It’s another milestone toward the creation of the Whale Sanctuary in Nova Scotia. On Friday afternoon, October 29th, people from near and far gathered for the opening of the Operations Centre in the small town of Sherbrooke, about 20 minutes from the sanctuary site in Port Hilford Bay. (And yes, because it’s in Canada, it’s a “centre,” not a “center.”)
The Operations Centre is now our home base for directing the design, engineering and construction of the sanctuary. The conference room has full telecommunications equipment enabling the team on the ground to consult with our expert advisors from around the world on everything from sanctuary construction to whale transport to veterinary care.
Charles Vinick, Executive Director, (right) gestures toward photos that show the difference between life at an entertainment park and life in nature. All photos on this page by Kevin Fraser and Melanie Wood.
The centre doubles as a welcome and information hub for the local communities of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore, as well as for the thousands of environmentally conscious tourists who visit the region every summer. And it has an overnighting area for up to two visiting staff members and advisors.
It is also our Canadian office, where we meet with government officials and community leaders. And this was in evidence when His Honour, the Hon. Arthur J. LeBlanc, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, representing the Crown, stepped forward to cut the ribbon and lead the way in a tour of the exhibit area.
Other dignitaries at the opening included Hon. Wilfred Moore, who, as a Senator, introduced Senate Bill S-203 – the landmark Ending the Captivity of Whales & Dolphins Act – into Parliament. And Kerry Prosper of the Paq’tnekek Mi’kmaq First Nations community and Mi’kmaq Knowledge Keeper, spoke about how the project is a great way to connect with nature and treat whales in a good way.
Here’s a slideshow of some of the day’s events:
The Sanctuary's Operations Center is about 20 minutes from the sanctuary site in Port Hilford Bay, Nova Scotia. The century house was renovated to serve as a base and a visitors centre.
Visitors will be able to watch interactive video displays to learn about the sanctuary. They can learn about whales in general, and about whales in captivity and how their lives will be changed when they are retired to the natural environment of a sanctuary.
“We acquired the property in town from a good friend of the project who lives nearby,” said Charles Vinick, Executive Director of the Whale Sanctuary Project. “He bought it solely for the purpose of helping the whales, so we’re very grateful for that. The Whale Sanctuary Project will pay a nominal rent, which has been covered for the first year by supporter David Reuben, who continues to play a pivotal role in the creation of the sanctuary.”
As a century home, the building required some important renovations, and we’re very grateful to local volunteers who stepped in to help with much of this work.
The Centre is open to visitors on Mondays and Fridays from 10:00AM to 1:00PM and Wednesdays from 4:00PM to 7:00PM. Please check our local Facebook page for any schedule changes during winter months.