Day 170 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: The Switzer Bedford Tugboat, Nova Scotia

Jean is the captain of the Switzer Bedford, and was our host for the hour and a half adventure.

We took a tug boat across the Halifax harbour to tug a tanker which has unloaded its load and was now heading out to the open sea.

Getting ready to leave the harbour.

Looking back at Macdonald Bridge

Heading Out into the Harbour

We followed the lead tug to the tanker called the Norient Solar.

The workers head from the warmth of the ship to the open deck to untie the tanker.

On Deck

Tim shoots as the tugboat approaches the side of the tanker.

The Switzer Bedford pulls the Norient Solar out from the shore so that it can turn around.

Checking the Rope

With both tugs pulling the tanker, the job gets done epediently.

With the job all done, the rope is released and dropped down.

Jean is in control, and all goes according to plan, despite a slight delay.

Back from the job in time for another boat to head out.

The lighthouse helps to guide the way.

Day 169 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: The City Of Halifax and Point Pleasant Park, Nova Scotia

Faces Of The Day

Happy Families on a Sunday Walk

Carson finally took off his shoes and socks to climb to the top of the wave down at the Halifax Harbour.

Viewing Art at the Carrefour Altantic Emporium on the waterfront

A dishwasher takes a minute to have her photograph taken.

The Dragon King restaurant had a impressive door!

Friends spend the afternoon walking and talking along the waterfront in Halifax.

Point Pleasant Park is one of the most used and best known regional public open spaces in Halifax. The area was a leisure destination for the people of Halifax for over 100 years

before it officially became a park in 1873, and today large numbers of people are drawn to its woodlands, shoreline and historic fortifications.

A Sunday Walk at the Point Pleasant National Park.

Loving the ocean view!

Nelly and Noah

Geoff walks his Great Dane, Ebony.

Gerry spends some quality time with her dog Keto.

Now that she can walk, she runs!

In 1749, Halifax become a strategic settlement for the British and fortifications were primarily intended to prevent enemy ships from getting into the Halifax Harbour. There were a total of seven fortifications constructed: Chain Rock, Chain Battery, Point Pleasant Battery, Northwest Arm Battery, Fort Ogilvie, Prince of Wales Tower and Cambridge Battery. Most were rebuilt or modified four or five times over the subsequent 200 years.The first defences were constructed int 1762 and built of logs,earth, and stone. They were built with wood-burning fireplaces, and furnaces were later added for smelting cannon shot.

Point Pleasant Battery is one of the oldest fortification batteries. Though Point Pleasant Battery was first constructed in 1762, what is visible today dates mostly from the early 1900s. It is blocked off now so that people don’t climb on it.

Point Pleasant Battery

Prince of Wales Tower

The Martello Tower in the park is one of five in Halifax. ThePrince of Wales Tower is the oldest Martello-style tower in North America.

The Halifax Memorial, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea.The Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War lost twenty-four ships and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives.This granite Cross of Sacrifice is over 12 metres high and was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and unveiled in November 1967.

Many couples enjoyed the beautiful weather together in the park.

A Carefree Moment

Spring is here! It seemed like almost everyone in Halifax had ventured outside to soak up the sun.

Hurricane Juan struck Nova Scotia in late September 2003. It was the tenth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the 2003 Atlantic Hurricane season.70% of the trees in Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park were destroyed, fundamentally changing the character of the large urban park.

Day 168 of a 365-Day Portrait of Canada: Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Annapolis Royal is located in the western part of Annapolis County. Known as Port-Royal to France until being renamed in 1710 by Britain, the town is located in an area that claims to have the second oldest continuous European settlement in North America. The community is situated at the western end of the fertile Annapolis Valley, nestled between the North and South mountains which define the valley. The Bay of Fundy is just over the North Mountain, 10 kilometers out of town, and the Annapolis Basin forms the waterfront for this historic town. Directly opposite Annapolis Royal on the northern bank of the river is the community of Granville Ferry. 

Buffleheads break through the still waters of the Annapolis River. 

Golden Morning Light in the Annapolis Basin

The town of Granville Ferry sits nestled in the hills across from Annapolis Royal. 

Nova Scotia Scenic Moment

The Ryan Royale 

The crew of the Ryan Royale fixes their gear and gets ready to head out for some more scallops. 

Lighthouse in Annapolis Royal

A local enjoys a stroll by the water on the wooden walkway in Annapolis Royal. 

Downtown Annapolis Royal is home to many small businesses and brightly-colored historical buildings. 

Fort Anne National Historic Site of Canada is Canada’s oldest. It is a present-day reminder of a time when conflict between Europe’s empire builders was acted out on the shores of the Annapolis River. It offers a sweeping view of the beautiful Annapolis Basin from the centre of Annapolis Royal. 

The Fort Anne Museum exhibits highlight the history of the fort.

Fort Anne

As the focal point for French and British settlement and as the seat of government of Acadia and then Nova Scotia, Fort Anne National Historic Site played an important role in Canadian history. The site was the scene of numerous battles as France and England fought for control of North America in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Both imperial powers considered the conquest of this fortified site as the key to domination of the part of eastern Canada known by the French as “Acadie” and by the British as “Nova Scotia.” The site has been fortified since 1629 when the Scots who came to colonize “Nova Scotia” (New Scotland) built Charles Fort. After the colony reverted to France in the 1630s, French colonists replaced the Scots. Their leader, Charles de Menou d’Aulnay, built the first of four French forts, possibly incorporating parts of the Scots’ fort. Two make-shift forts succeeded d’Aulnay’s fort. Then, in 1702, the French began construction of the Vauban earthwork that still stands to-day.

These hills are an example of Vauban fortifications.

Historic Fortification in Saint Anne

Once a sight of conflict, strife and war, children now run free on the battlefields. 

Dean and Tyler play frisbee on a brisk day in Annapolis Royal. 

Mirror Moment

These gentlemen acquired some vintage horse tackle to use as decorations from the auction in Lawrencetown. 

Dale and Ervin

Kathy runs the A.J. Meats and Grocery store in Lawrencetown. Not only does she sell delicious homemade pork sausages, but she also makes a mean banana bread.

This mural in Windsor sums up the flavor of the area. In 1878, Windsor was officially incorporated as a town. Its harbour made the town a centre for shipping and shipbuilding during the age of sail. As the port of registry for the massive wooden shipbuilding industry of the Minas Basin, Windsor was the homeport of one of the largest fleet of sailing ships in Canada.

Built in June 1750 by Major Charles Lawrence, Fort Edward protected the route from the new capital, Halifax, to the Annapolis Valley.  It was garrisoned by the British army until the 1820s. The blockhouse at Fort Edward is the oldest blockhouse in Canada, and one of the oldest buildings in Nova Scotia. It is a National Historic site of Canada. 

Fort Edward