African Nova Scotian Justice Institute

04/28/2026

We’re hiring!

ANSJI is seeking two Restorative Justice Caseworkers to support the delivery of restorative justice programming in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

These roles will work very closely with Coverdale Justice Society team as the administrators of the Nova Scotia Restorative Justice Program in HRM.

This is an opportunity to be part of meaningful, community-based work that supports healing, accountability, and justice.

If you have experience in casework, facilitation, or community engagement—and are passionate about justice transformation—we encourage you to apply.

🗓️ Deadline: May 10, 2026
📍 Halifax, NS

Learn more and apply here: https://ca.indeed.com/job/restorative-justice-caseworker-rj-caseworker-f8b8128b807cb18c

This position is designated for Black persons of African descent.

12/03/2025

On December 6th, we honor the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

📍 4:00pm, meet outside the John W. Lindsay YMCA, 5640 Sackville Street, Halifax
🕯️ Walk together in remembrance, reflection, and solidarity.
✨ All genders are welcome.

ANSJI is proud to support our community partners that are organizing a candlelight vigil and walk beginning at the John W. Lindsay YMCA at 4:00 PM.

This day is a reminder of the lives taken, and the ongoing gender-based violence that disproportionately impacts women, and girls, especially, those who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, and living in poverty.

We are grateful to so many incredible organizations working to prevent violence and support healing.

Please feel free to share widely.

Let’s show up for one another. 🕯️💜

11/27/2025

On November 6th 2025, ANSJI through our Director of Engagement & Justice Initiatives, had the honor of addressing the federal Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights regarding Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act.

Below are some of the main points raised:

🔸 The bill fails to include the noose, white pointed hood, and burning cross—symbols of racial terror that have been used for generations to intimidate Black people and are still appearing today in workplaces, schools, and communities across Nova Scotia.

🔸 The Ku Klux Klan is not listed as a terrorist entity, despite meeting the Criminal Code definition and despite its long history of violence, intimidation, and white-supremacist ideology.

🔸 Recent incidents in Cape Breton, Chester Basin, Queens County, and Halifax show clearly that anti-Black hate is not “history”—it’s happening right now in our own province.

🔸 Removing or weakening Attorney General oversight in hate-related designations would place unchecked discretion in systems that have historically over-policed Black communities. With Black people being six times more likely to be street-checked in Nova Scotia, this shift poses real risks for our safety and rights.

ANSJI put forward four key recommendations to strengthen the bill for Black Canadians:

1️⃣ Expand the definition of prohibited hate symbols to include the noose, white pointed hood, and burning cross.
2️⃣ Formally list the Ku Klux Klan as a terrorist organization.
3️⃣ Create independent community advisory panels to work alongside the Attorney General in hate-related decisions.
4️⃣ Ensure meaningful, ongoing consultation with Black communities when developing prohibited symbols and terror designations.

If Canada is serious about combating hate, the law must address ALL forms of hate—including the anti-Black racial terror that still shows up in our communities today.

ANSJI will continue working with Parliament, justice partners, and community to push for stronger protections and a more just, safe, and equitable future for African Nova Scotians and Black Canadians.

Link to read Bill C9: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-9/first-reading

11/18/2025

Had a productive meeting with the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute.

The Institute does vital work in research & public education to break down systemic barriers in the justice system.

As our new government works to combat crime by being tough on both its causes and its consequences, we remain committed to ensuring our justice system is fair for everyone.

11/13/2025

As part of its ongoing Human Rights Modernization Engagement effort, the Department of Justice has commissioned a local research company, Narrative Research, to conduct online discussions with Black and African Nova Scotians to explore some of the issues impacting access to justice and timeliness in the human rights dispute resolution process at the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

Input from these sessions will help the Department improve and modernize the way the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission protects the rights of Nova Scotians and administers the human rights dispute resolution process.

The African Nova Scotian Justice Institute is working with Narrative Research to connect with participants for these online group discussions. The project lead, Narrative Research, would like to speak with individuals who have been involved, in some capacity, with the dispute resolution process through the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

If you are interested in attending, please take a moment and register for one of the sessions. Note, each session will last up to 90 minutes. All your comments will be treated as confidential.

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON November 24th.

Please click the link below to register for a session:

https://www.narrativeresearchsurveys.ca/S2/87/1112105/

Thank you in advance for your participation. Please distribute widely!

