On Friday afternoon, June 19th, elected government officials, representatives of the Indigenous Mi’kmaw community, local residents and special guests gathered with members of the Whale Sanctuary team at the sanctuary site in Port Hilford Bay to mark the start of construction. Here is a report of the proceedings by Joanne Jordan, Local Initiatives Reporter for the Guysborough Journal.
By Joanne Jordan, June 24th, 2026.
WINE HARBOUR – Under bright blue skies along the scenic shoreline of Wine Harbour, the Whale Sanctuary Project (WSP) hosted a groundbreaking June 19, where ceremonial shovels turned the soil to mark the upcoming start of construction.
More than 60 people – including local residents, elected officials and Indigenous supporters – gathered at the Wine Harbour Wharf to help celebrate the milestone following years of research, planning and development.
Inside the sanctuary’s gated perimeter, attendees toured the site, where the land-based portion of the project will be built, and listened to remarks from Whale Sanctuary leaders and supporters.
Outside the property, a small group of protesters opposed to the project, some holding signs, gathered at the entrance road and along the gated perimeter. Signs with messages in opposition to the WSP were also posted along the road leading to the site.
Messages of gratitude
In welcoming guests, Whale Sanctuary CEO Charles Vinick thanked the many people involved in bringing the project to this point.
He offered special thanks to community liaison officer and coordinator Amy Simon (photo right, with daughter Austyn), affectionately known locally as “the whale girl,” noting she was the person who introduced project organizers to the Wine Harbour site.
“Amy has been our leader locally, and we are very grateful for all of her support,” Vinick said.
An emotional Vinick also thanked his wife, whom he described as “my rock,” for her understanding, patience and unending support throughout their years together as he has worked to find a better future for marine life.
Collaborative journey
Vinick thanked supporters and volunteers who dedicated countless hours and gave generously of their time and energy to help make the project a reality.
“We wouldn’t be here without all of you,” he said.
He also thanked Indigenous leaders for their support and guidance. “Throughout the years spent working on the project, engaging in informal consultation with the Mi’kmaw communities “was a tremendous experience,” Vinick told the crowd.
“What we’ve learned together is how much we have in common,” he said.
Special guests from the Mi’kmaw community included former senator Dan Christmas, who represented Nova Scotia in the senate from 2016 to 2023; Mi’kmaw artist Allan Siliboy; and Shauna- Lee Maloney Wright of Sipekne’katik First Nation, who performed a traditional welcome song.
Her daughter, Amanda Ruby Wright – whose Indigenous name coincidentally means “little whale,” – led a smudging ceremony before the ceremonial turning of the soil.
Bec Borchert, the marine protected areas coordinator at the Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn (KMK) Negotiation Office, spoke about the importance of consultation and discussions between development project organizers, including those involved with the WSP, regarding potential impacts – both good and bad – on Mi’kmaw Rights and Title.
She also emphasized the importance of incorporating Mi’kmaw values, laws, language and governance opportunities in the planning and development of the sanctuary.
Borchert said one of the important Mi’kmaw values is the principle of All My Relations, “which connects us to all living and non-living things in our environment – to the past, to the present and to the future.” She said this principle helps guide the steps needed to be taken to make projects like the WSP a reality.
As co-owners of the lands and waters of Nova Scotia, the Mi’kmaw community has a responsibility “to speak on behalf of our kin and to stand up for marine life in our territory,” Borchert said.
“The WSP is one project that has made working together for mutual benefit absolutely easy.”
Championing the Cause
Guest speaker Wilfred Moore, a lawyer and former senator, introduced the legislation to protect whales and dolphins in Canada and prohibit keeping them in captivity for entertainment and for breeding purposes. Moore championed that legislation even after his retirement, until the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act passed in 2019.
Moore said that with “a great team” behind him and the support of his friend, the late lawyer, judge and senator Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and sponsored the bill, he worked hard to see it passed.
And now, Moore said, “This is an opportunity for our province to show leadership.”
He acknowledged that the road hasn’t been an easy one and there has been opposition.
Moore appealed to those who are opposed to the Whale Sanctuary Project, suggesting it would be a positive step if people would work together.
“Just give us a chance,” he said.
To those who support the project and are eager to see it completed, “Hang in there with us and we’ll get the job done,” said Moore.
Preparing the site
Vinick said it is realistic to project a spring or summer 2027 opening as the project continues to meet key construction and fundraising milestones, including site engineering and the fabrication and installation of nets, the bay pen and anchoring systems.
“We are proceeding with construction including installation of electrical power at the site, potable water, and refurbishment of the wharf,” Vinick told The Journal.
The land where the buildings will be constructed is privately owned and, he added, the terms and conditions between the WSP and the province for the Crown lease of the sanctuary site have been agreed upon for signature.
He noted the refurbishment of the wharf area that wraps around the land where the groundbreaking was held “is among our highest priorities, not only because that is the site for our land-side buildings, but even more importantly, because the wharf is the staging area for all in-water installation of the nets and the bay pen in the sanctuary waters.”
Vinick added, “We have always said that we will do everything possible to welcome whales when they need us. That remains our mantra today.”
Municipal Support
Councillor Scott Beaver, speaking on behalf of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s, said “the WSP represents a unique vision, one that has attracted attention not only across Nova Scotia, but around the world.
“The project is an important investment in the region,” he added, noting the construction phase creating local employment opportunities, “and, in the years ahead, the sanctuary has the potential to bring visitors, research, education and economic activity to our beautiful Eastern Shore.”
Beaver said the dedication that led to the reality of the WSP reflects many of the qualities of the District of St. Mary’s. “Our strong communities, our connection to the ocean, and our commitment to preserving the natural beauty, that’s what makes this place so very, very special,” he said.
Correcting a wrong
Whale Sanctuary Founder and President Dr. Lori Marino said the sanctuary “is an opportunity for us to make right, what is wrong.” She added, “What was wrong was the idea that whales should be taken out of the ocean and put into concrete tanks for our entertainment. Whales are wild creatures, and they have their own lives to live, just as we do, and no one, no one, should take that away from them.”
Dr. Lori Marino and Charles Vinick
Marino said the groundbreaking ceremony marked a celebration of more than just the project.
“We are here to celebrate our efforts to give back to [the whales] what was taken from them, a life in the ocean,” she said. “This will mean so much for the individual whales who get to come here, but it will be a shining example of what humans are capable of: coming together not just for our own sake, but for the sake of others, others who might look different than us but are persons in their own right.”
Marino added the project could be seen as an opportunity to reshape the relationship between humans and animals around the world.
Excited for the future
Speaking with The Journal after the event, Greg Morrow, MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie, said, “It’s exciting to get to this point … It’s been a long time coming.”
Morrow acknowledged that, although there have been a number of hurdles and “a bit of red tape” to overcome, “It’s here, it’s exciting, and it’s a great opportunity for the area.”
Helen MacDonald attended the groundbreaking ceremony with her husband, Hughie, a founding member of the Wine Harbour Port Authority who fished for more than 60 years from the very spot where the WSP is to be built.
“We’re so excited, it’s really wonderful,” MacDonald said.
The event concluded with refreshments and an opportunity for visitors to speak with presenters and ask questions about the sanctuary.
(You can download a PDF copy of this article here.)