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Pryor (family)
Family

The Pryor family of Halifax, can be compared to the Ritchies, Almons and Johnstons, prominent loyalist Nova Scotia families, to whom they were related. The Pryors enjoyed much commercial success and held important public offices in Nova Scotia. The progenitor of the Pryor family in Halifax was Edward Pryor, a New York merchant and United Empire Loyalist, who emigrated with his family to Halifax in 1783. Subsequent generations of the Pryor family included Edward Sr. (1746-1831), his son, Edward Jr. (1768-1855), and grandson, Edward the third (1800-1873). In the nineteenth century, The Pryor family owned all the lands fronting on the Northwest Arm from Quinpool Road to South Street and various lots along the waterfront in the "south suburbs”. Especially extensive were the properties acquired by Edward Jr., whose residence was known as the “Priory," located on the north side of Jubilee Road. It was destroyed by fire ca. 1870. Edward Jr.'s brother, William (1775-1859), founded the firm of William Pryor and Sons, which, at its height, carried on the largest mercantile business in Halifax, engaged in the West India trade. Edward the third, who had also engaged in commerce, died a wealthy man, with a house and lot on Hollis Street, a wharf, many stocks and shares, and many acres of land along the Shubenacadie Canal, the Eastern Shore, and in Colchester County.

Corporate body · 1970-1977

The Committee for the Study of Legal Aid in Nova Scotia was appointed by Attorney General Richard A. Donahoe on 5 June, 1970. It was to study the existing legal aid programme in Nova Scotia, programmes in other provinces and to consult generally with the public and legal community. The committee was chaired by A. William Cox, QC and included Malachi C. Jones, QC, Edward N. Colborne, QC, John W. Alward, Murray Fraser, William D. Greatorex, Allen E. Sullivan, Gerald Conrad and David W. Thomas who acted as secretary. In 1951 the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society had commenced a legal aid service based on voluntary representation from junior members of the bar under the direction of the society's Legal Aid Committee. The Committee for the Study of Legal Aid developed from a 1968 resolution of the society which called for a joint committee with the Attorney General's Department to examine the provision of legal aid. Following the committee's report in January 1971 the government passed the Legal Aid Planning Act which authorized the government to make funding arrangements with the Barristers' Society for a paid legal aid service. In October 1971 the provincial government and the Nova Scotia Barrister's Society signed an agreement laying the foundation for a provincial legal aid program, to be known as Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Further arrangemements in 1973 brought some federal funding for criminal matters. On November 1, 1977 the Barristers' Society's direct responsibility for the service ended with the creation of the Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission, under the provisions of the Legal Aid Act. The Commission was appointed by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Attorney General, but the act stipulated that nearly half of these appointees were to be nominated by the Nova Scotia Barrister's Society.

Allen, John, 1771-1849
Person · 1771-1849

John Allen was born in Boston, Massachusetts on 11 September 1771, the son of Ebenezer Allen (1738-1816) and Meribah Frazier (1743-1804), Loyalists and Sandemanian Church refugees. The family embarked for Halifax in 1776 when Boston was evacuated by the British Army. They apparently settled on the Dartmouth side of the harbour, where Ebenezer became a prominent businessman in the Woodlawn area. Ebenezer and his son Alexander Allen, along with John Stayner, purchased a tanyard property on the old Preston road in 1795. They formed the firm of “Stayner & Allens.” This partnership dissolved in 1798 and became “Stayner & Allen,” with John Stayner and John Allen as partners. The firm continued until 1816, when the property was divided and the partnership dissolved. John Allen continued the tannery on the Old Preston Road for many years. He married Sarah Stayner (1776-1861) in St. John’s Church, Preston in 1793. They had 16 children; all except two lived to adulthood. John Allen died on 12 January 1849 in Dartmouth.

Union Engine Company
Corporate body · 1768-1896

The Union Engine Company was the first official fire fighting organization in Halifax, N.S., and was formed on 8 August 1768. It was manned by volunteers who worked under the direction of the Halifax fire wardens. On 10 May 1861, the members of the company resigned en masse following a resolution by the Halifax City Council that members should be elected by the council rather than voted into membership by the members. An advertisement for new candidates was run and the "new" Union Engine Company, known for a short time as the Volunteer Engine Company, was formed on 21 May 1861. The company was organized into divisions responsible for either engines or hoses. The Union Engine Company continued to act in a voluntary capacity until between 1894 and 1896 at which time it was re-organized under the name of the Halifax Fire Department.

Corporate body · 1983-

The Council of Nova Scotia Archives (CNSA) was incorporated on 29 June 1983 under the Societies’ Act. It was established by a core group of twenty-five institutions and individuals as a professional organization for archives and archivists in the province of Nova Scotia. The aims of the CNSA are to promote archival standards and practices, provide members with a forum for discussion, establish and maintain a network for archival co-operation and promote the importance of archives to the general public. The activities of the CNSA have included annual meetings, a variety of training and outreach advisory services, workshops which offer a grounding in the basics of archival education and from time to time offer advanced workshops on more specific archival topics, and publications such as the CNSA Newsletter. The CNSA also makes available to its members funding support for archival projects through a variety of granting agencies, as well as annual awards for archival excellence. The CNSA maintains various on-line tools, including the on-line database of descriptions of holdings in Nova Scotian archives, “ArchWay”. Today there are over 100 members, representing community archives and museums, university and religious archives, the provincial archives, heritage associations, and corporations.

Halifax Funeral Home
Corporate body · 1939-1977

The Halifax Funeral Home was incorporated under the Nova Scotia Companies Act on 30 March 1939 and was initially located at 90 Dresden Row, Halifax. In 1953, it opened a second funeral home located at 6270 Quinpool Road, Halifax. The Dresden Row funeral home closed in about 1972. Business continued at the Quinpool Road site until 1977 at which time the company ceased business. The business was operated by Francis MacDonald, Rod MacAskill and Duncan MacAskill.

Corporate body · 1988-1992

The Women's Directorate was established in 1988. It functioned as the secretariat of the provincial government's Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women (renamed the Interdepartmental Committee on Women's Issues in 1992). The directorate was created to deliver services which neither the Interdepartmental Committee nor the Advisory Council on the Status of Women provided. The directorate acted as a coordinating unit to advise and assist government departments in their delivery of programs and services affecting women, to improve the condition of women in the public service, and to maintain a record of the government's accomplishments on behalf of women. The directorate reported to the chair of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women. In August 1996, the Women's Directorate was merged into the Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Corporate body · 1975-1992

The Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women was formed in 1975 and constituted under the authority of the minister responsible for the status of women. The committee began operations in 1976 with seventeen members representing government departments with special responsibility for women's issues. It had a mandate to study provincial and federal government policies relating to women. By 1979 it included a representative from every department and selected agencies. The committee made recommendations to the minister on matters dealing with or affecting the status of women, existing and proposed legislation, existing or proposed government policies and practices, composition of the committee, and matters referred to it by the minister. In 1988 the Women's Directorate was created to maintain the committee and act as its secretariat. The committee was renamed the Interdepartmental Committee on Women's Issues in 1992.

Corporate body

The Finance Branch was responsible for budget preparation, inventory control, distribution of learning materials, coordination of capital projects, grants and audits, facilities planning, and the operation of student loan programs. In addition, it provided leadership and direction with regard to the efficient use of resources. Finance operated as an independent branch until 2001, when it became a division of the newly formed Corporate Services Branch.