Cleaning up McNab's Island

McNab's Island is an amazing 370 hectare, island of forests, beaches and pastures, lying in the mouth of Halifax Harbour, a short ferry ride from both Eastern Passage and Halifax.  

Scenic trails meander from one end of the island to the other, leading to abandoned farmhouses, gardens, isolated beaches and forts at both ends of the island.

The place is lousy with history.  It was a popular fishing and hunting area for the Mi'kmaq (Micmac) First Nations people.  Later, settled by Europeans, its strategic location in the harbour mouth was a natural spot for defensive fortifications.

With regular ferry runs, the island became a favourite weekend destination for Haligonians in the late 1800's.
Competing "Pleasure Grounds" vied for the attention of summer visitors, offering a dance pavilion, picnic grounds, canteens and even a steam-powered merry-go-round.  

Not an old ruin but a closed tea house built in the 1980's .

Sadly, McNab's Island faded as a summer destination of choice in the 1900's. 

Now a Provincial park, it offers a natural escape, just minutes from a bustling, metropolitan city.

Though there is no regular ferry service, transport to the island can easily be arranged. Last year, my cousin Carol and I hired a boat to take us from Eastern Passage and pick us up again for only $10 each.  Amazingly enough, most Haligonians have never visited this marvellous island that lies right at their doorstep.

Last Sunday it was even cheaper than that.  The ferry ride was free.  And rather than having the place to myself, I was one of perhaps 200 people who came with a single purpose in mind.  It was island clean-up day.

The Friends of McNab's Island Society had arranged for ferries to bring volunteers from the City and from the Passage.   Adults, school children, girl guides, oldsters and young families were all there to help with the clean up.

  

It was a lovely day -- breezy, mild and occasionally even sunny.  We split into groups heading for different areas of the island to clear beaches of  litter.

Hundreds of bags of garbage were collected. 

Staff with a cart collected the many garbage bags left
along the edges of paths.

We were on the island all day.  Brought in shifts and picked up in shifts.  After cleaning up, many folk enjoyed exploring the island -- sometimes for the the first time.  

Our ferry took us back to the Passage at 4:30 where we found that a barge loaded with garbage had just arrived and help was needed to transfer the waste to a waiting garbage truck.

I was impressed that our local M.P.* (in yellow T-shirt), Peter Stoffer,
joined us for the day-long clean up.

I'm sorry I didn't get a shot of my missed throw.  I accidentally chucked
a bag of garbage onto the top of the garbage truck !

Here is the most interesting item that was picked up.  Ya gotta admit -- it certainly is "interesting" !

All-in-all, it was a wonderful day.

Care to join me for next year's clean-up ?


* M.P. = Federal Member of Parliament.  

McNab's Island at last ...

Just off the shore from Eastern Passage and a short 20 minute boat ride from downtown Halifax,  lie Lawlor's and McNab's Islands. 

McNab's is lousy with history extending back to its purchase in 1782 by Peter McNab.  On it,  are two forts, pioneer homes, a beach where executed sailors were hung in gibets, and the McNab family cemetary. Nothing remains of the fair grounds where turn of the century Halegonians came to spend a fun afternoon.  Nor could I find any sign of the soda pop factory that once was there.  No outward signs remain of the poor folk who were interred in two remote locations after succumbing to Cholora in 1866.

Lawlor's Island was home to a quarantine station.  It is a sad sign of the times that there were in fact three buildings for 1st, 2nd and 3rd class passengers since those being quarentined had arrived by ship. 

During her vitis my cousin Carol and I took the McNab's Island Ferry from Fisherman's Cove to Wreck Cove on McNab's and arranged to be picked up at the same location five hours later.

 It was a weekend and a delightfully sunny day and yet surprisingly we only encountered for or five other visitors while there.  Typically of Nova Scotia this treasure lying on the doorstep of a major city is little known or appreciated.

 

The island is large and not well signed. Oh heck, there are no signs. Apparently there were road signs once but they were stolen. There are maps but without signs it's easy to get off  track and so while Carol and I thought we were on one path heading one way we ended up in a completely different location.  We'd stumbled across Fort Ives (above) which, sadly, is in a state of disrepair.  

The paths on the island were wide and scenic and we always ended up somewhere interesting which made it hard to get too frustrated about being constantly "lost". 

Among the many houses that remain is Conrad House - the home of Gladys Conrad, the last permanent resident of McNab's Island

 

This small building had a roof thick with moss and and one crumbling wall.  I don't know what the building was and I am determined on my next visit to orient myself better and find out.

The wreck of an old bardge can be found on the shore at the north end of the island.  In the distance you can glimpse downtown halifax.

I can't wait to go back and explore McNab's again.