Nova Scotia Outports

More than 40 Tall Ships will be sailing Canadian waters to honour the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation in 2017. They are scheduled to stop at host ports in Ontario, Québec and the Maritimes, giving thousands of people the opportunity to admire the majestic beauty of these cathedrals of the seas.

Known as the “Birthplace of New Scotland”, the Town of Pictou is located on the Northumberland Shore. As host to Nova Scotia’s first wave of Scottish immigrants who landed aboard the Ship Hector in 1773, Pictou is a town with a rich sea-faring history.

Founded in 1807 and incorporated as a village in 1948, Pugwash is a scenic, deep-water port village located on the Northumberland Strait. It is world-famous for its National Historic Site, the Thinkers Lodge and a popular destination for summer fun.

The Town of Port Hawkesbury is located at the southwestern end of Cape Breton Island, on the north shore of the Strait of Canso. The Town was originally named Ship Harbour after the harbour on which it sits. Once a busy fishing port, the town acts as a major industrial and service centre for the surrounding area.

Atlantic Canada’s largest urban centre, Halifax, is an historic port city that has been welcoming visitors and immigrants from around the world for centuries. It marries a rich maritime history with a sweeping range of restaurants and pubs, hotels, inns, galleries, museums, historic attractions and entertainment of all stripes.

Located on Cape Breton Island, Sydney is the Island’s historic capital and largest urban centre. With a long history in the steel and coal mining industries, Sydney has grown to become a hotbed of culture, informed by the traditions of the area’s aboriginal people and the many immigrants who settled the city.

Located on the south coast of Cape Breton, the Village of St. Peter’s has a fascinating history dating to 1650, when it was settled by adventurer Nicolas Denys. Today, the remains of forts, which were the first line of defense for the Fortress of Louisbourg, are waiting to be explored. 

The town of Louisbourg has a rich history, from its Mi’kmaq roots, to a 18th century French colony, to supply port during World War I and II, to world-class tourist destination today. Home to the Parks Canada National Historic Site, Fortress of Louisbourg, the port is situated on a scenic harbourfront that boasts one of the Maritimes’ busiest crab and lobster fisheries.

Located on the South Shore, the Town of Lunenburg is home to a magic that is hard to define. When you’re there, you just know you’re somewhere very special. It’s a place of beauty with a glistening harbour, compelling history and brightly painted historic buildings. It’s also the proud birthplace of the world-renowned Bluenose that graces our dime and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Founded by Loyalists in the 18th century, Shelburne is located in the heart of the province’s southwest coast. The town is a bustling port supported by a host of modern ocean-based industries. Shelburne is also home to many historic and cultural attractions, nearby sandy beaches, hiking trails and rivers.

Settled in 1783 and located on the Annapolis Basin, an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, Digby is a working fishing port that is also a favourite destination for history, nature, adventure and food lovers. Home to the largest scallop fishery on the planet, Digby is known as the Scallop Capital of the World.

Annapolis Royal, located on the Annapolis Basin, an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, was founded in 1605. Designated as a National Historic Site, it is considered to be Canada’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement of European immigrants, and is often referred to as the “cradle of our nation”.