TRURO, N.S. – While the stories of Art Dorrington and Willie O’Ree are well known in the hockey community, ‘Our Story: The History of Hockey and Truro’s Black Community,’ focused more on local coloured athletes who were incredibly skilled, but were overlooked for the colour of their skin.
Presented on Tuesday at the Marigold Cultural Centre, audience members were treated to displays of historic photos and newspaper articles on local black players who grew up in the Truro area, and the teams they played for.
The presentation shared stories of local coloured players such as Elmer Jones, Bert Paris and Harold Morton, who were all known for their incredibly smooth skating, but overlooked by professional teams, as well as Johnny Clyke, who was regarded as one of the fastest skaters in the game.
The presentation also gave a hat tip to current coloured athletes who are progressing in the world of hockey.
“It’s important to tell these stories and to keep them going,” said speaker Nevin Jackson, during the presentation.
“It’s important we don’t let their stories fade away, that we keep them alive.”
Related: Presentation to showcase Truro's history of hockey and its roots in the town's black communities
