Viola Desmond (1946 – One Seat. One Stand.)

Canadian Turning Points Series This 12 × 18 inch full-colour poster tells the story of Viola Desmond, a Nova Scotia businesswoman whose act of defiance became a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history. In 1946, Desmond refused to leave a whites-only seating section in a theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Her arrest and conviction exposed the realities of racial discrimination in Canada and helped inspire future civil rights advocacy. Combining historical imagery, a timeline of key events, and reflection prompts, the poster highlights how one individual’s courage helped challenge injustice and advance equality. Ideal for: • Black Canadian history education • library civil rights displays • social justice programming • Black History Month exhibits