Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program

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UPDATE: African Nova Scotian Virtual Engagement Sessions on September 11th and 15th
To register, please email info@theignitegroup.ca

Virtual Engagement Sessions: Ignite Consulting will hold virtual engagement sessions with African Nova Scotian and African Descent community on Wednesday, September 11 (6:00-8:00pm) and Sunday, September 15 (1:00-3:00pm). If you would like to attend, please email info@theignitegroup.ca to register. Ignite Consulting and the community will discuss the stories and aspects of culture, history & art that should be presented in the new Cogswell neighbourhood to honor the African Nova Scotian community, and build on ideas that were previously submitted by the community.


Call-in phone line: Can't attend these events? Members of the African Nova Scotian/African Descent community can call 902-490-3326 and leave Ignite Consulting a voicemail with their storytelling and commemoration ideas for the Cogswell District.

Cogswell District Project background

The Cogswell District Project is one of the largest community building projects in Halifax’s history. The project, which started in 2013, focuses on removing downtown Halifax's Cogswell Interchange and replacing it with a welcoming and vibrant neighbourhood.

The municipality has worked with many residents and consultants since the project's launch. Specifically, many aspects of the Cogswell Project's design were shaped by a public engagement program that took place in 2018 (the engagement report can be found here). Construction on the Cogswell District Project began in 2021 and regular construction updates continue to be posted here.

The need for storytelling

2018 public engagement found that there was a strong interest in celebrating the stories and cultures of Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities within the Cogswell District. These communities want more public spaces throughout the municipality that speak to and celebrate their lived history. The Cogswell District Project provides a unique opportunity to explore this need through community-driven work within an area that is connected to their history and has new public spaces.

In order to proceed, the municipality must hold community-focused engagement events with Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities to understand what storytelling (e.g., any aspect of culture, history, art, teachings, etc.) and placemaking opportunities should be pursued.

Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program (June - September 2024)

This Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program is a community-led partnership that will identify and facilitate the Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian stories and histories that should be celebrated through art and interpretation within the Cogswell District, including meaningful ways to present and locate these stories. The municipality has hired two consultants - one from each community - to lead the engagement programs during the summer of 2024. Each consultant will:

  • execute engagement that is tailored to the unique needs of each community
  • identify and facilitate the specific stories and histories that are connected to, and should be celebrated within, the Cogswell District
  • identify what forms of art, interpretation, programming, and placemaking are effective at conveying specific stories and histories
  • create an engagement program summary report that outlines the collected input and storytelling priorities
  • summarize details that a designer needs to produce and fabricate physical storytelling elements in the future (likely beginning in 2025)

African Nova Scotian and African Descent Engagement

Ignite Consulting, specifically DeRico Symonds and Kate MacDonald, are leading the African Nova Scotian / African Descent engagement program. Ignite strives to put people first, support our communities and be a catalyst for meaningful change. The duo also has significant experience in African Nova Scotian engagement and they have collaborated with the municipality on other projects.

Ignite Consulting held two engagement events with the African Nova Scotian / African Descent community (June 25 and July 24) and have met with some key community leaders to collect storytelling ideas for the project. Ignite Consulting will hold additional interviews, along with two virtual engagement sessions on Wednesday, September 11 (6-8pm) and Sunday, September 15 (1-3pm). To register for a virtual engagement event, please email info@theignitegroup.ca.

For other ways to get involved, you can leave a voicemail with your storytelling and commemoration ideas for the Cogswell District (902-490-3326) and/or request a survey link from Ignite Consulting.

Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous Engagement

Lyndsay Francis, who is of Mi’kmaw heritage and a member of the Acadia First Nation, and Kristen Elkow are leading the Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community. Lyndsay and Kristen are both professional planners who excel at community engagement, coordinating community projects and developing social policy.

As part of their engagement program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community, Lyndsay and Kristen held two storytelling circles (August 1 and 29), a virtual engagement session (August 7), and an engagement session with a local community group (August 28). This illustration (or graphic recording) includes some of the input that was collected at the August 1 event. More images to follow.

Lyndsay and Kristen are now interviewing key community elders / leaders before holding a final focus group in mid-September. If you would like to submit additional input, please email your ideas and completed engagement workbooks to Lyndsay (drop-off and mailing options are also list in the back of the workbook).


