The city of Halifax will honor Dr. Alfred Waddell, a pioneering physician and civil rights advocate, by naming a street after him. Waddell is celebrated for his commitment to providing medical care to underserved communities and championing racial justice.

Dr. Alfred Waddell Street will be situated in the new Cogswell District, close to Brunswick Street, where Waddell lived, worked, and volunteered from the 1930s until his death in 1953. His family has welcomed the announcement, with his grandson, Dr. Ron Milne, expressing pride in this overdue recognition. Milne noted that his grandfather was an unsung hero who made a significant impact in his community.

Waddell, born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1896, moved to Halifax to study at Dalhousie University, becoming one of the first Black doctors to graduate in 1933. He opened his first practice in what is now the Black Educators Association and was known for making house calls to historically Black neighborhoods, including the Prestons, Africville, and Beechville. During the 1930s polio outbreak, he provided essential immunizations, often relying on borrowed vehicles to reach patients.

Milne shared that Waddell often received payment in the form of chickens and eggs, reflecting the financial difficulties many faced at the time.

Waddell gained national recognition for his role in treating Viola Desmond after her arrest in 1946 for sitting in a whites-only section of a theater. He actively advocated for her cause, writing to provincial and federal governments in an effort to overturn her conviction. Additionally, he played a key role in desegregating the Halifax Common swimming pool after one of his sons faced racial discrimination there.

Beyond medicine, Waddell contributed to the Black community through journalism, writing for the Clarion and the Negro Citizen, two newspapers he helped establish.

The Halifax Regional Municipality noted that naming a street after Waddell seeks to honor the cultural significance and contributions of the African Nova Scotian community. Although his name was previously considered to replace Cornwallis Street, the honor ultimately went to Nora Bernard.

Lalita Krishna, the writer and director of the documentary Before His Time, remarked on Waddell’s forward-thinking approach to social issues and healthcare, highlighting the challenges he faced due to racial discrimination during his medical training.

As Dr. Milne carries on his grandfather’s legacy through initiatives like the Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative—providing culturally specific healthcare to Black men—he emphasizes that the struggle for equity continues. He pointed out the persistent inequities and disparities affecting many aspects of life.

The dedication of Dr. Alfred Waddell Street serves not only as a tribute to a remarkable individual but also as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality in healthcare and beyond.

  Halifax