History
The community traces its origins to the immigration of former African American slaves during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many have thought it was named after clergy Richard Preston, who set up 11 Baptist churches in Nova Scotia, and helped pass the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. However Richard Preston was an escaped slave from Virginia and took the name Preston from the community as Preston was where he was reunited with his mother as she had escaped slavery earlier in her life.
North Preston is the oldest and largest indigenous Black community in Canada, as well as having the highest concentration of Black Canadians across Canada. It is the home of boxers Kirk Johnson, Jason Downey and Custio Clayton.Canadian Idol finalist Kaleb Simmonds also hails from North Preston.
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Famous quotes containing the word history:
“The history of the genesis or the old mythology repeats itself in the experience of every child. He too is a demon or god thrown into a particular chaos, where he strives ever to lead things from disorder into order.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“It is the true office of history to represent the events themselves, together with the counsels, and to leave the observations and conclusions thereupon to the liberty and faculty of every man’s judgement.”
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626)
“Perhaps universal history is the history of the diverse intonation of some metaphors.”
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986)