Page 28 - Express Travel World

DESTINATION OUTBOUND

Nova Scotia's maritime legacy

One of Canada's three maritime provinces that form Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia has a long
history of shipping. Nowhere is this more prominent than in Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, two
scenic port towns close to Halifax, the provincial capital. From the much photographed
lighthouse in Peggy's Cove to Bluenose, Nova Scotia's sailing ambassador, the province has
many treasures to discover

By Steena Joy

alifax, Nova Scotia's
capital, is one of the
only two natural har-
Hbours in the world,
the other being Sydney. No won-
der then that nearly two hun-
dred thousand cruise-ship pas-
sengers from around the world
flow through the Port of Halifax
each year. They are welcomed
by the skirl of bagpipes as the
78th Highlanders perform the
traditional dockside greeting
that has won many awards.
Halifax has another claim to
fame - most people don’t know
that one-third of James
Cameron’s 1997 epic motion
picture Titanic was filmed in
Halifax. Also, that 200 victims of
the ship tragedy remain buried
in different cemeteries here.
While the sinking of the great
ship took place in the North At-
lantic international waters, Nova
Scotia’s capital was the crucial
base for most of the recovery ef- and is considered to be the best same men who had constructed
forts. surviving planned British colo- her mother before her. Bluenose
Almost five hours away is the nial town in North America. II was sold to the government of
famous Bay of Fundy, known for The famous schooner Nova Scotia for $1 in 1971 by the
the highest tides in the world Bluenose which brought in Oland family of Halifax and has
and the rarest whales. record catches and raced unde- served as Nova Scotia’s tall ship
feated in international competi- sailing ambassador ever since.
Lasting heritage of tion for 17 years, was built here As you walk along the town's
Lunenburg in 1921 by Smith and Rhuland. picturesque waterfront, dotted
Closer to Halifax, almost an The Bluenose had become the with boats anchored there, you
hour away, is Lunenburg, a UN- pride of Nova Scotians and in see the Fishermens’ Memorial
ESCO World Heritage port town 1937, the Canadian dime was on Bluenose Drive unveiled on
which in the 19th century changed to include an image of August 25, 1996. The monument
evolved as a major centre for off- the mighty ship. In 1942, despite shaped as a compass rose, com-
shore banks fishery, building and the efforts of Bluenose's Captain prises eight three-sided columns
manning fishing schooners to Angus J Walters and others to at each compass point. Inscribed
exploit the Grand Banks of New- keep the ship in Nova Scotia, the on these black granite columns
foundland and the fishing banks vessel was sold to the West In- are the names of mariners,
off Nova Scotia. Old Town dian Trading Company. Four primarily fishermen from
Lunenburg is one of only two ur- years later the Bluenose struck Lunenburg County who lost
ban communities in North a Haitian reef and sank. In 1963, their lives at sea from 1890 until
America designated as a Bluenose II, was built in the the present. Interstingly, the
UNESCO World Heritage site same shipyard by some of the Royal Norwegian Navy used

28 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD
February 2018