Over the next several weeks, the Nova Scotia RCMP will meet with African Nova Scotian organizations across the province to present a community consultation summary and preliminary action plan ahead of its street check apology slated for this fall.
Between September 2023 and January 2024, members of the Nova Scotia RCMP's senior leadership team attended 13 consultation sessions in African Nova Scotian communities to inform an apology and action plan to be delivered to African Nova Scotians and all people of African descent for the historical use of street checks and other harmful interactions.
The meetings, attended by more than 240 people and hosted by community co-facilitators, were held in: Amherst; Beechville; Digby; Gibson Woods; Halifax; New Glasgow; Preston Township; Shelburne; Truro; Upper Big Tracadie; Upper Hammonds Plains; Whitney Pier; and Yarmouth.
"The Association of Black Social Workers supported attendees and took notes at each of the community meetings, and based on their notes, we've developed a summary document and a preliminary action plan," says A/Commr. Dennis Daley, Commanding Officer, Nova Scotia RCMP. "What we heard loud and clear is that while the apology is important, it's the actions that follow the apology that will matter most."
The steering committee that was struck to move the apology work forward continues to be engaged on the RCMP's approach to the apology.
A/Commr. Daley will deliver the apology and final action plan to African Nova Scotians and all people of African descent on Saturday, September 7. The event will take place at the North Preston Community Centre and will be livestreamed to a number of other community centres.