An Environmental Rights Interview with Louise Delisle

Jun 20

This interview is part of a series conducted by Maryjane Sexton—a law student at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University—who volunteered with East Coast Environmental Law during the 2024-2025 academic year and supported our environmental rights advocacy in Nova Scotia.

June 20, 2025

By Maryjane Sexton

In February, I connected with community advocate Louise Delisle, the current co-chair of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), through an email exchange. Having spoken with Vanessa Hartley and Darlene Cooper, two other members of the CEJ Board, earlier in the month, I had already been introduced to the work being done by this new environmental organization. I was thrilled to hear from Louise and gain her perspective on the interconnected nature of environmental justice, environmental racism, and community support.

Louise’s contributions to human rights in Nova Scotia cannot be understated. In addition to her role at the CEJ, she is the founder of SEED—the South End Environmental Injustice Society—which was awarded the 2018 Nova Scotia Human Rights Award for its work addressing environmental concerns in the African Nova Scotian community of Shelburne.

An outspoken advocate addressing environmental racism in Shelburne’s Black community, Louise is also a playwright, a published author of Back Talk: Plays of Black Experience, and a respected African Nova Scotian community leader. Her extensive work includes serving on the Advisory Council for Shelburne Regional High School, working as a Community Liaison Officer with The Black Loyalist Heritage Society under the leadership of Elizabeth Cromwell, facilitating the Black Women’s Health Project for McMaster University and Dalhousie University’s School of Nursing, and serving on the Shelburne Community Health Board.

Louise explained that the CEJ was established as a centre for support, describing it as “a comfort zone for the Black community” to address environmental issues in a “culturally sensitive manner.” When asked about the kinds of support the CEJ aims to provide, she highlighted “support for climate change preparedness, health advice, educational support, and mental health support” as part of the organization’s mandate.

I was curious about how legislation—specifically, East Coast Environmental Law’s proposed Environmental Bill of Rights and Responsibilities—fits into this mandate. I asked Louise if there were particular aspects of the Bill that aligned with her work. She emphasized that “the right to a healthy environment is one concept that fits with the plans, goals, and visions we see for the CEJ.” Throughout her answers, the themes of partnership and community connection emerged as central to her vision for achieving true environmental justice.

Still feeling the effects of the town dump’s placement in Shelburne in the early 1940s, Louise described environmental justice as “fighting for reparations for exposure to environmental racism.” She explained that environmental racism—defined as any practice that harms the health of Black communities through environmental factors—is something she has been dealing with “all her life.”

A consistent thread throughout Louise’s responses was the importance of community engagement and advocacy. For her, environmental justice is deeply rooted in her connection to Shelburne. She continually emphasized that to champion environmental rights, one must invest in the people and places that surround them. This sentiment echoes the perspectives of Vanessa and Darlene—environmental justice work cannot and should not be conducted in isolation.

As I reflected on this email exchange with Louise, it became clear that environmental justice is about community, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of a better future for all. Though our conversation was conducted entirely through written responses, the passion in Louise’s words was unmistakable. Her insights reinforced the importance of collective action and community-driven policy advocacy in the fight for environmental justice. The work being done by the CEJ serves as a testament to the power of grassroots organizing, ensuring that Black communities in Nova Scotia have a voice in shaping their environmental futures.