Viola’s Legacy
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LOOK
What do you find memorable about this video and story?
THINK
Why is Viola Desmond’s legacy important for the African Nova Scotian community?
THINK
What is the historical significance of Wanda Robson’s and Viola Desmond’s experiences of racism?
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Historical Context
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- In this oral history recording, Wanda Robson discusses the legacy of her sister, Viola Desmond.
- Robson wrote the book Sister to Courage in 2010, and engaged Canadians through countless public speaking engagements.
- In 2010, the first African Nova Scotian lieutenant governor, Mayann Francis, officially pardoned Desmond.
- In 2012, Canada Post issued a Desmond postage stamp. In 2016, a Heritage Minute featured Desmond’s story. Desmond also appears on Canada’s $10 bill.
Wanda Robson discusses the legacy of her sister, Viola Desmond.
When she was 73, Robson took a university course on race relations, which included Desmond’s court case. This inspired Robson to write the book Sister to Courage in 2010, and speak across Canada.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Mayann Francis — the first African Nova Scotian and only the second Black person in Canada to hold this office — officially pardoned Desmond in 2010.
Cape Breton University established the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice, and in 2012, Canada Post issued a Desmond postage stamp. In 2016, a Heritage Minute featured Desmond, and the public chose her for Canada’s new $10 bill. In 2021, the government of Nova Scotia repaid Desmond’s fine to Robson, who used the adjusted amount to fund a scholarship. Robson died the following year.
In this oral history recording, Wanda Robson — Viola Desmond’s youngest sister — discusses Viola’s legacy.
Robson played a central role in raising public awareness of her sister’s significance, by sharing her recollections with Canadians across the country. In 2003, at the age of 73, Robson enrolled in what is now Cape Breton University to continue her education. While there, she took a course on race relations taught by Graham Reynolds, which included a discussion of Viola Desmond’s court case. This prompted Wanda to speak out and, with the help of Reynolds, she began a prolonged effort to tell her sister’s story, including publication of a book about her sister’s experience: Sister to Courage (2010).
Desmond received an official pardon from the Nova Scotia government on April 15, 2010. The pardon was granted by then-Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Mayann Francis, who was the first African Nova Scotian and only the second Black person in Canada to hold this office. The pardon was accompanied by an apology from Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who recognized that Desmond’s conviction was a miscarriage of justice, and that charges should never have been laid.
Many accolades followed. That same year, the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice was established at Cape Breton University and, in 2012, Canada Post issued a postage stamp bearing her image. In February 2016, a Heritage Minute relating Desmond’s story was released.
In December 2016, following extensive public consultation, the Bank of Canada announced that Viola Desmond would appear on the $10 bill, becoming the first Canadian woman to appear on a regularly circulating bank note. In 2017, Desmond was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, in the Philanthropy and Humanities category.
More recently, in February 2021, the Nova Scotia government repaid Desmond’s fine, giving Robson $1,000, representing the fine, adjusted for inflation. Robson used the $1,000 to fund a scholarship at Cape Breton University.
Wanda Robson passed away in February 2022, at the age of 95.
- In this oral history recording, Wanda Robson discusses the legacy of her sister, Viola Desmond.
- Robson wrote the book Sister to Courage in 2010, and engaged Canadians through countless public speaking engagements.
- In 2010, the first African Nova Scotian lieutenant governor, Mayann Francis, officially pardoned Desmond.
- In 2012, Canada Post issued a Desmond postage stamp. In 2016, a Heritage Minute featured Desmond’s story. Desmond also appears on Canada’s $10 bill.
Wanda Robson discusses the legacy of her sister, Viola Desmond.
When she was 73, Robson took a university course on race relations, which included Desmond’s court case. This inspired Robson to write the book Sister to Courage in 2010, and speak across Canada.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Mayann Francis — the first African Nova Scotian and only the second Black person in Canada to hold this office — officially pardoned Desmond in 2010.
Cape Breton University established the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice, and in 2012, Canada Post issued a Desmond postage stamp. In 2016, a Heritage Minute featured Desmond, and the public chose her for Canada’s new $10 bill. In 2021, the government of Nova Scotia repaid Desmond’s fine to Robson, who used the adjusted amount to fund a scholarship. Robson died the following year.
In this oral history recording, Wanda Robson — Viola Desmond’s youngest sister — discusses Viola’s legacy.
