Background:
Peace and Friendship Park is located in Halifax’s South End. It was established by the Canadian National Railway as Park Nova Scotian in 1931. The park was designed in the railway garden tradition that was a common element at railway destinations across Canada. A statue of the British founder of the city, Edward Cornwallis, was unveiled in 1931 and the park commemorated in his name. Formal pathways intersected at the centrally placed statue to highlight its prominence within the park, for sightlines to the Hotel Nova Scotian (now the Westin Hotel) and CN Railway station (Via Rail) and for ease of pedestrian travel.
Edward Cornwallis is a contentious figure in the history of the city. Since the 1990s, Indigenous communities called into question how Edward Cornwallis was commemorated in the municipality. The statue and the park became a focus of community debates, petitions and protests. In January 2018, a decision of Regional Council saw the statue removed from Cornwallis Park. In October of the same year, the municipality formed the Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History to consider park’s association with Edward Cornwallis, among other opportunities for Indigenous commemoration within the municipality. The Task Force developed 20 recommendations that were adopted by Regional Council in 2020. The most notable of these were to not return the statue, rename the park to Peace and Friendship and undertake park design and programming changes with a focus on youth and education.
The park’s new name is a reference to the Peace and Friendship Treaties between the Mi’kmaw the British Crown and a desire for the park to find new purposes that are in harmony with the principles of peace and friendship (rights, respect, co-operation and partnership).
The municipality is continuing the work of the Task Force and Regional Council by introducing subtle but meaningful changes to the park.
Opened in 1931, the 0.80 ha (1.97 acre) park has retained much of its formal layout for more than 90 years. Although the original intention of the park was for aesthetics and visual prominence, recreation and social demands have changed over time. Over the years, park changes have included plaza space, a playground, lighting and landscaping.
Project design brief:
Vision statement:
That the renamed Peace and Friendship Park be repurposed– possibly redesigned and re-landscaped – to:
- accommodate the creation of a performance space
- any organized activities in the park include programs that have a focus on youth
- civic programming to include an emphasis on education as a way of addressing and combating racism of all kinds
See the entirety of recommendation four and the complete list of recommendations from the Task Force on the Commemoration of Edward Cornwallis and the Recognition and Commemoration of Indigenous History Report.
Park evaluation:
Peace and Friendship Park is positioned as the southern gateway to the downtown core of Halifax. The park fronts on Barrington Street, Hollis Street and South Street. As the only major park within a 1 km radius, the park serves as the primary community park for thousands of residents. Although park upgrades between 2016 and 2018 added much needed improvements to the southern half of the park, the remainder of the park requires a refresh to be welcoming to all users. Some of the key conditions that will affect the park design are described and illustrated below.
Next steps:
Parks & Recreation is hosting a public engagement program to understand the overall themes and directions that are important to guide park improvements. Two phases are planned and will be hosted on Shape Your City (SYC) Halifax.
Engagement Phase 1 – Planning themes and design direction
August 8 to September 5, 2024 – Complete
Park planning themes were presented to determine agreement and alignment with community values and interest. Specific questions were asked to gauge the public’s preference for how the park landscape should be finished.
Engagement Phase 2 – Park concept review
Coming December 2024
The Halifax Regional Municipality is following up with residents with a 'What We Heard' summary and conceptual park plan for Peace and Friendship Park. We would like to confirm some assumptions about the feedback that was submitted and that the physical form will suit park user needs.
What’s Next?
Following the second phase of engagement, a design consultant will be retained to refine the park design and to bring the plan to a construction ready package. Further input will be coordinated with Indigenous communities. If approved by Regional Council, the implementation of the park design would proceed in 2026 or 2027.
Frequently asked questions:
- Why is this project happening?
In 2020, Regional Council adopted the 20 recommendations developed by the Task Force. One of the recommendations is to redesign and relandscape the park to support performance and education in pursuit of combating racism of all kinds. This work was added to the 2023/24 Parks & Recreation Budget and Business Plan.
- What is the project timeline?
Public engagement is scheduled from August 8 to September 5 and again late in 2024. Implementation of the proposed park changes is expected within 2026/27.
- What changes should be expected in the park?
It is envisioned that park changes will be modest but may include a new park pathway layout and centralized park elements (e.g., plantings, plaza space, public art, lighting, etc.).
- How will the public be able to contribute to the project?
A public Shape Your City survey for park design is now open to feedback. In fall 2024, a park concept will be available for public review.
- Park upgrades were recently completed in the park. Will this project remove the work that has already taken place?
No. Park construction that was completed in 2018 and resulted in a new playground, seating walls and a performance plaza. The current project that is envisioned for the park will not remove these features but could better integrate them into the remainder of the park.
- Will the Cornwallis statue return to the park?
No. One of the 20 recommendations adopted by Regional Council is that the statue will not be returned to a position of public commemoration.
- Will this project change who can use the park?
The intention is that the park will be enhanced to be a space that is welcoming to everyone. The park already operates as community park and that recreational use will remain.