The Loyalist Connections Podcast

Episode 3 - Dr. Clement Ligoure and the Living Legacy of the No. 2 Construction Battalion

In the final episode, which grounds Dr. Clement Ligoure’s history in community memory, Shawn speaks with Hal Davidson of Amherst, Nova Scotia, a town councilor, former deputy mayor, and community historian. Hal shares knowledge of the African Nova Scotian community's history, particularly the Number Two Construction Battalion and its legacy. He discusses his personal connection to this history through his great uncle, who served in the battalion and later became a pastor. The conversation considers the structural racism faced by Black people in the military and the significance of recognizing and preserving this history. Key Topics * Hal’s personal connection to the No.2 Construction Battalion. * The role of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in the recruitment of the No. 2 Construction Battalion. * Institutional racism faced by Black soldiers during World War 1 and the significance of recognizing and protecting this history. * Community memory and recognition of the No.2 Construction Battalion. * Building solidarity among African Nova Scotians is essential to protecting history. Credits * Hosted by Shawn Smith * Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) * Special thanks to Hal Davidson Connect With Us * Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Listen, like, follow, and share on your favourite platforms! Resources * https://novamuse.ca/EducationalResources/Index [https://novamuse.ca/EducationalResources/Index] * View the video podcast here: Episode three (feat. Hal Davidson): https://youtu.be/M_uCBGrqDAU [https://youtu.be/M_uCBGrqDAU] For reference information, check out the Dr. Ligoure story on NovaMuse.ca

Episode 2 - Dr. Clement Ligoure, the Press, and the Fight to Recruit the No. 2 Construction Battalion

This second episode revisits Dr. Clement Ligoure in Nova Scotia. It examines why, despite being qualified and recommended, he was denied appointment as Medical Officer for the No. 2 Construction Battalion during the First World War. Shawn interviews Mary Beth Sutherland, community advocate and granddaughter of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hugh Sutherland, the battalion’s commanding officer, who pushed for Black officers, including a chaplain (Rev. Andrew White) and Dr. Ligoure. Key Topics * Clement Ligoure’s journey: recruitment, qualifications and racial discrimination encountered within the military. * The leadership and advocacy efforts of Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hugh Sutherland. * The significance of the No.2 Construction Battalion. * The role of print media and Black publications during World War 1. * The role of the No.2 Construction band during World War 1. Credits * Hosted by Shawn Smith * Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) * Special thanks to Mary Beth Sutherland Connect With Us * Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Listen, like, follow, and share on your favourite platforms! Learning Resources: * https://novamuse.ca/EducationalResources/Index [https://novamuse.ca/EducationalResources/Index] * View the video podcast here: Episode two (feat. Mary Beth Sutherland): https://youtu.be/wYCn6tL9vOs [https://youtu.be/wYCn6tL9vOs] For reference information, check out the Dr. Ligoure story on NovaMuse.ca

Episode 1 - The Journey of Dr. Clement Ligoure: From Trinidad to Nova Scotia's First Registered Black Physician

Host Shawn Smith launches a three-part series on Dr. Clement Courtney Ligoure, tracing his path from Trinidad to the United States, medical training in Ontario, and his 1916 arrival in Halifax. With historian Graham Nickerson, the episode situates Ligoure's story inside broader Black migration, Caribbean economic change after emancipation, and the racism and policies which shaped opportunity, including Canada’s early 1900s restrictions on Black immigration. Key Topics * Clement Ligoure's early life in Trinidad * Migration movements of Black communities from the Caribbean to North America * The role of community networks and institutions in Black history * The impact of systematic racism and legislation on Black medical professionals * The significance of the Halifax explosion and Black community resilience * Launch of the Atlantic Advocate and recruitment for the No.2 Construction Battalion Credits * Hosted by Shawn Smith * Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) * Special thanks to Graham Nickerson Connect With Us * Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Listen, like, follow, and share on your favourite platforms. Learning Resources: * https://novamuse.ca/EducationalResources/Index [https://novamuse.ca/EducationalResources/Index] * View the video podcast here: Episode one (feat. Graham Nickerson): https://youtu.be/AwkX-7541zc [https://youtu.be/AwkX-7541zc]  For reference information, check out the Dr. Ligoure story on NovaMuse.ca

Land as a Tool for Racial Justice (Part 2): Rewriting Histories and Building Power

Picking up the conversation, episode two continues studying the intersections of land, history, and racial justice. Lyndsey discusses how historic sites and land can serve as meaningful tools for education and activism, addressing white supremacy, colonialism, and the centrality of land in Black history and liberation movements. The conversation emphasizes mapping Black presence beyond single museums, solidarity with Indigenous peoples, and how Canadian multiculturalism may obscure ongoing racism, reconciliation, and reparations.   Key topics * Land and historical sites as tools for education and activism * The role of museums and land in shaping racial narratives * White supremacy, colonialism, and land inheritance * The importance of land in Black history and liberation movements * Strategies for using land and history to build political consciousness Credits * Hosted by Shawn Smith and Graham Nickerson * Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) * Special thanks to Lyndsey Beutin Connect With Us * Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Listen, like, follow, and share on your favourite platforms Resources Black Loyalist Heritage Centre [https://blackloyalist.com/] Trafficking in Antiblackness: Modern-Day Slavery, White Indemnity, and Racial Justice [https://www.dukeupress.edu/trafficking-in-antiblackness]

How Media Shapes Anti-Blackness (Part 1): A Conversation on History, Power, and Liberation

Summary Recorded after the inaugural 2023 BLACK conference, Shawn and Graham reconnect with Lyndsey Beutin as part of this two-part series reflecting on how to build spaces to discuss the legacy of anti-Black racism, media, and liberation. Lyndsey, a scholar of media studies and African diaspora studies, explains her research on the racial politics of communication and anti-trafficking campaigns. The conversation shifts through historical examples of anti-black racism in the media, and addresses Canada’s branding, missionary/humanitarian harms, marketing tropes and DEI backlash. Key Topics * Trafficking in Anti-Blackness Framework * Historical Context & Data * Visual Culture & Media Representation * White Fragility & Solidarity * Allyship vs. Accompliceship Credits * Hosted by Shawn Smith and Graham Nickerson * Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) * Special thanks to Lyndsey Beutin Connect With Us * Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Listen, like, follow, and share on your favourite platforms Resources Black Loyalist Heritage Centre [https://blackloyalist.com/] Trafficking in Antiblackness: Modern-Day Slavery, White Indemnity, and Racial Justise [https://www.dukeupress.edu/trafficking-in-antiblackness]