Halifax – Friday was a day decades in the making for former residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children.
“I want to apologize today for those who suffered abuse and neglect at the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children,” said Stephen McNeil, Nova Scotia Premier. “We hear your voices and we grieve your pain, and we are sorry.”
Most former residents of the home never thought this day would come.
“20 years of abuse and it’s done” said an emotional Chris Jacklyn, Former Resident.
“When I finally went public in 98, I was fighting and hoping that this day would come, and I’m very proud and relieved this day is here,” Tony Smith, Former Resident tells Global News.
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“The apology, it ranks up there with me becoming a mom, like this, I can’t think of a moment in my life when I’ve been more prouder,” said Harriet Johnson, a former resident of the home.
Getting to the apology hasn’t been an easy road.
The Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children opened in 1921, and operated for nearly 70-years. During that time, hundreds of children had lived at the Halifax-area orphanage.
Former residents allege they suffered psychological, physical and sexual abuse while they lived at the home.
None of the allegations have been proven in court, but in July, a $29 million dollar settlement was approved in a class action lawsuit by alleged abuse survivors. Nearly 250 people are eligible for the settlement.
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For many former residents of the home, the apology from the provincial government means much more than the money.
“The settlement really doesn’t mean anything. It’s just money, it’s just money” said Tracey Dorrington-Skinner, Former Resident.
The government is now working with former residents to finish the framework for a public inquiry into what happened at the home.
“We’re sitting down with government, we’re sitting down with VOICES, we’re sitting down with the home, sitting down with the African Nova Scotian community and we’re having discussion on how we need to move forward with this public inquiry,” added Dorrington-Skinner.
“We just want to get to the truth, what mistakes were made and to ensure this never happens again,” Smith told Global News.
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