Nova Scotia (New Scotland) Was Originally Inhabited by the Mi'kmaq

Nova Scotia (New Scotland) was originally inhabited by the Mi’kmaq (Mi’gmaq/Micmac) Peoples. They are considered First Nations people indigenous to Canada’s Atlantic Provinces. According to W.E. deGarthe, the forests and trees are gone today. Even the once rich soil has been swept away by wind, rain and clearing by settlers. Early in the 1600s, European settlers arrived in the Halifax region. They established Acadia. The British settled Halifax in 1749 and set up a fort to guard against the Mi’kmaq, Acadians and French. During the 1750s, St. Margaret’s Bay (Peggy’s Cove) was first settled by the French. In 1811, a grant was issued by the Province of Nova Scotia to six families of Peggy Cove. Governmentally, Halifax has gone through three changes. In 1749, it was the Town of Halifax. In 1842, it became an incorporated city. On April 1, 1996, Nova Scotia dissolved the City of Halifax and combined four municipalities within the County of Halifax into Halifax Regional Municipality. It is the largest city in Nova Scotia with a metro population nearing 500,000 people. Halifax, as a seaport, played a key role throughout the history of Canada and the United States. In April of 1912, during recovery efforts following the sinking of the RMS Titanic, Halifax became the mortuary and identification center. Of the 2,224 passengers and crew, 1500 people perished. Only 330 bodies were recovered. 150 bodies are buried in three local cemeteries. The remainder were returned to relatives/family. There are many interesting facts regarding the handling of bodies and the role of the White Star Line, owner of the Titanic. There is a museum in Halifax that addresses the subject. Halifax offers many historic sites: its 19th century district; Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, containing the Titanic’s sinking; Citadel Hill; Fairview Lawn Cemetery with 121 Titanic grave sites; the 200‐year‐old Town Clock; Halifax exclusive South End; the 1914 Lighthouse; North America’s oldest working brewery and other interesting places. There is one stop that attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually, a must‐see, Peggy’s Cove on Margaret Bay. According to W.E. deGarthe the naming of the Cove is still up for question. One story is romantic and dramatic. The other is a matter of shortening a name from Margaret to Peggy. Whichever one is correct, Peggy’s Cove’s beauty and charm continues to attract tourists spring through fall. Peggy’s Cove is 26 miles from downtown Halifax. Margaret’s Bay got its name from Samuel de Champlain. His mother was named Margaret. Several hurricanes have caused much damage to the small community over the past 25 years.

See a video of Peggy’s Cove on a rainy, blustery day at https://youtu.be/m57eCy2sHQw

William E. deGarthe

According to novascotia.com, deGrathe was born in Finland in 1907, immigrated to Canada in 1926. He spent many spring and summer months at Peggy’s Cove. He passed away in 1983. As a sculptor, he carved a 100‐foot memorial to fisherman and their families. The sculpture includes the wings of St. Elmo, patron saint of sailors. The outcrop and his art gallery are on the Cove. Unfortunately, my photo below was taken during a driving rain storm, some of it was cropped. For more photos of the sculpture go to novascotia.com.