About
Today Amherst sits about 2 miles east of the original town. Prior to the town’s incorporation in 1889, the multi-ethnic population numbered around 4,000. Most of the African Canadian residents are located in an area called Sand Hill.
Descendants from Sand Hill are able to trace their roots back to the arrival of the Loyalists to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. For more information visit the Cumberland County Museum and Archives or the Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association.
For those interested in more artistic endeavors, come ’round to the Alpha Centre and Cumberland County School of the Arts Society. You might also want to look into the history of one of the few African Methodist Episcopal churches in Canada, the Highland African Methodist Episcopal Church (est. 1874), at 236 Upper Church Street.
Although their mandate is primarily focused on employment, the Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association’s mission is “To promote education and awareness of African Nova Scotian culture.” You can find them on Victoria Street East in Amherst.
Source:
African Nova Scotian Tourism Guide
Historical Black Settlements in Nova Scotia (Google Map)
Photo gallery
Amenities
Opening hours
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
- Monday Closed
- Tuesday Closed
- Wednesday Closed
- Thursday Closed
- Friday Closed