Seniors Matter by Melinda Daye (NS)

November 1, 2023

No matter the age – while they lived, they gave, contributed, made a difference in not only their families but the community, their neighbours, this province.

My parents, Delmore Buddy Daye and Laura W. Daye, raised nine children. Buddy was a human rights/civil rights leader. He founded the Black Learners Advisory Committee; was a founding member of Nova Scotia’s Human Rights Committee and of Black United Front. He was Nova Scotia’s first Black (African Nova Scotian) Director Of Legislative Affairs, and Sergeant at Arms in the House of Assembly.

A Teacher Assistant in the Halifax School Board, Laura was also very active in her church, where she served as President and Secretary in various groups, and sang in choir for over sixty years! Laura, considered the Matriarch Of Maynard Street by her loving neighbours was also a member of the Nova Scotia Women’s Council, and the Nova Scotia Music Foundation (in support of young girls pursuing career in music and literature).

While both of my parents have now passed away (Buddy in 1995, and Laura in 2021), I am amazed and so appreciative of the ways in which our neighbours have commemorated their memories. Celebrating Laura, friends (Solomon Nagler and Angela Henderson) planted a beautiful pear tree outside the homestead of 2319 Maynard Street. A five storey apartment building, The Delmore, is currently under construction on Buddy Daye and Maynard Streets in Halifax north end because, its owner Fred Mina says, of “what Buddy said to me and did for me, while yet just a young new immigrant to this city.”

All this proving that the legacy of our Seniors (my parents and so very many others) makes a lasting impression.

Melinda Daye, Nova Scotia