North Preston kids offer a young history of Canada’s oldest Black community
The ABCs of North Preston is a heartfelt book written by the students of Nelson Whynder Elementary School, and published by the Delmore Buddy Daye Learning Institute. This is a captivating exploration of history told through the lens of youth who choose to celebrate their home, which happens to be Canada’s oldest Black community. North Preston has hundreds of years of history.
The book opens with a warm introduction, featuring Arnold Johnson, a Second World War veteran and former Halifax county councillor. He spent much of his time being active in North Preston, creating many community groups. Anne Johnson-McDonald, Arnold Johnson’s daughter, became the principal of Nelson Whynder Elementary School in 2019.
The students behind this book shine light on current community members who have generational roots in North Preston, such as athletes like former Nelson Whynder Elementary student turned global basketball star Daneesha Provo, who has played professionally in Canada, the United States and Europe, and the widely celebrated NBA player, Lindell Wigginton, who is currently with the Wisconsin Herd.
This book also pays tribute to the many musicians who have roots in North Preston, like Reeny Smith, an award-winning R&B singer who won the 2022 African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year Award from Music Nova Scotia, and multi-talented artist Keonte Beals, who won the 2021 Music Nova Scotia Award for R&B/Soul recording of the year. Keonte has recently published two children’s books: I Am Perfectly Me and I Am A King.
The youth of North Preston don’t shy away from more mature topics, such as racial justice and activism. The youth show appreciation to Quentrel Provo, who founded the Stop The Violence organization in April 2015. Quentrel works with youth in many communities across Nova Scotia.
Each page of stylized text is accompanied by illustrations that show the community members, history, and locations with creativity and grace. This is a tribute handled with love, care and respect to past and present, all while bringing hope to the future, acknowledging that community is a timeless collective where we must inspire one another to find our full potential.
From celebrating the past, like the Jamaican Maroons and the Saint Thomas Baptist Church, to highlighting today’s athletes, artists, and politicians, the youth of Nelson Whynder Elementary School showcase the history and present of North Preston openly and honestly, as they set the foundation to become the courageous future leaders of Canada’s oldest Black community.
“Y is for the youth of North Preston. The youth of North Preston are the stars of tomorrow. We are singers, doctors, lawyers, scholars, business owners, and athletes.”
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