All Hands Lost: The Sinking of the Nova Scotia Gypsum Freighter Novadoc

February 21, 2017

7:00 pm

This is a repeat of Blain Henshaw’s presentation originally scheduled for the evening of February 14th, which was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Book and song by Blain Henshaw

During a presentation at the Museum three years ago, broadcaster and writer Blain Henshaw performed a song he had written and recorded about the disappearance of the Nova Scotia gypsum freighter SS Novadoc .

The aging vessel sank with the loss of her entire crew of 24 in a severe nor’east storm in the Bay of Fundy in March 1947.

Henshaw has since written a book about the tragedy, which chronicles the history of the vessel and her ill-fated crew, 13 of whom were Nova Scotians. 

The story is told through the eyes and memories of those who lost family members on the Novadoc – the brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren and friends of the young Nova Scotia men, several of them war veterans, and the two women who perished in the disaster.

The book takes a critical look at the inquiry into the tragedy, Paterson Shipping which owned the vessel, and the Canada Gypsum company which chartered the Novadoc.

In his presentation, Henshaw will perform the song, present a talk on his research and writing of the book, and do a reading from All Hands Lost.

Dan’s concert is included with general Museum admission.

For additional information:
Richard MacMichael
902-424-8897
richard.macmichael@novascotia.ca