photograph by Helen Earley
Our summer season has come to an end, and what a wonderful summer it was! History tours (Shubie Park) and the Flume House tours (Starr Park) occurred weekly lead by our fabulous volunteer Richard MacMichael. These tours gave folks a glimpse into how the canal operated and who the people were behind these operations. The Marine Railway tours in Starr Park welcomed the community to learn more about the history of flume house but also the history of Downtown Dartmouth.
Thanks to the support received from the Canada Summer Jobs program, the SCC was able to hire Hanna Rudderham for the 2022 season. She aided Richard in leading groups on scheduled tours at both sites. As well, Hanna was onsite giving tours at the Fairbanks Centre for anyone who stopped in to see the interpretive centre or try out the lock model.
Over the course of the season, Richard and Hanna had the chance to chat with some amazing folks both local and out-of-province. Many of the tour participants shared their own experiences with the Shubenacadie Canal Waterway and it was lovely hearing how their stories were connected to the history of the waterway.
Thank you to all, nearly 200 visitors, who signed up for the tours and shared your feedback with us making this year another resounding success! While weekly scheduled tours wrapped up on October 30th, history hikes can be booked through the winter by contacting the SCC office.
Finally, a big thanks to Richard for continuing to share his passion, and another thanks to everyone who came out and took a tour. The summer tours are one of the many reasons that the Shubenacadie Canal Waterway is Yours To Explore.