Have Your Say: Community Vote to Name Ford Street Park
The Town of Truro, in partnership with the African Nova Scotia Community Strategy Committee, invites African Nova Scotian residents to participate in a public vote to select the official name of the park located at the corner of Ford and Robie Streets.
This park will be named in honour of African Nova Scotian women educators and community leaders whose dedication, courage, and vision have made lasting contributions to our schools, neighbourhoods, and shared history.
In May 2025, the Nova Scotia Women’s History Society hosted a public history installation in the park, celebrating five extraordinary women: Martha Eleanor Jones, Willena Beatrice (Corbin Gabriel) Jones, Donna Lee Byard Sealey, Ann Michelle (“Shelley”) MacLean, and Vera (Halfkenny) Clyke. Their portraits now stand in the park as a permanent tribute to their legacy.
The community naming contest ran from December 1, 2025 to January 9, 2026 and received a wide range of meaningful name submissions. The African Nova Scotia Community Strategy Committee, in collaboration with the Community Enhancement Association and Zion Baptist Church, has narrowed the list to four finalist names:
Sisterhood Park
Reasoning:
"Black women educators were a sisterhood supporting each other in establishments that were for the most part, white. The sisterhood kept them strong as they constantly faced both racism and sexism, lack of representation, isolation, and discrimination."
The Marsh Community Park
Reasoning:
"I believe this name meaningfully reflects the history of the community, as this neighborhood has long been known as the Marsh. The street and surrounding area were historically home to Black families who built a strong, close-knit community here. Over time, the neighborhood has changed, but its history remains significant.
In honor of the families who grew up here, the memories created, and the legacy this street represents, I believe it is important that this history be recognized and preserved. Naming the park The Marsh Community Park ensures that the story of this community is acknowledged and not forgotten."
Corner of Knowledge
Reasoning:
"Education at it finest."
Reparations Park
Reasoning:
"The name Reparations Park speaks to the repair that this park represents. “Reparations” in this sense are acts that repair the damage done by centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and by anti-Black racism that persisted after the abolition of slavery and endures today. It is a strong statement to choose this name, and we firmly believe, an important one.
To me, the name "Reparations" speaks to the importance of the act of recognizing and celebrating the work of Black women in countering systems that have oppressed Black communities, and of their work to build the strength and unity of those communities."
Public Voting Day
Date: January 27, 2026
Time: 9:00AM – 7:30PM
Location: Douglas Street Recreation Centre
40 Douglas Street, Truro
Who Can Vote:
This vote is open to African Nova Scotian residents of Truro and Colchester County. Participation is based on self-identification and reflects the community-led nature of this initiative.
Proof of residency (within a Truro or Colchester community) is required.
Accessible Voting Options
Residents who are unable to vote in person on January 27 may arrange an accessible voting option on January 21, 22, or 23 by contacting:
902-893-6094
