B

Baptism
a Christian sacrament marked by a ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community
Baptize
to administer baptism
Back To Africa Movement
universal negro improvement association based on entrepreneurial spirit. It encouraged Black people to be empowered and determine their own destiny. The UNIA played a unifying role within the community as it provided an example, focus and spirit, and continued to act as a catalist for positive change. The association also had status within the community and gave legitimacy to the efforts of the Black community. Marcus Garvey was the leader of the UNIA and while he represented the organization, it was his ideals that people tried to emulate.
Bagpipes
a wind instrument consisting of a reed, melody pipe, and from ome to five drones, with air supplied continuously either by a bag with valve-stopped mouth tube, or by bellows
Bard
composer, singer, or declaimer of heroic verse
Baroque
of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of artistic expression prevalent in the 17th century, that is marked generally by extravagant forms and elaborate ornamentation and specifically also in architecture by dynamic opposition and the use of curved and plastic figures, in music by improvisation, contrasting effects, and in literature by complexity of form and bizarre, ingenious and often ambiguous imagery
Barracks
a building or set of buildings usually used for housing soldiers; a building that provides housing
Barter
to trade by exchanging one commodity for another
Basque
one of a people of obscure origin inhabiting the western Pyrenees on the Bay of Biscay; the language of the Basques
Barracks
a building or set of buildings usually used for housing soldiers; a building that provides housing
Bastions
a fortified area or position
Bazaar
A fair or sale at which miscellaneous articles are sold, often for charitable purposes.
Belgium
a country in western Europe bordering on the North Sea, a monarchy
Belfries
a room in which a bell is hung in a tower
Benefactor
one that makes a gift or bequest
Bequest
something bequeathed; bequeathed: to give or hand down by will
Bicentennial
a 200th anniversary or its celebration
Benefactor
one that makes a gift or bequest
Benevolent
organized for the purpose of doing good; marked by or disposed to doing good
Black Loyalists
former slaves from the United States who sought protection under the British and served the Loyalist cause against the Americans during the War of Independence
Blessed
honored in worship; held in reverence; of or enjoying happiness; bringing pleasure or contentment
Blockhouse forts
a structure of heavy timbers formerly used for military defense with sides loopholed and pierced for gunfire and often with a projecting upper story
Bicentenary
a 200th anniversary or celebration
Boston Marathon
cross-country footrace of 26 miles, 385 yards.
Boundary
something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent of; a separating line
Boxing
the art of attack and defense with the fists practiced as a sport
British
the people of Great Britain or the British Commonwealth
Bronze
an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements
Buddhist
Buddhism: a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Buddha, that suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by mental and moral self-purification
Buttresses
a projecting structure of stone or wood for giving support or stability to a wall or building.
Byzantine
a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire of the 5th and 6th centuries.

C
Cache
a hiding place for concealing and preserving provisions or implements; a secure place for storage; something hidden or stored in a cache
Cairn
a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark
Calvinism
the belief that salvation was attainable through individual faith alone without the need to worship through a church hierarchy
Canadian Pacific Railway
incorporated in 1881, the commencement of a transcontinental railway was a condition of British Columbia's entry into confederation in 1871. Difficulty in obtaining workers led to the controversial immigration of large numbers of Chinese labourers. The first through train left in 1886.
Canso Causeway
Built in the early 1950's the causeway was designed to carry rail and highway traffic between mainland Nova Scotia and the island of Cape Breton. Completed in 1955, it created year round ice-free ports for major towns along the Strait of Canso.
Canonical
conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure; canon: a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council; a body of principles, rules, standards or norms
Cantonese
a native or inhabitant of Canton, China; a dialect of Chinese
Calligraphy
a beautiful or elegant handwriting; the art of producing such writing
Campaign
a connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result
Carding & Spinning Wool
carding: to cleanse, disentangle, and collect together fibres, by the use of a card, to prepare for spinning; spinning: to draw out and twist fibre into yarn or thread
Caribbean
the area of (and countries within this area) the Atlantic bounded on the north and east by the West Indies, south by South America, and west by Central America
Carnage
the flesh of something slain; great and bloody slaughter
Casements
a fortified position or chamber or an armoured enclosure on a warship from which guns are fired through embrasures
Cathedral
a church that is the official seat of a diocesan bishop
Catholic
see Roman Catholics
Catholic Church
see Roman Catholic
CBC
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was established as a crown corporation in 1936 and is one of the world's major public broadcasting organizations. The CBC operates radio, FM stereo and television networks in English and French; regional and local TV in both languages; broadcasts locally produced programming; televises the House of Commons; and provides closed captioning for the deaf.
