Last updated: November 7, 2023
In October 2018, Halifax Regional Council approved the formation of a joint Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History (Task Force), between the Halifax Regional Municipality (municipality) and the Mi'kmaw community, as represented by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Chiefs (ANSMC). The Task Force reflects an equal partnership between Halifax Regional Council and ANSMC.
The Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History completed its report, with its recommendations, at the end of April 2020. A staff report on these recommendations was presented to Regional Council on July 21, 2020. View the report here.
On July 21, 2020, Regional Council voted to:
- Accept the report of the Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History;
- Approve the proposed HRM responses to the recommendations of the Task Force report; and,
- Direct the CAO to return to Council annually to report on progress addressing the recommendations.
Renaming of Cornwallis Street to Nora Bernard Street
On December 13, 2022, Regional Council approved the renaming of Cornwallis Street to Nora Bernard Street. The new street name came into effect on Monday, October 30, 2023. A recognition event was held at the Emera Oval on the morning of October 30 to honour this important step towards reconciliation. The event included a traditional smudging ceremony performed by an Indigenous Elder, an Indigenous drumming performance and remarks from Nora Bernard’s living family members.
For residents of Nora Bernard Street who may have questions about their address change, please contact civicadd@halifax.ca to reach a staff member who can assist.
Public engagement for the renaming of Cornwallis Street
From 2021 to 2022, all residents across the municipality were invited to participate in two surveys to provide their feedback on the renaming of Cornwallis Street.
An Advisory Group – consisting of municipal Civic Addressing staff, Diversity & Inclusion staff, as well as local councillors – reviewed the survey results and made the recommendation of Nora Bernard Street.
The first round of public engagement took place during the fall of 2021, where residents had the opportunity to submit name suggestions. The municipality encouraged suggestions that reflect the goal of reconciliation. The 3,300 name suggestions received were reviewed and evaluated based on appropriateness, cultural significance, diversity and originality. From this review, a short list of potential new street names was created.
The second round of public engagement took place during the summer of 2022, where residents had the opportunity to select their three preferred street names from the short list. A total of 8,733 surveys were completed.
Learn more about these two surveys:
- First Cornwallis Street renaming survey (fall 2021)
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During the fall of 2021, the municipality conducted a first survey to collect new street name suggestions for Cornwallis Street in Halifax. Over 2,588 surveys were completed, which resulted in more than 3,300 new street name suggestions for Cornwallis Street.
Those street name suggestions from the first survey were reviewed by an Advisory Group, in accordance with Administrative Order 29, Respecting HRM Civic Addressing Policies, and Administrative Order 46, Respecting HRM Asset Naming Policies. The Advisory Group consisted of municipal Civic Addressing staff, Diversity & Inclusion staff, as well as local councillors.
Street name suggestions that were duplicates, similar or did not meet the street naming polices, were removed from consideration (in total, 1,355 name suggestions were removed). The remaining list of 1,948 suggested names were evaluated based on appropriateness, cultural significance, diversity and originality, identifying a total number of 672 unique name suggestions.
These 672 name suggestions were divided into two categories, including commemorative names (181) and non-commemorative names (491).
The 491 non-commemorative names were further separated into two categories – 86 Mi’kmaw language name suggestions, as well as 405 other name suggestions.
Commemorative names include names of people, events, and groups of people or any suggestion that is over the 11-character maximum allowed for new street names. Further information can be found here.
All commemorative name submissions must go through the commemorative naming application and review process.
From the first survey, the Advisory Group evaluated the submissions based on four criteria, including appropriateness, cultural significance, diversity, and originality. This evaluation resulted in the list of 181 suggested commemorative names being reduced to 32 names. These 32 names were then scored by the Advisory Group.
Based on the results of the scoring, the Civic Addressing Coordinator consulted with the municipal Asset Naming Committee. The Committee has recommended five commemorative names to Regional Council. To see the names and read the report, click here.
On June 28, 2022, the AN112 – HRM Asset Names – Cornwallis Street Renaming report was presented to Regional Council, where Council approved the addition of five commemorative names for consideration in the second survey to replace the street name, Cornwallis Street. To learn about the history behind five commemorative names recommended, read the report.
Staff reached out to the nominators whose commemorative name suggestions were not chosen for this project, inviting them to submit applications to the Asset Naming Committee for consideration to be placed elsewhere in the municipality.
- Second Cornwallis Street renaming survey (summer 2022)
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During the summer of 2022, the municipality conducted a second survey, inviting residents across the municipality to select their three preferred street names out of 15 shortlisted names (including five commemorative names and 10 non-commemorative names).
A total of 8,733 surveys were completed.
Background on the Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History
In October 2017, Halifax Regional Council approved the creation of a Special Advisory Committee on Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History was established, with the mandate of providing advice to Regional Council regarding the commemoration of Edward Cornwallis on municipal assets (e.g. park, statue, street) and on the recognition and commemoration of indigenous history in the lands now known as the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Council approved a budget for the committee of $50,000, for research, public engagement, and other required supports, and a stipend for each committee member of $150 per meeting, up to $2,100. There was no reporting period established for the committee.
The names of the 10 members, five proposed by the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs and five by staff from the Halifax Regional Municipality, were presented on July 17, 2018 to Regional Council, which ratified the appointment of proposed members.
In August 2018, the co-chairs requested a change in the governance structure of the committee. This motion was approved by Regional Council in October 2018, following similar motions passed by the committee, then by the Assembly.
In December 2018, an administrative approach to the new governance structure was ratified between the Halifax Regional Municipality and Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative) on behalf of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs and the Mi’kmaw of Nova Scotia.
Originally established as a Special Advisory Committee to Regional Council, the new governance structure better reflects the equal partnership between the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs, and the committee now has the ability to set its own processes and procedures.
The mandate and membership of the committee remain the same. However, the original budget of $50,000 will now be funded equally by the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Assembly, and the administrative support for the committee will also be equally shared.
The new committee has also been asked to complete its work within two years.
A motion was passed at the first meeting of the newly constituted committee on Jan. 21, 2019 for the Special Advisory Committee to be renamed the Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History.
For more information on the work of the Commemoration Task Force you can explore this section of Halifax.ca or visit the Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative) website at
Membership
- Yvonne Atwell
- Jaime Battiste
- Sheila Fougere
- Pam Glode-Desrochers
- Chief Roderick Googoo (co-chair)
- Dr. John Johnston
- Dr. Monica MacDonald (co-chair)
- Heather McNeill, Q.C.
- Mi’kmaq Elder Dr. Dan Paul
- John Reid
You can learn more about the Task Force Members here: Task Force Member Biographies [PDF].
Public Engagement
Phase One: June 2019
The Task Force hosted four public engagement sessions in June to seek public input. Residents were invited to present their recommendations on the following:
- How best to recognize and commemorate Indigenous history, in the area now known as “Kjipuktuk” or “the Halifax Regional Municipality”, as part of a more complete history of the area
- The commemoration of Edward Cornwallis on municipal assets including the statue, park and street
The Task Force members would like to thank all participants and communities for their participation in the June and October public engagement sessions. Anyone who wishes to share their recommendations in writing at any time, are encouraged to email submissions to clerks@halifax.ca.
Phase Two: October 2019
The Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History hosted two public engagements in October to seek public input.
Residents were invited to join facilitated conversation circles to discuss how the Halifax Regional Municipality should recognize and commemorate Indigenous history.
As part of this important discussion, participants were also asked what we should take into consideration when commemorating history in general.