International calls for racial equiality have made their way to Lunenburg in the form of a petition to rename two streets that honour men with troubled pasts.
An online petition started this week calling for the renaming of Cornwallis and Creighton streets in Lunenburg.
General Edward Cornwallis who founded Halifax was also innvolved in conflicts with Mi’kmaq tribes which eventually led to the removal of his statue in Halifax, which was criticized for celbrating the colonial history of Canada which inflicted harm on many Indigenous people.
The petition suggests renaming the street E’se’katik, which was the traditional Mi’kmaq name for the area.
Colonel John Creighton is primarily known for his role in leading the Raid on Lunenburg in which he fought aganist privateers who had occupied the town. He also was a slave owner, most notably owning a woman only known as Sylvia.
The petition is calling for the Creighton Street to be renamed in her honour, the petition explains why it feels she would be an approriate namesake.
Sylvia was enslaved by Creighton during Nova Scotia’s period of slavery. When the town was invaded by American soldiers Sylvia bravely shuttled cartridges of ammunition hidden in her apron from Creighton’s house to the fort where he and his soldiers were engaged in battle. When the house came under fire, Sylvia threw herself on top of the colonel’s son to protect him with her own body. During the battle she concealed Creighton’s valuables in a bag that she lowered into a well for safekeeping, and also protected the home and possessions of Major Jessen, according to one source”tradition has it that she helped to load the muskets in the blockhouse and even fire them.” Sylvia died in Halifax on 12 March 1824 age 70 and is buried in the Old Burying Ground.”
The petition was started by Jessica Hepburn who says she understands people’s apprehension but wants people to be open to learning, “These streets venerate the erasure of a peoples history and I know people can be very protective in their history which is why I started this, to start a conversation about what our history ignores.”
It has since gained over 200 signatures but some online comments have demonstarted a strong pushback from some members of the community.
Hepburn says this is to be expected but people shouldn’t be scared of coming out on the wrong side of this issue, “The point isn’t to see someone who writes something innapropriate and attack them, rather this is an oppurtunity to have meaningful conversations about why these symbols should and need to change.”
She says she has not heard from any local government officials at this point about the possibility of the name changes but she says it is still early.
You can read more about the petition on it’s webpage.
