COVER STORY
“Queer all year” Celebrating Pride season in the Halifax business community — and moving beyond it By Emily Bednarz ALL IMAGES CONTRIBUTED
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ccording to recent census data from Statistics Canada, Nova Scotia leads the country in gender-diversity. About one in every 300 people identify as trans or non-binary in our province, and Halifax is the second most gender-diverse city in all of Canada. On the one hand, this data serves as an excellent prompt to promote 2SLGBTQ+ initiatives and businesses in our city, especially during Pride season. On the other hand, it can feel like every month brings its own hashtag. What does meaningful change, all year long, look like? In this cover story, we celebrate and promote 2SLGBTQ+ businesses, and how we can weave Pride into our everyday business practices. Every business owner we spoke with identified actionable ways the business community can meaningfully affect change in our 2SLGBTQ+ community. Given the recent census data mentioned above, it is imperative that the local business community acknowledges Pride season, but — perhaps more importantly — that we grow beyond it.
Eastern Shore’s Gallery easternshoresgallery.com Eastern Shore’s Gallery first opened its doors during the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2022, owner Anthea Taljaard purchased a new premises in Head of Chezzetcook — the former St. Barnabas church. The historic building is a fitting place for the eclectic gallery, which brings together Taljaard’s love of art, diversity, and business. “I love finding the beauty inherent in life,” she says. “Art embodies that for me, and as I have a business degree, it's been wonderful to make a living creating and doing what I find pleasure in.” Taljaard was born and raised in South Africa, meeting her wife in the Middle East before settling on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. She aims to attract more people to the area by way of the gallery. “Our purpose is to promote the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia and
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“Business can play a role in opening minds to accommodate and embrace that which is different among us, not as an anomaly to be entertained, but rather as a strength and complement to a community. Business can be powerful and enabling when it chooses.” — Anthea Taljaard Eastern Shore’s Gallery Canada as a diverse, vibrant, and creative tourist destination,” says Taljaard. “We use art and our in-house artists and staff to do this.” The pandemic brought its challenges to Taljaard, along with finding and the right team members and acceptance in parts of the community. The new space, however, has fostered a new sense of belonging for Taljaard. “Moving to our own premises and being unhindered in our ability to create something unique to us, inside of a strong Chezzetcook community, has helped with acceptance and feeling that we belong,” she says. Creating a welcoming space has been liberating for Taljaard. “Everyone is J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 2
welcome with us,” she says. “I love being able to provide a fully inclusive social and business space in the gallery and host events that openly reflect this.” In April 2022, Taljaard added a South African Kitchen to the space. The kitchen serves up authentic South African street food and functions as a “mini multicultural hub,” says Taljaard. The gallery team is now planning on opening a permanent outdoor barbeque space that will host concerts, markets, and other events. “We are a one-stop destination for shopping, arts and crafts, and delicious food,” says Taljaard. “If you have not had an opportunity to come out, please pop by!”
