Children will have a chance to learn more about the woman on Canada’s new $10 bill as Black History Month begins this Friday.
The Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society is host to an event on the PD Day based around Viola Desmond, who stood up to racial segregation at a film theatre in Nova Scotia in 1946.
Staff will read a children’s book called Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged by Jody Nyasha Warner and Richard Rudnicki and the children will design their own bank note featuring someone from history.
“Many kids don’t know who she is,” said Sam Meredith, executive director at the society. “This way kids can learn at their level who she is instead of just being told.”
Desmond made her debut on the bank note in November. She is the first Canadian-born women to appear alone on a bill.
Meredith said she thinks Desmond’s story can show people Canada has not always had equal rights.
“On top of that I think learning to fight for rights is something that’s very important, especially with some of the directions of the political climate today are going,” she said.
Along with opening up conversations about segregation and discrimination in Canada, Meredith said having Desmond on the $10 bill shows people how women have made history.
“So much of history has been told from a European men’s point of view and I think having her on it kind of shows women were there, women were making changes,” she said.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the black historical society within the WISH Centre at 177 King St. E. in Chatham. RSVP is recommended at info@ckblackhistoricalsociety.org and parents must remain with their children.
The historical society will also have a display set up in February featuring civil rights leaders both from Canada and the U.S. An event for children based around Martin Luther King is planned at the Chatham Branch of the Chatham-Kent Public Library for Feb. 21.
from Chatham Daily News http://bit.ly/2UoHstQ
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