nova scotia

7 articles

Sep2

1998What is the significance of Swissair Flight 111?

Swissair Flight 111, en route from New York to Geneva, tragically crashed into St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia, on September 2, 1998, resulting in the loss of all 229 people aboard. The disaster prompted a four-year investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which cited flammable aircraft materials as a key factor in the uncontrollable onboard fire. Uniquely, the memorials at Whalesback and Bayswater were designed to echo the triangular relationship between the crash site and the two shoreline communities most involved in the recovery. Visitors to these memorials can find the names of all those lost and reflect on the recovery efforts undertaken by residents of Peggy’s Cove and Blandford.

Nov9

1989Where in Canada are pieces of the Berlin Wall?

Pieces of the historic Berlin Wall, which once separated East and West Berlin from 1961 until its fall in 1989, can be found at six locations across Canada, serving as powerful reminders of the country’s divided past and the widespread desire for freedom. These concrete segments, distributed to institutions and cities worldwide after the Wall’s dramatic demolition in 1989-1991, now stand as memorials at places like the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Montréal's Centre de Commerce Mondial, and Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg foundry. One particularly notable section arrived in Lunenburg thanks to the efforts of Lieutenant Governor J. James Kinley, who secured the artifact as a testament to the town’s German heritage after its UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1995. Today, more than 240 fragments of the Wall endure in over 140 countries, providing tangible links to a defining moment in 20th-century history.

Dec6

1917What was the largest man-made explosion prior to the Atomic Bomb being unleashed on Hiroshima?

On the morning of December 6, 1917, Halifax, Nova Scotia, became the site of the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. A collision in the harbour between the French munitions ship S.S. Mont-Blanc and the Belgian relief vessel S.S. Imo led to a blast that killed over a thousand people instantly and injured thousands more, with devastation spanning both Halifax and its twin city, Dartmouth. The explosion’s force, equivalent to 2,600 tonnes of TNT, blew part of Mont-Blanc’s anchor shaft more than 2.35 miles and was heard as far away as Prince Edward Island, 200 miles distant. Halifax’s rebuilt Hydrostone neighborhood and the annual 50-foot Christmas tree sent to Boston stand today as powerful reminders of this tragedy and the resilience of its survivors.

Jul5

1916What military unit was known as Canada's Black Battalion during the First World War?

The No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force—Canada’s famed Black Battalion—was authorized in Pictou, Nova Scotia during the First World War. Created to overcome the challenges of segregation, it became the first and only all-Black battalion in Canadian military history, providing vital labor to the war effort overseas. Remarkably, more than half of its members hailed from Nova Scotia, and its chaplain, Captain Reverend William A. White, was one of the only Black commissioned officers in the entire British Empire. Today, the granite monument at Market Wharf in Pictou stands as a national historic site, commemorating the unit’s enduring legacy and 109 years since its formation.

Aug27

1904Which Canadian has been conferred the Victoria Cross with a 'naval' blue ribbon?

Able Seaman William Hall, born in Nova Scotia, stands as the only Canadian awarded the Victoria Cross with the distinctive 'naval' blue ribbon, marking a rare honour for extraordinary bravery during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 at Lucknow. Hall, the first Nova Scotian and the first Black recipient of the Empire’s highest military award for valour, performed his heroic actions while serving on H.M.S. Shannon on November 16, 1857. Despite receiving little recognition during his lifetime, Hall's legacy has grown, culminating in the naming of the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship HMCS William Hall and his depiction on a Canada Post commemorative stamp in 2010. On August 27, 2025, Canadians mark the 121st anniversary of his death, reflecting on a life that broke barriers and inspired generations.

Jan1

1862Who was named the first matron of the Canadian Army Medical Corps and was also Canada's first recipient of the Royal Red Cross?

Georgina Fane Pope, born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, became the first matron of the Canadian Army Medical Corps and the first Canadian to receive the prestigious Royal Red Cross. Renowned as "Canada’s Florence Nightingale," she led military nurses in the South African War and later played a pivotal role in training over 3,100 nurses for service during the First World War. In 1903, Pope’s exceptional bravery and leadership were recognized as she became the first Canadian decorated with the Royal Red Cross, established by Queen Victoria. Her enduring legacy is celebrated in monuments, museum exhibits, and even a commemorative coin marking her 150th birthday.

Jul17

1860What is considered the only Crimean War monument in North America?

The Welsford-Parker Monument, standing at the entrance of Halifax’s Old Burying Ground, is the only Crimean War memorial known in North America. Erected in 1860, it commemorates two Nova Scotian officers, Major Augustus Frederick Welsford and Captain William Buck Carthew Augustus Parker, who died in the fierce Battle of the Great Redan during the Siege of Sevastopol. The imposing free-stone arch, crowned by a (somewhat diminutive) British lion, features the names of six key Crimean battles and was funded by public subscription and a government grant. In 2025, the monument marks its 165th anniversary, still serving as a poignant tribute to Halifax’s role in this distant war and the sacrifice of its fallen sons.