Family of Viola Desmond wishes holiday named after honouree was permanent

HALIFAX – The province celebrates its first Heritage Day honouree Monday, but the family of Viola Desmond is disappointed the holiday named after Desmond will be a one-time event.

In 1946, Viola Desmond, an African Nova Scotian, bought a movie ticket at a New Glasgow movie theatre. But instead of sitting upstairs where the coloured people were supposed to sit, she sat on the main floor.

EXTERNAL LINK: More on Viola Desmond in N.S. Archives

When she was asked to move, she refused, was arrested and jailed. She was found guilty of tax evasion because there was a one-cent difference between the ticket prices for upstairs and the main floor.

Desmond paid a $20 fine for the incident. She ultimately took the case to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia but lost.

She died in 1965.

In 2010, the province formally apologized to Desmond’s family and pardoned her, acknowledging her conviction for tax evasion was made in error.

“We recognize today that the act for which Viola Desmond was arrested as an act of courage, not an offence. The government of Nova Scotia recognizes that the treatment of Viola Desmond was an injustice,” said then premier Darrell Dexter. “On behalf of the province of Nova Scotia, I am sorry.”

When Nova Scotia implemented the February statutory holiday, officials decided the name would change every year but decided to call the first one Viola Desmond Day.

“It’s awe inspiring,” said sister Wanda Robson.

“I really feel that it’s unreal but I know it’s real. I never dreamed that this would come to be.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I really feel that it's unreal but I know it's real. I never dreamed that this would come to be."

Robson said her sister brought the awareness of racial segregation to the rest of the province and adds she thinks Desmond would be quietly pleased with the holiday designation.

But she’s upset that Viola Desmond Day isn’t a permanent holiday.

“Not taking anything away from the persons or the group selected for the following years … I just feel in the years to come, there’ll be a time when people might say or children might say ‘Who is Viola Desmond? Who is she?’ or they won’t even know her name at all,” Robson said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Not taking anything away from the persons or the group selected for the following years … I just feel in the years to come, there'll be a time when people might say or children might say 'Who is Viola Desmond? Who is she?' or they won't even know her name at all," Robson said.

She adds that her hope is for young people will grow up with Desmond as a role model and mentor.

Robson said she plans to bring up the idea of bringing Viola Desmond Day back or designating another day Viola Desmond Day with government officials.

“I’m going to mention it and we will see what goes from there.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I'm going to mention it and we will see what goes from there."

Global News brought the issue up with Community, Cultures and Heritage Minister Tony Ince, who said it would require further discussion.

“I do know we have a list of seven nominees right now. There are five more to come and once that process is gone … then who knows?” Ince said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I do know we have a list of seven nominees right now. There are five more to come and once that process is gone … then who knows?" Ince said.

An event planned for the North End Library in Halifax celebrating Desmond was unfortunately cancelled due to the weather.