Cornwallis Street officially renamed in honour of residential school survivor Nora Bernard

After a ceremony Monday in Halifax's north end, the street formerly known as Cornwallis Street is now officially Nora Bernard Street.

The renaming honours the Mi'kmaw activist who was a driving force behind a class-action lawsuit against Canada on behalf of residential school survivors that was settled for upwards of $5 billion in 2005.

"It's just an amazing privilege and honour to have my mother's name the late Nora Bernard a street named after her,"said Natalie Gloadeafter the new street sign was unveiled.

The street was previously named for Edward Cornwallis, the former British governor of Nova Scotia who issued a proclamation in 1749 promising a bounty of 10 guineas for each Mi'kmaw person killed.

Bernard was born on the Millbrook First Nation, near Truro, N.S., and was forced to attend the Shubenacadie residential school as a child.

While there,she worked hard to preserve her language,her daughter said. Bernard spoke to her siblings in secret, despite often being punished and beaten for attempting to do so.

"She was a very meek and mild woman, but she was a [force] to be reckoned with," said Gloade

Bernard was killed in 2007 at the age of 72 by her grandson, James Douglas Gloade, who later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years for manslaughter.

Cornwallis Street renamed after Mi'kmaw activist Nora Bernard

11 months ago

Duration 2:06

The Halifax Regional Municipality officially renamed Cornwallis Street on Monday after the late Mi'kmaw activist Nora Bernard. The renaming comes after much controversy over Halifax's founder. Kathleen McKenna reports.

For Natalie Gloade, the decision to rename Cornwallis Street is a testament to the work her mother didto correct the historical record and seek justice for Indigenous people everywhere.

"Her legacy will live on, and now we have to rewrite the history books. We have to tell the truth of what actually took place," she said.

In 2022, Halifax regional council voted in favour of renaming Cornwallis Street to Nora Bernard Street, following a report from a task force that found "continued public commemoration of his role is incompatible with current values."

After residents were asked to vote on potential new names for the street, Bernard's was selected.

As part of a similar process of reconciliation, a high school in Upper Tantallon named after Sir John A. Macdonald was renamed Bay View High School in 2021.

On Monday, Millbrook First Chief Bob Gloade and Coun. Lindell Smith, along with members of Bernard's family, were among those on hand for the unveiling.

"She was an activist," said Gloade. "She was a warrior. She was a matriarch and we loved her dearly."