UPDATE: African Nova Scotian Virtual Engagement Sessions on September 11th and 15th
To register, please email info@theignitegroup.ca

Virtual Engagement Sessions: Ignite Consulting will hold virtual engagement sessions with African Nova Scotian and African Descent community on Wednesday, September 11 (6:00-8:00pm) and Sunday, September 15 (1:00-3:00pm). If you would like to attend, please email info@theignitegroup.ca to register. Ignite Consulting and the community will discuss the stories and aspects of culture, history & art that should be presented in the new Cogswell neighbourhood to honor the African Nova Scotian community, and build on ideas that were previously submitted by the community.


Call-in phone line: Can't attend these events? Members of the African Nova Scotian/African Descent community can call 902-490-3326 and leave Ignite Consulting a voicemail with their storytelling and commemoration ideas for the Cogswell District.

Cogswell District Project background

The Cogswell District Project is one of the largest community building projects in Halifax’s history. The project, which started in 2013, focuses on removing downtown Halifax's Cogswell Interchange and replacing it with a welcoming and vibrant neighbourhood.

The municipality has worked with many residents and consultants since the project's launch. Specifically, many aspects of the Cogswell Project's design were shaped by a public engagement program that took place in 2018 (the engagement report can be found here). Construction on the Cogswell District Project began in 2021 and regular construction updates continue to be posted here.

The need for storytelling

2018 public engagement found that there was a strong interest in celebrating the stories and cultures of Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities within the Cogswell District. These communities want more public spaces throughout the municipality that speak to and celebrate their lived history. The Cogswell District Project provides a unique opportunity to explore this need through community-driven work within an area that is connected to their history and has new public spaces.

In order to proceed, the municipality must hold community-focused engagement events with Indigenous, Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian/African Descent communities to understand what storytelling (e.g., any aspect of culture, history, art, teachings, etc.) and placemaking opportunities should be pursued.

Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program (June - September 2024)

This Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program is a community-led partnership that will identify and facilitate the Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian stories and histories that should be celebrated through art and interpretation within the Cogswell District, including meaningful ways to present and locate these stories. The municipality has hired two consultants - one from each community - to lead the engagement programs during the summer of 2024. Each consultant will:

  • execute engagement that is tailored to the unique needs of each community
  • identify and facilitate the specific stories and histories that are connected to, and should be celebrated within, the Cogswell District
  • identify what forms of art, interpretation, programming, and placemaking are effective at conveying specific stories and histories
  • create an engagement program summary report that outlines the collected input and storytelling priorities
  • summarize details that a designer needs to produce and fabricate physical storytelling elements in the future (likely beginning in 2025)

African Nova Scotian and African Descent Engagement

Ignite Consulting, specifically DeRico Symonds and Kate MacDonald, are leading the African Nova Scotian / African Descent engagement program. Ignite strives to put people first, support our communities and be a catalyst for meaningful change. The duo also has significant experience in African Nova Scotian engagement and they have collaborated with the municipality on other projects.

Ignite Consulting held two engagement events with the African Nova Scotian / African Descent community (June 25 and July 24) and have met with some key community leaders to collect storytelling ideas for the project. Ignite Consulting will hold additional interviews, along with two virtual engagement sessions on Wednesday, September 11 (6-8pm) and Sunday, September 15 (1-3pm). To register for a virtual engagement event, please email info@theignitegroup.ca.

For other ways to get involved, you can leave a voicemail with your storytelling and commemoration ideas for the Cogswell District (902-490-3326) and/or request a survey link from Ignite Consulting.

Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous Engagement

Lyndsay Francis, who is of Mi’kmaw heritage and a member of the Acadia First Nation, and Kristen Elkow are leading the Cogswell Storytelling Engagement Program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community. Lyndsay and Kristen are both professional planners who excel at community engagement, coordinating community projects and developing social policy.

As part of their engagement program with the Mi'kmaw and Urban Indigenous community, Lyndsay and Kristen held two storytelling circles (August 1 and 29), a virtual engagement session (August 7), and an engagement session with a local community group (August 28). This illustration (or graphic recording) includes some of the input that was collected at the August 1 event. More images to follow.

Lyndsay and Kristen are now interviewing key community elders / leaders before holding a final focus group in mid-September. If you would like to submit additional input, please email your ideas and completed engagement workbooks to Lyndsay (drop-off and mailing options are also list in the back of the workbook).