Black Loyalist Heritage Centre
119 Birchtown Road B0T 1W0 Shelburne, NS, Canada

Our next holiday event is the candlelight service at St. Paul's Anglican Church on Sunday, December 20th at 6:30pm. Come and enjoy an old fashioned Christmas service in this church that dates back to 1888! Everyone is welcome, but please dress warmly as the church has no heat. All COVID restrictions will be in place, including social distancing and mandatory masks inside the church. We hope to see you there!

A reminder of tonight's Christmas tree lighting and special Christmas sale! The gift shop will be open from 6:00 - 7:00, with the tree lighting happening at 6:30. We will have treat bags for the children as well as hot chocolate. Come check it out! Please remember COVID protocols are in place to ensure the safety of everyone. We are encouraging everyone to please wear a mask and social distance while outside. Masks remain mandatory inside the centre. To keep up to date with all our COVID-19 Health & Safety procedures please visit our website: blackloyalist.com

Looking to do some Christmas shopping? Come out to the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre this Friday for our tree lighting! Our gift shop will be open from 6:00-7:00 and we’ll have some great sales going on*! Plus any purchase between now and December 20th will give you an entry into our Christmas draw! *BLHS Members discount can not be added in addition to any sales items*

It's #GivingTuesday! Today only, if you make a donation of $20 or more to the Black Loyalist Heritage Society through Canada Helps, they will add an additional $2. The Black Loyalist Heritage Society is a non-profit organization committed to discover, interpret, safeguard and promote the history & heritage of the Black Loyalists and their descendants in North America. We gratefully acknowledge all of those who have donated to our society in the past, and those who are planning to donate this Giving Tuesday. Thank you! https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/50992

It is with a very very heart that I share the passing of Capt (ret’d) George Borden.

We are updating our hours of operation. Beginning this Sunday, September 20th, we will be closed on the weekends, and open for tours Monday - Friday from 10 - 4. If you would like to book a tour please call our front desk at (902) 875-1293. All COVID protocols remain for tours, and we are still encouraging visitors to pre-book their tours to avoid disappointment.

While this year looks a little different, we are excited to host fun and safe holiday events at our centre in partnership with the Municipality of the District of Shelburne! Our first event will be an outdoor tree lighting next Friday, December 4th at 6:30pm. We will have hot chocolate and treat bags for the children, and for the adults it will be a great opportunity to visit our gift shop where we will be having a special Christmas sale! Please dress warmly as the tree lighting will be outside. To ensure the safety of everyone we are asking everyone to please wear a mask and social distance while outside. Masks remain mandatory inside the centre. To keep up to date with all our COVID-19 Health & Safety procedures please visit our website: blackloyalist.com

We are still looking for participants in our Trunk or Treat! Bring your candy and pass it out at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre! We will have tables in the centre, or you can park in the parking lot and pass out your candy from your vehicle! If you are interested please call our office at (902) 875-1310 or email [email protected].

We are excited to offer an after hours ghost tour of our site on October 23! Spaces are limited, to book your spot please call (902)875-1310! The price of admission for this special tour is $5.75. *Please note all covid protocols apply (masks must be worn throughout the tour, and social distancing will be in place)*

Are you or do you know a young person in Grades 9 - 12 interested in entrepreneurship? Check out this opportunity through Business is Jammin'! Applications are due October 16th!

The Black Loyalist Heritage Centre is considering hosting a Trunk or Treat at the centre for Halloween. If you would be interested in coming to the centre to hand out your Halloween treats this year, please let us know by calling our office at (902) 875-1310 or emailing [email protected] . This event would be dependent on community interest.

The staff of the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre would like to wish our maintenance man Darrell Acker a happy 70th birthday!

This quilt completed by the Black Loyalist Heritage Society & friends of the Society, depicts the journey of the Black Loyalist, from Africa to the Americas to Nova Scotia and back to Africa. Discover their stories at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. https://blackloyalist.novascotia.ca

Due to the hurricane the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre will be closed today, September 22, and tomorrow, September 23. We will reopen on Thursday. Stay safe everyone.Due to the hurricane the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre will be closed today, September 22, and tomorrow, September 23. We will reopen on Thursday. Stay safe everyone.

Thank you to member Carrie Forbes for her generous donation of a new Nova Scotia Flag for the Old School House Museum. Call the centre at 902-875-1293 to book your tour today!

A reminder that our new hours have started. We are open Monday through Friday from 10 - 4. Please call our admissions desk at (902) 875-1293 to book a tour.

The end of the American War of Independence was the catalyst for the Black Loyalists' move north to Nova Scotia. In remembrance of the anniversary of the end of... this war, September 3rd, author and educator Gloria Ann Wesley reads us her book Abigail's Wish, presented in partnership with Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press. The first children’s picture book set in historic Birchtown, Nova Scotia, Abigail’s Wish is a window into the life of a Black Loyalist family in the early years of the historic colony. The Black Loyalists are included in the Canadian Immigration Story exhibition here at the Museum. Also visit the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia for more about their fascinating history. Want to read along? Abigail's Wish can be purchased from the Museum Gift Shop online: https://shop.pier21.ca/index.php . . . La fin de la Guerre d’indépendance américaine a catalysé la fuite des loyalistes noirs vers le nord et la Nouvelle-Écosse. Pour souligner l’anniversaire de la fin de cette guerre, le 3 septembre, l’écrivaine et éducatrice Gloria Ann Wesley nous lit son livre, Abigail’s Wish, présenté en partenariat avec Nimbus Publishing. Abigail’s Wish, le premier livre illustré pour enfants établi à Birchtown, en Nouvelle-Écosse, offre un regard sur la vie d’une famille loyaliste noire au début de cette colonie historique. Les loyalistes noirs sont inclus dans l’exposition sur l’Histoire de l’immigration canadienne ici au Musée. Vous pouvez aussi visiter le Black Loyalist Heritage Centre et le Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia pour en savoir plus sur leur histoire fascinante. Voulez-vous lire? I'm Abigail's Wish peut être acheté à la boutique du musée en ligne: https://shop.pier21.ca/index.php

Now available in our gift shop...campfire mugs! These mugs are perfect for a cozy cup of tea or coffee! $12 + tax

One of our favorite exhibits at the centre is our Quilting exhibit, where guests can make their own virtual quilt and have it become part of our virtual 'Inspiration Quilt' that is shown in the gallery. Today's activity is inspired by that exhibit! Gather up some paper (of any kind), a pair of scissors, a glue stick and make your own paper quilt! When your quilt is complete be sure to share it with us in the comments below!

Today's activity is a fun memory game using Adinkra symbols. The Adinkra symbols were created by the Ashanti people of West Africa for use in textiles. Each unique symbol has a different meaning, often tied to a proverb or idea. For the following activity, print off the sheets. Fold the paper in half along the solid black line. Cut the paper along the dotted lines. On one side you will see the Adinkra symbol, on the other side you will see it's name and meaning. If the paper ...isn't staying folded, you may want to glue or tape it together. Once you've cut out your cards, mix them around face side up and try to guess the meaning of the symbol. Once you've guessed check the back to see if you're right! If you'd like to learn even more Adinkra symbols, visit adinkra.org! And be sure to share your favorite symbol with us in the comments below!