Robson played a central role in raising public awareness of her sister’s significance, by sharing her recollections with Canadians across the country. In 2003, at the age of 73, Robson enrolled in what is now Cape Breton University to continue her education. While there, she took a course on race relations taught by Graham Reynolds, which included a discussion of Viola Desmond’s court case. This prompted Wanda to speak out and, with the help of Reynolds, she began a prolonged effort to tell her sister’s story, including publication of a book about her sister’s experience: Sister to Courage (2010).
Desmond received an official pardon from the Nova Scotia government on April 15, 2010. The pardon was granted by then-Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Mayann Francis, who was the first African Nova Scotian and only the second Black person in Canada to hold this office. The pardon was accompanied by an apology from Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who recognized that Desmond’s conviction was a miscarriage of justice, and that charges should never have been laid.
Many accolades followed. That same year, the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice was established at Cape Breton University and, in 2012, Canada Post issued a postage stamp bearing her image. In February 2016, a Heritage Minute relating Desmond’s story was released.
In December 2016, following extensive public consultation, the Bank of Canada announced that Viola Desmond would appear on the $10 bill, becoming the first Canadian woman to appear on a regularly circulating bank note. In 2017, Desmond was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, in the Philanthropy and Humanities category.
More recently, in February 2021, the Nova Scotia government repaid Desmond’s fine, giving Robson $1,000, representing the fine, adjusted for inflation. Robson used the $1,000 to fund a scholarship at Cape Breton University.
Wanda Robson passed away in February 2022, at the age of 95.
Summary
- In this oral history recording, Wanda Robson discusses the legacy of her sister, Viola Desmond.
- Robson wrote the book Sister to Courage in 2010, and engaged Canadians through countless public speaking engagements.
- In 2010, the first African Nova Scotian lieutenant governor, Mayann Francis, officially pardoned Desmond.
- In 2012, Canada Post issued a Desmond postage stamp. In 2016, a Heritage Minute featured Desmond’s story. Desmond also appears on Canada’s $10 bill.
Essential
Wanda Robson discusses the legacy of her sister, Viola Desmond.
When she was 73, Robson took a university course on race relations, which included Desmond’s court case. This inspired Robson to write the book Sister to Courage in 2010, and speak across Canada.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Mayann Francis — the first African Nova Scotian and only the second Black person in Canada to hold this office — officially pardoned Desmond in 2010.
Cape Breton University established the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice, and in 2012, Canada Post issued a Desmond postage stamp. In 2016, a Heritage Minute featured Desmond, and the public chose her for Canada’s new $10 bill. In 2021, the government of Nova Scotia repaid Desmond’s fine to Robson, who used the adjusted amount to fund a scholarship. Robson died the following year.
In-Depth
In this oral history recording, Wanda Robson — Viola Desmond’s youngest sister — discusses Viola’s legacy.
Robson played a central role in raising public awareness of her sister’s significance, by sharing her recollections with Canadians across the country. In 2003, at the age of 73, Robson enrolled in what is now Cape Breton University to continue her education. While there, she took a course on race relations taught by Graham Reynolds, which included a discussion of Viola Desmond’s court case. This prompted Wanda to speak out and, with the help of Reynolds, she began a prolonged effort to tell her sister’s story, including publication of a book about her sister’s experience: Sister to Courage (2010).
Desmond received an official pardon from the Nova Scotia government on April 15, 2010. The pardon was granted by then-Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Mayann Francis, who was the first African Nova Scotian and only the second Black person in Canada to hold this office. The pardon was accompanied by an apology from Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, who recognized that Desmond’s conviction was a miscarriage of justice, and that charges should never have been laid.
Many accolades followed. That same year, the Viola Desmond Chair in Social Justice was established at Cape Breton University and, in 2012, Canada Post issued a postage stamp bearing her image. In February 2016, a Heritage Minute relating Desmond’s story was released.
In December 2016, following extensive public consultation, the Bank of Canada announced that Viola Desmond would appear on the $10 bill, becoming the first Canadian woman to appear on a regularly circulating bank note. In 2017, Desmond was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, in the Philanthropy and Humanities category.
More recently, in February 2021, the Nova Scotia government repaid Desmond’s fine, giving Robson $1,000, representing the fine, adjusted for inflation. Robson used the $1,000 to fund a scholarship at Cape Breton University.
Wanda Robson passed away in February 2022, at the age of 95.