Today, Darrell Samson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook, commemorated the national historic significance of the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (CHLM) with a special ceremony to unveil a plaque at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.
Created in 1895 in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes evolved from a small ice hockey league formed by African Canadian Baptist community leaders and intellectuals during a time of racial discrimination in sports and Canadian society into a competitive all-Black Maritime hockey league. The CHLM was the first and only all-Black men's ice hockey league in Canada and is an example of how African Canadian communities fought for equality and social change.
For 30 years, the CHLM entertained multiracial crowds and impressed journalists with its fast and innovative brand of hockey. The league was highly competitive and eventually expanded in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The league and its players, however, endured racism on and off the ice. Racism and economic hardships eventually led to the league's decision to disband and reorganize in the 1920s, with a few teams continuing to compete into the 1930s.
CHLM players have inspired generations of Black youth to hone their athletic skills and eventually to compete at the highest levels. The CHLM illustrates how African Canadian communities in the Maritimes fought for equality in sports and used hockey to advance social change in Canada.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant people, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians and youth connect with their past. The designation process under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,260 designations have been made nationwide. National historic designations illustrate the defining moments in the story of Canada. Together, they tell the stories of who we are and connect us to our past, enriching our understanding of ourselves, each other, and our country.
Today's unveiling ceremony is part of a larger weekend of activities being hosted by the Black Ice Hockey and Sports Hall of Fame Society and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia to celebrate and commemorate the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes. Celebrations coincide with Black History Month in Canada.
