6:30 pm
Tuesday Night Talk, free
The construction of the Shubenacadie Canal was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken in Nova Scotia during the Industrial Age. With work slowed by logistical problems and sky-rocketing costs, the Canal took over thirty years to complete but soon became obsolete as technology passed it by. Today the waterway and its trails provide one of Nova Scotia's greatest recreational opportunities. The history of the Canal is of course, only a ripple on the surface of the Shubenacadie River. For thousands of years, it has provided resources for the Mi'kmaq and served as one of their main trade routes. As they always have, they see themselves as the guardians and protectors of the River, something that continues to this day.
Proud Dartmouthian Richard MacMichael attended Dalhousie University and worked for over thirty years at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. He is currently a volunteer with the Shubenacadie Canal Commission, where he leads hiking tours and provides educational programming. He and his family live just minutes away from the Shubie Park trails, where they can frequently be found hiking and feeding the chickadees.
(Map credit: Shubenacadie Canal Commission)