older sister.
"Weymouth Falls is my heart, it's my love, it's my home," Clayton said. "No matter where I go, what I've done in my life, how many vacations I've been to around the world … that's one of the best experiences of my life — going back home."
She said that the Community Spirit Award gives her a sense of pride and feelings of joy.
"Someone's going to see it and hear it and know about it and spread the word that Weymouth Falls is a wonderful … beautiful place to live in."
Last year, it was Clayton's niece Shekara Grant who submitted the community for the award.
Grant is an eighth-generation Black Loyalist and her grandmother is from Weymouth Falls.
"We have very, very deep roots there," she said.
The community is one of over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities and was established by Black Loyalists.
Grant said it was once a vibrant community, but started to deteriorate with a lack of opportunities and investment from the province.
"Despite this, every two years when we have the reunion, somehow a road that probably has a population of 50 becomes populated with almost a thousand people coming home, sharing stories and sharing their legacy," she said, adding that this story is why she nominated Weymouth Falls for the award.
Grant said the award symbolizes resilience, strength and a path forward for the community.
"Weymouth Falls is still here. We're not going anywhere," she said. "There's a lot of work being done in that community to attempt to rebuild it and hold on to that legacy."
The ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Weymouth Legion and will be followed by a car parade.
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. You can read more stories here.
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