Northwood Breaks Ground on Akoma Campus in Westphal

Building on History, Caring for the Future

WESTPHAL, NS — A proud day for care and community in Nova Scotia. Today, Northwood officially broke ground on its new Akoma Campus, a modern long-term care home being developed in Westphal through a partnership between Northwood, the Province of Nova Scotia, and Akoma Holdings Inc. — a local charitable organization with a long history of leadership and service within the African Nova Scotian community.

Located on the historic Akoma lands, the new facility will provide modern, inclusive, and compassionate care for seniors, while creating meaningful local employment and contributing to economic growth in the region. The project represents a shared commitment to community, culture, and care.

“This project is about more than building a facility — it’s about strengthening community and creating opportunity,” said Charbel Daniel, CEO of Northwood. “The Akoma Campus will provide a home where seniors can live with dignity, comfort, and belonging, while honouring the legacy of these lands and the people who have led and cared for this community for generations.”

“Our government is committed to ensuring every Nova Scotian has access to high-quality and compassionate care as they age,” said Hon. Barbara Adams, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care. “This new long-term care home is part of our work to build and replace 5,700 long-term care rooms in communities like this one across the province. This is ensuring seniors can live with dignity and comfort close to their loved ones and their communities and will help meet the needs of our growing population of seniors.”

“The Akoma long-term care home is an inspiring example of community partnership,” said Hon. Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and MLA for Preston. “These lands carry deep meaning for the African Nova Scotian community, and this project demonstrates how collaboration can honour that history while building opportunity for the future and expanding care for seniors in communities in this area.”

“At Akoma Holdings, we are committed to building homes for all generations. The new long-term care facility will be a welcoming space that is culturally appropriate for Black Nova Scotians. The Northwood Akoma Campus is a wonderful example of community partnership — two organizations coming together to address the needs of our community by providing safe spaces and meaningful employment opportunities,” said Sunday Miller, Property Consultant, Akoma Holdings Inc.

Construction of the new facility is part of the Province of Nova Scotia’s broader plan to expand and modernize 5,700 long-term care rooms across the province.

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Quick Facts:

• The Akoma Campus will provide 144 new long term care rooms for seniors in the Halifax region.

• The project will create construction and health-care jobs, supporting local economic development.

• Akoma Holdings Inc., Northwood, and the Province of Nova Scotia are working in partnership to ensure the facility reflects the cultural and historical significance of Akoma.

• This project supports Nova Scotia’s broader plan to strengthen long-term care by building and replacing homes across the province.

Heritage Context:

The Akoma Campus is located on lands that hold deep historical and cultural meaning for the African Nova Scotian community. The site was formerly home to the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children, an institution established in 1921 that played a significant role in the province’s history.

In recent years, the property has become a place of reflection, renewal, and growth under the stewardship of the Akoma Holdings Inc.—a Westphal-based charitable organization dedicated to preserving the land’s legacy and creating opportunities for community development, cultural celebration, and economic advancement.

Through this new partnership between Akoma Holdings Inc., Northwood, and the Province of Nova Scotia, the site continues its transformation into a space that reflects healing, care, and community — honouring the past while building for the future.

About Akoma

Akoma is approximately 320 acres of land in Westphal. The property was purchased by the provincial government in 1919 for the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. In 2014, the land and assets were transferred to Akoma Holdings Inc., which has created a multi-year plan for developing the land for the community.

The restoration of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children orphanage building, now called Kinney Place, was the second major project for Akoma Holdings Inc. with the restoration of the H.G. Bauld Centre being the first.

About Akoma Holdings Inc.

With a mission to provide stewardship of its assets to create economic and social opportunities for the African Nova Scotian Community and general society, Akoma Holdings Inc. is the registered charity that holds the Akoma land and assets.

About Northwood

Founded in 1962, Northwood is Atlantic Canada’s largest not-for-profit continuing care organization, providing leadership in long-term care, home care, and senior living. With a legacy of innovation and compassion, Northwood supports thousands of Nova Scotians to live more.