This episode of the African Nova Scotian Culinary series highlights the story of Chef Donna Gogan, owner of Portlander Jamaican Restaurant in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Donna shares her journey from Jamaica to Nova Scotia, bringing the bold flavours of her heritage to the Maritimes, and discusses the importance of community support, the challenges of sourcing ingredients, and the labour of love involved in preparing delicious food. The episode offers insights into how Donna's creative twists on traditional dishes have won over locals. It explores the significance of entrepreneurship and cultural cuisine in fostering community connections.

Key Topics:

1. Donna Gogan's Jamaican Roots
2. The Beauty of Port Antonio
3. Journey to Nova Scotia
4. Challenges and Ingredients
5. Community Support in Amherst
6. Future plans and advice for aspiring restaurateurs

Credits:

1. Hosted by Shawn Smith
2. Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS)
3. Special thanks to Chef Donna Gogan and Executive Producer Matthew Johnson

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!

For more information on Portlander Jamaican Restaurant:

1. https://www.facebook.com/Portlanderjamaicanrestaurantnovascotia/
2. https://portlanderjamaicanrestaurantns.com/
3. https://www.instagram.com/portlander.jamaican_resturant/

Chef Leon Hamilton joins Shawn Smith to discuss his journey in the culinary arts, rooted in African Nova Scotian traditions and innovation. Chef Leon shares stories about his inspirations, including mentors in his community, and his approach to comfort food, emphasizing complete, satisfying, and accessible meals. The conversation covers his experiences teaching youth through programs like the Fruits of Our Labour, his journey to becoming a Red Seal certified cook, and the impact of culinary arts on preserving cultural heritage.

Key Topics:

1. Chef Leon's culinary journey
2. Community and Culinary Arts
3. Becoming a Red Seal Chef
4. Comfort food vs. fine dining
5. Empowering youth through culinary skills
6. Future plans and advice for aspiring chefs

Credits:

1. Hosted by Shawn Smith
2. Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS)
3. Special thanks to Chef Leon Hamilton and Executive Producer Matthew Johnson

Key Topics:

1. Chef Leon's culinary journey
2. Community and Culinary Arts
3. Becoming a Red Seal Chef
4. Comfort food vs. fine dining
5. Empowering youth through culinary skills
6. Future plans and advice for aspiring chefs

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!

For more information on Chef Leon Hamilton:

1. https://www.instagram.com/cheffleon/
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXrNSjDcjYQ

This episode of the African Nova Scotian Culinary series, host Shawn Smith visits 'Honey Bees' in Yarmouth, a transformative cultural food hub transformed by Chef Sonia Park and Troy Lawrence. The episode explores the unique fusion of Korean, Japanese, and Thai flavours that define Honey Bees' offerings, as well as the couple's journey from Toronto back to their small-town roots. Troy discusses the importance of community involvement, respect for diverse cultures in the kitchen, and practical strategies for maintaining a successful multicultural team. The episode concludes with a heartfelt discussion about mentorship, community loyalty, and entrepreneurial advice.

Key Topics:

1. The Journey Back to Yarmouth
2. Building a Multicultural Team
3. Navigating Challenges and COVID-19
4. Future Plans and Expansion
5. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Credits:

1. Hosted by Shawn Smith
2. Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS)
3. Special thanks to Chef Sonia Park and Troy Lawerence, and Executive Producer Matthew Johnson

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!

For more information on Honey Bees:

1. https://www.honeybeesorders.ca/
2. https://www.instagram.com/honeybeesyarmouth/?hl=en
3. https://www.facebook.com/honeybeesyarmouth/

In the opening episode of the African Nova Scotian Culinary series, Shawn Smith sits down with Chef Pamela Alexander Leonforde, the passionate founder of Café Caye Mange in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Chef Pamela shares her inspiring journey from St. Lucia to Nova Scotia, the cultural significance behind her restaurant's name, and her commitment to intertwining her heritage into every dish. She reflects on the community support that helped her establish Café Caye Mange, her dedication to plant-based healing foods, and the importance of holistic health. This conversation unfolds Chef Pamela's global culinary experiences and her mission to educate and inspire through food.

Key Topics:

1. The inspiration and motivation behind the Café Caye Mange
2. Global culinary experiences and influences
3. Community Support and Overcoming Challenges
4. Changing Perceptions of Plant-Based Food
5. Healthy Eating and Cultural Shifts

Credits:

1. Hosted by Shawn Smith
2. Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS)
3. Special thanks to Chef Pamela and Executive Producer Matthew Johnson

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!

For more information on Café Caye Mange:

1. https://www.instagram.com/cafecayemange/?hl=en
2. https://www.facebook.com/p/Caf%C3%A9-Caye-Mang%C3%A9-61550916578395/

In this episode, Lynn Jones to explore the rich history and ongoing impact of the Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Collection. Lynn shares stories from her decades of activism, the challenges and triumphs of Black youth organizing in Nova Scotia, and the importance of preserving community history.

Episode Highlights:

• The origins and significance of the Lynn Jones Collection
• Black youth activism and the Black United Front
• The importance of community archives and accessibility
• Environmental racism and the fight for justice
• The ongoing movement for reparations
• The global reach of the collection and connections to sports, culture, and activism
• Intergenerational activism and advice for future leaders

This episode builds on the foundation set in Part 1, offering even more wisdom, inspiration, and practical takeaways for listeners passionate about history, culture, and community.