Ceilidh
an Irish or Scottish social gathering with traditional music, dancing, and storytelling
Cellar
basement
Celtic
of, relating to, or characteristic of the Celts or their language; a group of Indo-European languages usually subdivided into Brythonic and Goidelic and now largely confined to Brittany, Wales, western Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, and the Isle of Man
Cenotaph
a tomb or monument erected in honor of a person or group of persons whose remains are elsewhere
Census
a complete enumeration (count) of a population
Centenary
one hundred
Centennial
a 100th anniversary or its celebration
Chancel
the part of a church containing the altar and seats for the clergy and choir
Chaplain
A member of the clergy attached to a branch of the armed forces.
Charismatic
having or exhibiting charisma; charisma: a special magnetic charm or appeal
Charitable
full of love for and goodwill towards others; merciful or kind in judging others
Chieftains
a chief of a band, tribe or clan
Chinese Exclusion Act
Despite the fact the Chinese labourers had made significant contributions to the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway (from the start of construction in 1880, over a five year period, 15,700 Chinese were recruited) after the railway was completed the government undertook a series of legal measures designed to both deter and profit from Chinese immigration. The Chinese Immigration Act placed a head tax on all Chinese entering Canada. Repeatedly increased, it amounted to $500 in 1904 - the equivalent of 2 years of labour. In spite of this, by 1921 the population of Chinese in Canada increased from 17,043 in 1901 to 36,924. In 1923, due to immense pressure from white Canadians the government passed the Chinese Immigration (Exclusion) Act. This Act prohibited the entry of all Chinese into Canada with the exception of diplomats, children born in Canada, university students and merchants. Not until China and Canada became war-allies in 1941 was the attitude towards Chinese Canadians changed. The Exclusion Act was repealed in May 1947.
Chinese
a native or inhabitant of China; a group of languages used by the people of China; China: a country in Eastern Asia, a republic since 1912. Chinese immigration to Canada started in 1858 associated with the gold rush. Mostly young peasants, the first community developed on the west coast but spread across Canada. Major periods of immigration were 1858-1924 and since 1947, and reflect changes in Canadian immigration policies.
Christian
one who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ
Chronicles
a usually continuous and detailed historic account of events arranged in order of time and without interpretation
Church of England
see Anglican
Circulating
to pass from person to person or place to place
clan system
a Celtic group, especially in the Scottish Highlands comprising a number of households whose heads claim descent from a common ancestor; a system of living according to the belief in clans
Cloistered
an area within a monastery or convent which is normally restricted to the religious; a monastic establishment
Coke Ovens
coke: the residue of coal left after the destructive distillation and used as a fuel
Colonial
made or prevailing in America during the colonial period; control by one power over a dependant area or people
Colony
a body of people living in a new territory but retaining ties with the parent state
Commemorate
to mark by ceremony or observation
Commission
a formal written warrant granting the power to perform various acts or duties; an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts
Compensation
payment
Complacency
self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies; unconcerned
Conductor
one that collects fairs in a public conveyance
Confluence
the place of meeting of two streams
Confederation
an alliance; a league or compact for mutual support or common action
Congregants
persons gathering for worship and religious instructions; a religious community
Congregation
an assembly of persons gathering for worship and religious instructions; a religious community
Congregationalists
those who believed in local autonomous church governance, and had been influenced by the Great Awakening, a spiritual revival movement in New England that lasted from 1727-1746
Conjecture
conclusion deduced by surmise or guesswork, an inference from defective or presumptive evidence
Consecrated
dedicated to a sacred purpose
Consequence
something produced by a cause; the result of a set of conditions
Conservation
a careful preservation and protection of something
Contagious
communicable by contact; passed along through contact with others
Contemporary
happening, living, existing, or coming into being during the same period of time
Contemporaries
happening, existing or coming into being during the same period of time
Continent
one of the six or seven great divisions of land on the globe
Convent
a local community or house of a religious order, especially an establishment of nuns
Converted
to bring over from one belief, view, or party to another
Co-operative Movement
A social and economic movement which emerged in Europe as a reaction to 19th century industrialization. Co-operative organizations followed a set of principles defined in 1884 by co-operators in England. Important principles include: members each have one vote regardless of investment made, anyone could join, surpluses or profits distributed according to level of participation, and co-ops would undertake educational activities for their members. The First stable store or society was developed in Stellarton, N.S., in 1861. Others appeared briefly from Cape Breton to Victoria. Farmers were the first Canadians to successfully develop co-ops.
