Black Loyalist Centre Targeting November Completion

It’s been a long road but a historic centre in Birchtown is nearing completion. The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre was destroyed by fire in 2006, but through community fundraising of $2.3-million it’s expected to be completely rebuilt by November. Construction started in March and also included funding from municipal, provincial and federal governments. Site Manager Beverly Cox says they’re hoping to have a grand opening next spring. She says, “I think people will find the building very interesting. There are numerous distinguishing characteristics of the building that highlight significan parts of the Black Loyalist journey and we look forward to sharing those stories with people.” Cox says the biggest difference in the new centre will be the technology. She says there will be unique ways of telling the story of Black Loyalists’ journey to British Nova Scotia during the 1700s. Many of them settled in Birchtown, while others left for Sierra Leone. The total cost of the centre is roughly $7-million.