Heritage Day

Heritage Day Quick Facts

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2024 Date	February 19, 2024
2025 Date	February 17, 2025

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Heritage Day (NS) in 2024

Monday, Feb 19

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Heritage Day celebrates and honors the rich cultural, historical, and natural heritage of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. This day aims to create awareness and appreciation of the diverse heritage, as well as to educate the public about the importance of its preservation. Efforts that support the conservation and interpretation of heritage sites, traditions, and elements play a significant role, as they contribute to the unique identity, pride, and sense of belonging among Nova Scotians.

The idea of introducing Heritage Day in Nova Scotia can be traced back to 2012 when the government of the province recognized the need for a statutory holiday in February, aligning with the Canadian Heritage Day celebrated on the third Monday of February. Heritage Day in Nova Scotia covers a variety of cultural, natural, and historical aspects, engaging people in educational programming, events, and discussions related to the province's heritage. Nova Scotians join in a collective effort to learn, appreciate, and honor the stories and legacy of the past and present, strengthening the bonds of shared experiences and common identity.

The observance of Heritage Day in Nova Scotia features various activities across the province. Communities and organizations come together to organize local events, exhibits, guided tours, talks, and other educational activities aimed at deepening the understanding of the heritage of Nova Scotia. These events are often open to public participation and provide an opportunity for individuals and families to engage with the rich history and traditions of the province. Heritage Day in Nova Scotia is celebrated on the third Monday of February, aligning with the Canadian Heritage Day and providing a well-deserved break during the winter season.

Top facts about Heritage Day

Each year, Heritage Day in Nova Scotia honours a person, a place, or an event for their significant cultural or historical contributions to Nova Scotia. In 2023, Rita Joe was chosen as the Honouree for Heritage Day. Rita Joe was a member of the We’koqma’q Mi’kmaq Community and a published author. She paved the way for other Mi’kmaq authors to have a platform where they could create and share unique stories. Her greatest wish was for other Mi’kmaw authors to continue writing poems and stories that represent her people aimed towards children to read.
In 2013, entries were submitted by local students for significant people, places, and things from Nova Scotia. Three panelists then had the opportunity to review the submissions and determine who or what best represented Nova Scotia. Entries would be commemorated on Heritage Day. 12 submissions were chosen by panelists Sister Dorothy Moore, Stephen Gough, and Lucille Comeau-Livingstone.
Viola Desmond was the first person to be commemorated during Heritage Day in 2015. Desmond was recognized for her courageous stand against institutional racism and her part in the civil rights movement of Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia was one of the four original provinces that formed the Confederation of Canada in 1867.
The province was greatly influenced by immigrant cultures, especially Scottish. This is evident in its name, which means New Scotland in Latin.

Top things to do for Heritage Day

View the past and future honourees of Heritage Day. Each honouree represents Nova Scotia and its history and culture.
Learn more about 2020's honouree, the community of Africville.
Take advantage of the extended weekend by planning a family vacation.
Read A Short History of Halifax by Dan Conlin, a highly informative and succinct book about Halifax, one of Nova Scotia's largest cities.

References

heritageday.novascotia.ca: History of Heritage Day

heritageday.novascotia.ca: Heritage Day Honouree 2023

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