Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

The Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia was formally established in 1753 as the first British Colonial settlement in Nova Scotia outside of Halifax. These early settlers were from various parts of Germany, Switzerland, and the Montbeliard region of France. They followed in the footsteps of earlier Mikmaq and Acadian inhabitants in the area. The economy was built on farming, fishing, ship building and ocean-based commerce, particularly in the West Indies trade. More than 200 years in fishing, ship-building and marine related industries has provided Lunenburg with a strong economic base.

  

Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic commemorates the fishing heritage of the Atlantic coast of Canada and has recently been named as one of the top 1000 best places to see in the US and Canada before you die. Housed in brightly painted red buildings, with floating vessels at wharfside, the Museum offers a host of attractions.  Retired fishermen and experienced Heritage Interpreters accentuate the experience of visiting the Museum. Entertaining activities and demonstrations take place daily throughout the full season from mid- May to mid-October.

 Vintage sail making shop

 Talk on lobster seasons and how they are caught and sized

 We learned how a ship is launched

 Demonstration on scallop shucking

 Try a bite as fresh as you can get

It starts like this

And ends like this

Blue  Nose II

 Nova Scotia's famous sailing ambassador is undergoing a major rebuild during 2010 & 2011 to ensure its legacy for many years to come. Bluenose II will return to sailing in the summer of 2012. The project is taking place at the Lunenburg Shipyard, site of the construction of Bluenose in 1921. The work is being carried out by the Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance consisting of Snyder's Shipyard, Covey Island Boatworks & Lunenburg Industrial Foundry & Engineering.

Ironworks Distillery was founded way back in 2009

 In June 2009, Pierre Guevremont and Lynne MacKay walked into The Blacksmith’s Shop in Lunenburg and immediately knew they had found the spot. In this workshop at the corner of Montague and Kempt streets, a marine blacksmith by the name of Thomas Walters produced ironworks for shipbuilders all along the South Shore.  The blacksmith’s shop produced hardware for both Bluenose schooners as well as a Hollywood version of HMS Bounty (the one that boasted Brando as chief mutineer). In the summer of 2009 they began renovating to create a working area for their German-made still, as well as a tasting and shopping venue for future customers. They took care to preserve the unique historical character of this late-19th-century building, which is one of the landmarks of the Old Town. Three months later, their first batch of vodka made its way from an unassuming copper tube to a few testing glasses on their kitchen table and they toasted the birth of Ironworks Distillery.

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

 The Town of Mahone Bay was first settled in 1754 and was incorporated as a town in 1919. The town boundaries and population have changed little over the past two hundred and fifty years. They are well known as one of the most picturesque small towns in the province. One of their greatest assets is the harbour and their access to the sea. It is one of the three towns located in Lunenburg County.  There is no image more frequently associated with the Town of Mahone Bay than its waterfront three churches.  Present a picture of the Anglican, Lutheran and United churches, perched on the edge of the Atlantic, to most anyone across the continent and, more often than not, the scene will be recognized instantly as that beautiful little town in Nova Scotia - Mahone Bay.