North Preston, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
North Preston is a rural
community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
, in Canada
. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston
. The community traces its origins to the immigration of former African American slaves during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many have thought it was named after clergyRichard Preston
, who set up 11 Baptist
churches in Nova Scotia, and helped pass the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. However Richard Preston was an escaped slave from Virginia and took the name Preston from the community as Preston was where he was reunited with his mother as she had escaped slavery earlier in her life.
North Preston is served by a large elementary school, Nelson Whynder Elementary School. The community is also home to several community buildings, several churches, a day care, a medical centre, a volunteer fire department and several local businesses. The church has been the spiritual centre of the community of North Preston for over 150 years.
North Preston is also the oldest and largest indigenous Black
community in Canada, as well as having the highest concentration of Black Canadians across Canada. It is the home of boxer Kirk Johnson and Canadian Idol
finalist Kaleb Simmonds. It is also the home of Jason, "Baby J" Downey, a boxer who won a gold medal in the 2011 Canada Games 52 kg class.
such as that occurring in other Black Nova Scotian settlements. The community also has a higher average income at $33,233 a year, compared with the average of $31,795 for Nova Scotia. Despite that, however, the community remains relatively isolated from the rest of Halifax, in its rural setting. Some contemporary issues include a higher percent of lone parent families, higher unemployment rates for those aged 15–24 and a recent surge in gun crime. The Prestons
have slightly more lone parent families at 19.8%, Nova Scotia's average is 16.9%.
An annual community festival and parade occurs every July, on a community event called North Preston Day. The event has been taking place every year on July 4. Many members of the community attend; the event is free and many special guests from outside of the community attend. In 2010, television personality Debbie Travis
made a guest appearance to film part of her upcoming show All for One, which will air on CBC
. In future, the community will also be home to The Charles Taylor Hall Theatre Society in partnership with The Preston Arts Centre Inc., building a state-of-the-art arts & entertainment centre that will aim to seat 300 - 550. Slogan "Our Stories, in Our Voice" http://www.charlestaylortheatre.com/ http://www.thepac.biz/
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
community in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. North Preston has a population of about 3,700 people. The community is populated mainly by African Canadians. The community borders its sister community East Preston
East Preston, Nova Scotia
East Preston is an expansive rural area located in eastern Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, in Atlantic Canada.East Preston was founded in the 19th century. It is believed to have been named after Preston, Lancashire, England or Thomas Preston, a British army officer involved in the...
. The community traces its origins to the immigration of former African American slaves during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many have thought it was named after clergyRichard Preston
Richard Preston (clergyman)
Richard Preston, , was religious leader and abolitionist who escaped slavery in Virginia to become an important leader for the African Nova Scotian community and in the international struggle against slavery.-Personal life:...
, who set up 11 Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches in Nova Scotia, and helped pass the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. However Richard Preston was an escaped slave from Virginia and took the name Preston from the community as Preston was where he was reunited with his mother as she had escaped slavery earlier in her life.
North Preston is served by a large elementary school, Nelson Whynder Elementary School. The community is also home to several community buildings, several churches, a day care, a medical centre, a volunteer fire department and several local businesses. The church has been the spiritual centre of the community of North Preston for over 150 years.
North Preston is also the oldest and largest indigenous Black
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
community in Canada, as well as having the highest concentration of Black Canadians across Canada. It is the home of boxer Kirk Johnson and Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
finalist Kaleb Simmonds. It is also the home of Jason, "Baby J" Downey, a boxer who won a gold medal in the 2011 Canada Games 52 kg class.
Present day
Today, North Preston is a prosperous community having a high home-ownership rate, a stable population, and the community's ability to resist urban sprawlUrban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
such as that occurring in other Black Nova Scotian settlements. The community also has a higher average income at $33,233 a year, compared with the average of $31,795 for Nova Scotia. Despite that, however, the community remains relatively isolated from the rest of Halifax, in its rural setting. Some contemporary issues include a higher percent of lone parent families, higher unemployment rates for those aged 15–24 and a recent surge in gun crime. The Prestons
Preston, Nova Scotia
Preston is an area in central Nova Scotia, Canada in the Halifax Regional Municipality, located on Trunk 7. The population in 2006 was 2,360 including East Preston and North Preston....
have slightly more lone parent families at 19.8%, Nova Scotia's average is 16.9%.
An annual community festival and parade occurs every July, on a community event called North Preston Day. The event has been taking place every year on July 4. Many members of the community attend; the event is free and many special guests from outside of the community attend. In 2010, television personality Debbie Travis
Debbie Travis
Debbie Travis is a British television personality, self-taught interior designer, and former fashion model. She is best known as the host of Debbie Travis' Facelift and Debbie Travis' Painted House...
made a guest appearance to film part of her upcoming show All for One, which will air on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. In future, the community will also be home to The Charles Taylor Hall Theatre Society in partnership with The Preston Arts Centre Inc., building a state-of-the-art arts & entertainment centre that will aim to seat 300 - 550. Slogan "Our Stories, in Our Voice" http://www.charlestaylortheatre.com/ http://www.thepac.biz/