Credits:

• Hosted by Itai Kuwodza, Graham Nickerson, Laurice Downey and Shawn Smith
• Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) as part of the LCCS Forum
• Special thanks to the Black Cultural Center, Black Loyalist Heritage Center, and St. Mary’s University for their support

Missed Part 1? Go back and listen to the first episode in this series to get the full story!

Connect with Us:

• Listen, like, follow, and share the Loyalist Connections Podcast on your favorite platform
• Follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content

Thank you for joining us for this two-part journey. Stay connected, keep the conversation going, and help us preserve and celebrate our shared history!

Welcome to the first episode of our special two-part series on the Loyalist Connections Podcast! In this episode, we examine storytelling as both an art form and a vital tool of cultural preservation. Joining us are two distinguished scholars and community voices — Dr. Afua Cooper and Dr. Lynn Jones — who share their insights on heritage, memory, and the enduring work of documenting Black history in Nova Scotia.

What to Expect in Part 1:

• The personal journeys and community connections of Dr. Cooper and Dr. Jones
• The legacy of Black Loyalists in Canada and the Atlantic world
• The power of archives, storytelling, and oral history in preserving Black heritage
• Uncovering hidden histories: slavery in Canada, the Black United Front, and the global impact of Black Loyalists
• Reflections on activism, education, and the ongoing fight for recognition and representation

Stay Tuned: Be sure to catch Part 2, where we continue the conversation and explore even more untold stories and lessons from our guests.

Credits:

• Hosted by Itai Kuwodza, Graham Nickerson, Laurice Downey and Shawn Smith
• Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) as part of the LCCS Forum
• Special thanks to the Black Cultural Center, Black Loyalist Heritage Center, and St. Mary’s University for their support

Notable Quotes:

•  No matter if you think you're poor, you have no money, if you're here, up here, free, game up. You're free.
•  I collected because I felt that our stories were being lost. And I always give homage to pay homage to others who collected before me, and even during me.

Connect with Us:

• Listen, like, follow, and share the Loyalist Connections Podcast on your favorite platform
• Follow us on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates and behind-the-scenes content

Thank you for joining us on this journey of discovery and connection. Stay connected, and don’t miss Part 2!

In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith are joined by Erin Isaac, a PhD candidate and Renewal Coordinator for the Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum in Shelburne. The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of cultural preservation, community engagement, and the evolving interpretation of Loyalist and Black history in Nova Scotia.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to the Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum: its history, current interpretation, and the need for more accurate and inclusive storytelling.
• The importance of community consultation in museum renewal projects, including the use of surveys and outreach to ensure diverse voices are heard.
• The complexities of interpreting sites of enslavement and the story of Catherine Edwards, a woman enslaved at the Ross-Thomson House who later escaped.
• The role of language, accessibility, and collaboration in public history and academic research.
• Decolonizing historical narratives: moving beyond traditional, white-centered perspectives to include Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized voices.
• The challenges of resource limitations, institutional discomfort, and the need for ongoing, community-led change.

Credits:

• Hosted by Itai Kuwodza and Shawn Smith
• Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) as part of the LCCS Forum
• Special thanks to the Black Cultural Center, Black Loyalist Heritage Center, and St. Mary’s University for their support

Notable Quotes:

• “Growth happens at the edge of comfort. When we push just enough to make people a little uncomfortable, that’s where real change begins.”
• “Expanding the narrative, we tell doesn’t mean we’re removing other narratives. It just means we are complicating ones that have not been complicated yet.”
• “The only way we can do this work is by working together. There’s so much value in sharing what you’re learning, especially when it comes to community history.”

Connect with Us:

• Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates

In this episode, hosts Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson welcome Gabriel Jones, a seasoned museum professional with over 30 years of experience in curating Indigenous arts and visual culture across Canada and beyond. Together, they explore the intersection of cultural preservation and digital innovation—discussing the complexities of digitizing cultural resources, the importance of building community capacity, and the critical role of trust and representation in heritage work.

Episode Highlights:

• The evolving role of curators in making heritage accessible to the public
• The importance of digital platforms in accessing cultural resources
• Capacity building in communities: providing skills, tools, and confidence for digital projects
• The role of digital spaces as safe environments for sharing marginalized stories
• Building trust and meaningful relationships between heritage professionals and communities
• The complexities of identity, representation, and the African Nova Scotian experience

Credits:

• Hosted by Itai Produced by Itai Kuwodza and Graham Nickerson
• Produced by Loyalist Connections Creative Society (LCCS) as part of the LCCS Forum
• Special thanks to the Black Cultural Center, Black Loyalist Heritage Center, and St. Mary’s University for their support

Notable Quotes:

• "Digital becomes a really useful way to create content without the ridiculous expenses attached to traditional exhibitions."
• "The payoff is building capacity so that communities can sustain heritage projects and see their assets represented."
• "Digital technology is a tool—its value depends on how communities choose to use it to tell their stories."

Connect with Us:

• Follow the Loyalist Connections Podcast on Instagram @LoyalistConnectionPodcast for updates