Cooperative housing
housing develop along co-operative principles
Corrupt
to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions
Cosmopolitan
composed of persons, constituents, or elements from all or many parts of the world; having worldwide rather than limited or provincial scope or bearing
Craftspeople
a person who practices a trade or handicraft, one who creates with skill or dexterity
Crete
the island of Greece in the eastern Mediterranean
Crown
The power, position, or empire of a monarch or of a state governed by constitutional monarchy.
crypts
a chamber, as a vault, wholly or partly underground
Culinary
of or relating to the kitchen or cooking
Culminating
to bring to a head or to the highest point
Cultural
Of or related to culture.
Cupola
a small structure built on top if a roof
Curator
one that has the care and superintendence of something
Custodian
one that guards and protects
Customs
a usage or practice common to many, or to a particular place, or class, or habits of an individual

D
Deal
Fir and Pine wood. Such boards or planks considered as a group.
Debates
To engage in a formal discussion or argument.
Debut
a first appearance
Deceased
no longer living; dead
Deconsecrated
to remove the sacred character of
Dedicated
To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes, consecrate
Deed
a signed paper that contains some legal transfer, bargain or contract
Deity
divinity; God; supreme being; one exalted or revered as supremenly good or powerful
Non-Denominational
adhering to no fixed denomination
Descendants
proceeding from an ancestor or source
Designated
to indicate and set apart for a specific purpose, office or duty
Dismantled
to take to pieces; to disassemble
Displaced
to remove from the usual or proper place; to expel or force to flee from home or homeland
Distinguished
marked by eminence, distinction, or excellence
Defunct
having finished the course of life or existence
Democracy
a government in which the supreme power is vested with the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodic free elections
Denominations
a general name for a category; a religious organization uniting in a single legal and administrative body a number of local congregations
Deported
to send out of the country by legal deportation, to banish; deportation: the removal from a country of an alien whose presence if unlawful
Deportation of the Acadians
Attempt by the British to remove French Acadian settlers from Nova Scotia in 1755. Settlers had been there since the French arrived in 1610. Control of Nova Scotia had changed hands repeatedly prior to 1755, with the territory being claimed by both English and French. In the 1750s England wanted to remove the threat of rebellion by the French Catholic settlers for good. Under the pretext of the colonists refusal to swear an unconditional oath of allegiance to England, Acadians were gathered and deported. Many Acadians returned to Nova Scotia during the 1760s.
Destitute
lacking possessions and resources; suffering extreme want
Devout
devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises; ernest; sincere
Dharma
the basic principles of cosmic or individual existence; conforming to one's duty and nature (comes from Hinduism & Buddhism)
Diaspora
people settled far from their ancestral homelands
Dignitaries
one who possesses exalted rank or who holds a position of dignity or honour
Diocese
an administrative division; the territorial jurisdiction of a Bishop
Discrimination
the granting of/and or denying of certain rights to certain people; prejudiced outlook, action or treatment
Disparate
made up of different elements; distinct in quality or character
Displaced
to remove from the usual or proper place; to expel or force to flee from home or homeland
Dispossessed
deprived of homes, possessions or occupancy
Distinguished
marked by eminence, distinction, or excellence
Distinction
difference
Diversity
variety; balance; varied operations
Dragon
a mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent with a crested head and enormous claws
Dysentery
a disease characterized by severe diarrhea and passage of mucus and blood and usually caused by infection

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