11/12/2025

𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗝𝗜 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 (𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝟮𝟳-𝟯𝟭)

The African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) was honored to host and support representatives from Amnesty International Canada during their visit to Nova Scotia. Their presence provided an important moment to deepen dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and highlight the lived realities of Black and African Nova Scotian communities across the province.

Amnesty had the opportunity to visit and hear directly from community members in Shelburne, Digby, Truro, and the Preston Township — concluding their week with a Justice-focused roundtable hosted at ANSJI in Halifax.

Throughout their visit, community members had the opportunity to share local histories, discuss ongoing justice concerns, and explore pathways toward meaningful systemic change. These conversations underscored the importance of human rights advocacy, racial equity, and collaborative approaches to addressing long-standing injustices.

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect, exchange knowledge, and further align our work with global human rights movements. Engaging with partners like Amnesty strengthens our collective efforts to build safer, more equitable communities and to amplify the voices of those whose experiences too often go unheard.

Thank you to Amnesty International Canada for your time, commitment, and willingness to listen, learn, and stand alongside African Nova Scotian communities.

Together, we continue the work.

Members in attendance from Amnesty International Canada included:

𝗞𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝘃𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶, 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹

𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲, 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗸 𝗚𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗿

𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘆-𝗢𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘄, 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆

Follow their work here - Amnesty International

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11/11/2025

This Remembrance Day, the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) reflects on the enduring legacy of the No. 2 Construction Battalion — a historic unit of Black soldiers who served Canada with courage despite the racial barriers placed before them.

Formed in Nova Scotia in 1916, the Battalion stood as a testament to the strength and resilience of African Nova Scotians and Black Canadians who, despite repeated rejections and discriminatory enlistment practices, insisted on serving their country. Their persistence opened the door for the formation of an all-Black unit — a solution born out of exclusion, yet one that revealed remarkable dignity and commitment.

The men of No. 2 Construction Battalion served under challenging conditions, faced segregation within the Canadian military, and endured systemic anti-Black racism. Their contributions went unrecognized for generations, their experiences overlooked, and their stories pushed to the margins of our national narrative.

As we reflect today, we remember all brave members who served, and we uplift the voices and histories of Black and African Nova Scotians whose stories demand – and deserve – to be told.

Lest We Forget.
————

Photo Credits:

Photo 1: https://www.federalretirees.ca/en/news-views/news-listing/november/meet-the-no-2-construction-battalion-canadas-all-black-military

Photo 2: https://www.frederictonregionmuseum.com/2022/07/05/honouring-the-no-2-construction-battalion/

Photo 3: https://vansda.ca/news/no-2-construction-battalion/

10/24/2025

Earlier this week the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) wrapped up an impactful trip to Parliament Hill — meeting with federal MP’s, senior government staff and policymakers to champion issues, challenge policy and advocate for the communities.

This trip is part of a series of advocacy missions that ANSJI has undertaken over the past few years. These visits are strategic initiatives thoughtfully developed in collaboration with our government relations partners at St-Aude Advocacy.

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬

Dr. Tiffany Gordon - Post Doc Fellow with the Clairmont Centre for Community Safety and Research.

DeRico Symonds - Director of Engagement and Justice initiatives and IRCA Assessor.

Bernadette Hamilton-Reid - Executive Director of ANS DPAD.

𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭-𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Senator Paul Prosper
Senator Colin Deacon
Member of Parliament Bienvenue-Olivier Ntumba
Member of Parliament Jaimie Battiste
Member of Parliament Shannon Miedema

10/09/2025

Today, the African Nova Scotian Justice Institute (ANSJI) joins a growing number of organizations and advocates in calling for the posthumous exoneration of Mr. Daniel Perry Sampson, an African Nova Scotian man who was wrongfully convicted and executed by hanging in Halifax on March 7, 1935.

This case exposes the deep historical injustices and systemic anti-Black racism embedded in Canada’s legal system. Recent evidence uncovered by legal experts has revealed police and prosecutorial misconduct that led to Mr. Sampson’s wrongful conviction—confirming long-held community knowledge about systemic discrimination in the justice system.

ANSJI has formally written to Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser, urging the federal government to:

Recognize Mr. Sampson’s wrongful conviction and ex*****on as part of Canada’s history of racial injustice.

Explore legal and restorative remedies, including exoneration and public acknowledgment.

Commit to examining additional historical cases involving Black and African Nova Scotians.

This is not only about one man’s story—it’s about truth, justice, and reconciliation for generations of African Nova Scotians.

Read the full letter below.

09/19/2025