Sometimes resistance begins with something as simple as refusing to accept that you are less deserving of dignity.
Viola Desmond was more than a businesswoman. She became an enduring symbol of resistance to anti-Black racism in Canada. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1914, Desmond was an entrepreneur, beautician, and educator. She built a successful beauty business and established a beauty school that helped Black women gain skills and economic independence at a time when opportunities were limited by racial and gender discrimination.
In November 1946, while traveling through New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Desmond’s car broke down. While waiting for repairs, she went to the Roseland Theatre. After purchasing a ticket, she sat on the main floor. She was told that her ticket was for the balcony, the section designated for Black patrons. Desmond refused to leave her seat.She was forcibly removed from the theatre, arrested, and charged with a tax offence. Rather than accept what had happened, Desmond challenged her conviction in court. Although her legal challenge was unsuccessful, her case became an important part of Canada’s history of resistance to racial segregation and anti-Black racism. Her experience reminds us that discrimination is not always obvious. It can be embedded in policies, practices, institutions, and social norms that determine who is welcomed, who is heard, and who is given access to opportunity.
In 2010, the Province of Nova Scotia formally apologized to Desmond and granted her a posthumous free pardon.In 2018, she became the first Canadian woman and the first Black person to be featured alone on a regularly circulating Canadian banknote—the $10 note. But Viola Desmond’s legacy is about more than a banknote. It is about the courage to challenge injustice, the importance of standing up for dignity, and the possibility that one person’s actions can contribute to lasting social change.
<h5>Our Story</h5>
At Peramind, we believe that building equitable communities requires more than recognizing barriers. It requires creating spaces where people can participate, learn, lead, and have their voices heard and experiences valued.
Viola’s story invites us to reflect on our own communities:
Who has access to opportunity?
Whose experiences are being heard?
What barriers remain?
And what can each of us do to help remove them?
Inclusion is not simply about giving someone a seat. It is about creating a space where they belong, their voice matters, and they can participate fully.
Join the Conversation.
Are you an educator, mentor, healthcare professional, or community leader?
How do you create spaces where the people you serve feel respected, heard, and included?
Do you know someone who is creating more equitable opportunities in your community?
Share their story or tag them. Let’s recognize the people who are helping to build communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong and thrive.
Nominate a Voice for the next edition of ‘Our Story’ – Let’s amplify the story of those who have greatly impacted you. Submit your Hero