Elevating and exploring Black N.S.
Travel-lover invites the world and locals to discover Nova Scotia’s Black culture
Growing up in Truro on
West Prince Street (a.k.a. The Island), Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia founder René Boudreau has been privy to the province’s Black experience her entire life. With historical ties to Africville, Shelburne and East Preston (her current home), the travel-loving social worker knows a side of the region’s history she says isn’t heavily promoted outside of the province — evidenced by her international journeys.
“In my travels, I would always meet people from different cultures, and they would ask me where I’m from. I would tell them I’m from Nova Scotia, and most times I would get the question, ‘there’s Black people in Nova Scotia?’” says Boudreau, who has been to Cuba, San Diego, Turks and Caicos, Miami and more. “To me, that was very surprising because not only are there Black people living here, but we’ve been here for over 400 years, and we have a lot of rich and unique history that has shaped the province.”
Taken aback by learning the international awareness of Nova Scotia’s Black community was low, Boudreau knew something had to be done to showcase the province — in its entirety.
“I did some soul-searching, and I was like, ‘what am I most passionate about?’,” says Boudreau, who has served alongside non-profits such as Black Business Initiative, YWCA Halifax and Mulgrave
Park Caring and Learning Centre. “Community is one
... and then travel. I love to travel — the countdown, the going, the coming back — I love it all.”
Inspired by Travel Noir, an online platform highlighting Black travellers (for which Boudreau herself has written), the prospect of developing a space to promote the region to Black travellers seeking a cultural experience appealed to her.
“I was thinking (about what I could) create that would reach more people across the world to show them that, ‘yes, we are in fact here and you should come visit and see (for) yourself,’” says Boudreau, who made her first Instagram post under the Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia name in December 2019.
Consulting friends and family for recommendations concerning sites, restaurants and activities in the province, Boudreau created the account to appeal to prospective firsttime visitors, provide education and display Black people participating in travel-based aesthetics within Nova Scotia.
“The goal of my Instagram was really to showcase Black people exploring the province and doing different, adventurous and touristy types of things,” says Boudreau, noting, at one point, people of colour in Nova Scotian travel materials and brochures were a rarity. “I looked at it more as a travel community.”
By summer 2020, amid worldwide movements following the death of George Floyd in the United States, online platforms highlighting Black voices such as Boudreau’s gained more attention. However, amid the voyagehalting COVID-19 pandemic, Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia pivoted to become what it is today — a travel-based community encouraging out-of-province Black travellers to visit Nova Scotia (when it’s safe) while encouraging locals to explore their backyards.
Brands and organizations have also taken note of the platform. Attracting the attention of I Heart Bikes in summer 2020, Elevate and Explore Nova Scotia partnered to offer a guided bike tour exploring Black history with stops at Citadel Hill, Africville, Uniacke Square and more — which sold out. Additionally, Boudreau has worked alongside Tourism Nova Scotia, participating in excursions to the South Shore and more (as pandemic restrictions allow), providing an opportunity for herself and her friends to populate social media with travel-based images featuring people of colour.
“With posting pictures of people in the province, so many people from here have told me, ‘your page is such a great resource for places to go visit,’” says Boudreau. “(I) could post a picture of somebody at the Gypsum Mines in Cape Breton and (followers) are like, ‘now I want to go there because I see somebody that looks like me that that went there.’”
With a vision to one day provide travel agency-like services, including offering various tours, experiences, vacation planning and giving visitors information about Black-owned businesses and Airbnbs, Boudreau remains motivated.
“I’m still in the stages of building my foundation,” says Boudreau, who is also working on a website set to hopefully launch soon. “When things do open back up and go back to the norm, then
I’ll be more prepared. And when people are travelling again, I feel like I’ll be more established in my business to be able to offer more for the people coming.”
“I believe that with more representation and more awareness of our history here in Nova Scotia, that we will eventually become a top tourist destination for Black travellers because Black travelers are looking for a cultural experience,” says Boudreau, who notes while her travelbased platform focuses on Black travellers, it’s open to all people. “If only they knew how much history is actually here, then they would be more inclined to talk to visit.”
Meanwhile, as Boudreau maintains hope for Nova Scotia to become a top tourist destination for Black travellers, she knows the potential exists and remains committed to helping its many cultural facets shine.
“We have what the Black traveller is looking for,” says Boudreau. “It’s just a matter of coming up with ways to showcase that and to offer that to people.”
To learn more about Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia, visit: instagram.com/ elevateandexploreblackns.