Black Canadian Curriculum – ETFO – 2014
Viola Desmond Timeline
July 6, 1914 Born Viola Irene Davis in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she was the daughter of
James Davis, a self-employed barber and businessman, and Gwendolyn
Irene Johnson, a homemaker.
1924 (?) When she was refused admittance to Nova Scotia’s hairdressing school
because of her race, Desmond was forced to move to Montreal, then
New York City, and eventually Atlantic City, New Jersey, to complete her
training.
Date (?) She returned to Halifax where she married Jack Desmond and opened her
first salon. She later opened a school to train other beauticians.
November 8, 1946 In New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, while waiting for her car to be repaired she
took in a movie at the local Roseland Theatre, which was segregated with
a main floor for white patrons and a balcony for black patrons. Unaware
of the segregation policy, Desmond proceeded to the main floor. She was
ordered by the manager to go to the balcony.
November 9, 1946 Viola Desmond refused, the manager called the police. Viola was charged
with tax evasion for her failure to pay the proper tax for a downstairs ticket.
She was, according to prosecutors, one cent short.
November 10, 1946 Desmond was convicted and fined twenty dollars and court costs.
January 1947Viola launched an appeal with the support of the Nova Scotia Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (NSAACP) she was defeated
when the Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the application for judicial
review.
1954 Nova Scotia dismantled its segregation laws.
1965 Viola Desmond died while on a visit to New York City. She was 50.
1964-1967 The relocation of Africville
1969 The Seaview African United Baptist Church at Africville was demolished at
night to avoid controversy.
January 2, 1970 The last Africville home was demolished.
May 2005 The introduced of a bill in the provincial legislature called the Africville Act
called for a formal apology from the Nova Scotia government, a series
of public hearings on the destruction of Africville, and the establishment
of a development fund to go towards historical preservation of Africville
lands and social development in benefit of former residents and their
descendants.