Former Africville residents seek compensation in Nova Scotia Supreme Court

A lawyer who represents former residents of Africville who were relocated from the black community in the 1960s is hoping to amend their statement of claim filed nearly 20 years ago.

Robert Pineo said he’s discovered new evidence in the case.

He said the city expropriated land decades ago, but did not tell residents they could appeal the amount of money they were offered.

Former resident Tony Smith said the city lied to them.

“They said t was for urban renewal, but they actually expropriated the property and they did not give the former residents their rights to appeal,” he said.

Smith said they’re looking for compensation spanning four categories: who owned land, who rented land, who had squatters’ rights, and who had businesses there.

Patricia Lorreen Byers  grew up in Africville. She said her family was forced out their home when she was six years old.

“I hope that they’re going to be able to satisfy each one of my family members,” she said. “They deserve it all — more than that. We lost a lot. Some of my family died because of it — because of a broken heart. They didn’t know any other way or any other lifestyle, and they took it from us.”

A hearing on the amendment is taking place today in Nova Scotia Supreme Court, and, if accepted, the next step will be to seek certification for a class-action lawsuit.

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