Nova Scotia village moves to drop ‘Cornwallis’ from its name

A village in western Nova Scotia is making a significant change by moving to alter its name, following in the footsteps of other communities that have distanced themselves from controversial historical figures. The village commission of Cornwallis Square recently voted to change its name to Kings Square, a decision that was reached after years of deliberation and a request from the Annapolis Valley First Nation, which is a part of the community.

“We felt it was the right thing to do,” stated Michael Keith, chair of the village commission. The village, located approximately 15 kilometers west of Kentville, was originally named after Edward Cornwallis, the former British governor of Nova Scotia who issued a proclamation in 1749 offering a bounty for each Mi’kmaw person killed. In 2018, a statue of Cornwallis was removed from a downtown Halifax park, leading to a wave of name changes in various communities that honored him.

The decision to change the village’s name was particularly significant due to the presence of the First Nation within its boundaries. The new name, Kings Square, was partly inspired by Kings County, where the village is situated.

The renaming process was welcomed by Nastasya Kennedy, a band councillor from the Annapolis Valley First Nation, who described the change as “long overdue.” Kennedy emphasized that the former name served as a constant reminder of the mistreatment of the Mi’kmaq people throughout history.

Members of the First Nation were actively involved in the renaming process, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making in the journey towards true reconciliation. The village is currently awaiting approval from the Nova Scotia government to officially implement the name change, with the Department of Municipal Affairs evaluating the level of community engagement that has taken place.

In addition to the name change, the First Nation has also called for the renaming of the Cornwallis River, which flows through the Annapolis Valley. The province has acknowledged the request and expressed its intention to collaborate with the Mi’kmaq and local communities to consider renaming the river, signaling a step towards acknowledging and rectifying the historical injustices associated with certain place names in the region.