N.S. tourism company focusing on Black cultural sites granted licence after pushback

A new tourism company that will offer tours of Black heritage sites and charters to cultural events around Nova Scotia has been granted its licence after facing pushback from competitors.

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board approved a motor carrier licence for Ayomikun Bus Charters on June 20.

"It was almost like finding out you won the lottery, for me personally," Dalton Cain, vice-president of Ayomikun Bus Charters, told CBC Radio's Information Morning Halifax. "That overwhelming feeling of OK, now we're able to start and do something that we all genuinely put our blood, sweat and tears into just putting it all together and getting it underway."

Cain, along with friends Kevin Brooks and Peter Field, started the company last December with the goal of making Black history more accessible through bus tours.

But during their licence application process, the new company faced opposition from tourism competitors, who said there isn't a market for African Nova Scotian cultural tours. They also had concerns about "overcapacity within the industry for existing operators."

The review board disagreed, noting in its decision that "there is a niche Black cultural market in this province."

"This market is not being fully served by the existing carriers," the decision said.

Cain said while the situation was mentally draining, he's pleased with the end result.

"There were organizations who were trying to prevent us from obtaining a licence, reaching a demographic of people who are underserved — specifically speaking of our community, the Black communities — so in doing that, it was just overwhelmingly frustrating at some times," he said.

"But the support that we had from community and one another, it helped us stay grounded."

Kevin Brooks, president of Ayomikun Bus Charters, said that support is what kept them optimistic. 

"We went through some pains, but it made us stronger. And as a team it made us stronger, and we're better because of it," he said.

Ayomikun means 'full of joy'

Peter Field, co-owner and manager of Ayomikun Bus Charters, said he and his partners are feeling joyful now that the licence has been approved.

It's a fitting feeling, he said, because Ayomikun means "full of joy" in the Nigerian language of Yoruba.

"That's our intentions for people who take our tours. That they will have a joyful experience and get off the bus full of joy," Field said.

Brooks said the company is working to source two buses, with hopes of being on the road by Aug. 1 for Emancipation Day.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.