IKEA Canada has partnered with the Africville Museum to host A Walk Through Africville at IKEA Halifax throughout February.
The travelling exhibit will be featured in the store’s community space, offering customers and community members an accessible opportunity to learn about the history, resilience, and enduring legacy of Africville – a historic Black community with deep significance in Canada, said the retailer.
Nova Scotia is recognized as the birthplace of African presence in Canada. The province is home to more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities whose culture, heritage, and contributions have been a fundamental part of Nova Scotia’s history and development for over 400 years. This rich legacy continues to shape the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the province today, added IKEA.
As part of IKEA Canada’s commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, the retailer said the exhibit invites visitors to engage with curated photos, artifacts, and storytelling developed by the Africville Museum.
A Walk Through Africville will be on display at IKEA Halifax until February 28.
“Africville is more than a chapter in Black Canadian history; it is a national story about human rights, dignity, and the meaning of home,” said John Williams, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Leader, IKEA Canada.
“At IKEA, we design for life at home because home is more than four walls, it’s where connection, community, and belonging are built. Africville’s story reminds us that systemic injustice can strip away the foundations of home, but hope, resilience and community endure. We are honoured to host A Walk Through Africville and create space for reflection, learning, and belonging.”
The exhibit is free and open to all during regular store hours, and guests are encouraged to explore, learn, and reflect as they walk through this important piece of Canadian history.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to bring our exhibit into a space where thousands of people can experience it,” said Juanita Peters, Executive Director, Africville Museum. “The installation allows visitors to connect with the people, culture, and history of Africville in an accessible and meaningful way. Partnerships like this help ensure that Africville’s legacy of resilience, strength, and community continues to be shared with future generations.”
Located on the shores of the Bedford Basin in Halifax, Africville was home to a thriving Black community for more than 100 years before being demolished in the 1960s under the guise of “urban renewal,” said a news release.
“Its destruction displaced generations and remains a powerful reminder of systemic racism in Canada. In 2024, Africville was designated as Canada’s first UNESCO Place of History and Memory linked to Enslavement and the Slave Trade, marking global recognition of its cultural and historical significance. The Africville Heritage Trust and Africville Museum continue to preserve and share this legacy through education, advocacy, and cultural programming.”
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