How Does the Government of Canada Apologize: Analyzing the Halifax Regional Municipality's Apology for the Destruction of Africville

<p dir="ltr">This major research paper examines how the Canadian government conceptualizes historical trauma and healing in its official apologies. This study focuses on the 2010 apology by Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) for the destruction of Africville. Africville was founded in the mid-18th century and was a predominantly Black, self-sufficient community. In 1960, the City of Halifax demolished the community. Many have expressed that this was an act of racism after decades of neglect and the placement of undesirable services there. To explore the HRM apology, this paper uses a critical analysis to analyze the rhetorical strategies used and evaluates any post-apology actions. A comparative analysis examines the public's perception of the apology's media coverage. This research sheds light on underrepresented Black Canadian history, the role of apologies in reconciliation, tangible actions toward healing historical wounds, Canada's relationship with apologies, and the media's influence.</p>