Nova Scotia Heritage Day 2021: 5 Interesting Facts About The Province And This Holiday

The third Monday of February isn't just Presidents Day. In Nova Scotia, it also marks Nova Scotia Heritage Day, a day that commemorates the province's history and the Nova Scotians who made their mark.

Nova Scotia Heritage Day is a fairly new holiday that began in 2015. According to Nova Scotia Communities, Culture and Heritage (CCH), the holiday was made for the Nova Scotians asking for a mid-winter break, and they made it more meaningful by making the holiday one that would be a reminder of the province's history as well as the people, places or events that contributed to its rich culture.

Since then, the holiday has been the perfect time to remember the province's heritage. And each year, the holiday also celebrates a specific honoree— someone or something that has helped shape the Nova Scotia we know today.

This year, Nova Scotia Heritage Day celebrates Lt. Edward Francis Arab, the grandson of some of the first Lebanese immigrants in Halifax. He was a soldier and lawyer whose law firm was known to take on cases regarding racism and prejudice.

"He fought for equality, for human rights and for our country where he made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," Premier Stephen NcNeil said in a news release.

To celebrate this year's Nova Scotia Heritage Day, let's have a look at some interesting facts about Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Heritage Day, courtesy of the Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia CCH and Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.

• Nova Scotia has a rather diverse cultural background, being home to over 100 cultures from around the world. Its history has aboriginal, Celtic, Acadian and African backgrounds, the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration noted.
• Nova Scotia Heritage Day's first-ever honoree was Viola Desmond. In 1946, the police removed Desmond from the movie theater for sitting on the main level, where African Nova Scotians were not allowed. She spent a night in jail and had to pay a fine. Her stand against racism at that time affected her personal life, and she ended up having to move to Montreal then later in New York. In 2010, Nova Scotia officially apologized to Desmond and granted her a free pardon to recognize that her conviction was "in error."
• Heritage Day honors Nova Scotians with notable contributions, but the occasion isn't just about people. For instance, in 2017, Nova Scotia Heritage Day honored Mi'kmaq culture and its people. According to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, Mi'kmaq culture in Nova Scotia dates back thousands of years.
• Nova Scotia has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is said to contain 300-million-year-old fossils.
• School children actually played an important part in the holiday. The Nova Scotia Heritage Day flag was inspired by 240 drawings from school children in 2015, and even the list of honorees was selected from the 75 submissions of children from primary to Grade 12.