South West Mission

Last week saw the annual CMAP evaluation teams' migration from their training site to CMAP museums around the province. This year, our willing training camp was the Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum www.atlanticcanadaaviationmuseum.com. Following our orientation session, we went on a tour with Mike Garvey, long time supporter of the museum plus former pilot for several of the aircraft on display. A great tour and very much appreciated by the evaluation gang. Thanks Mike.

Sustained with lunch and cookies for the road, we launched ourselves on our various missions.....

My team included Julie Morand of Canadian Heritage and Aidan Norton of Colchester County Museum. We had some time to spare when we arrived in our overnight location, so went to visit some nearby sites.
North Hills Museum http://northhills.museum.gov.ns.ca
is a real little treasure located just outside Granville Ferry. Beautiful early Nova Scotian home in a lovely location. We toured the house with well informed and enthusiastic Interpreter, Wayne Smith. I wanted to move in.

Because it was sunny evening and so close by, we went for a quick look around the grounds of Port Royal National Historic Site http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/ns/portroyal/index.aspx just at closing time.  My last visit was at night in the fog, and so received a completely different impression of the site. It is situated on a headland over looking the Annapolis Basin and offers a fabulous view. Canada's earliest reconstruction of a heritage site, it provides a rich glimpse into early French habitation on the North American continent. Port Royal was a recent participating site in the Membertou 400 celebrations. Check out Ryan Scranton's blog http://annapolisroyalheritage.blogspot.com/2010/06/membertou-400.html. This photo is of the main entryway to the fort - it is my photography that is crooked - not the fort!

The next day we began our evaluations and travelled right around the coastline of South West Nova Scotia. Our adventures included ferry trips, travels in and out of the fog, really great food, and an unfortunate incident during which I left the car key inside one of our evaluation sites at the end of the day and had to be rescued. Slowed us down somewhat, but a great example of rural Nova Scotia in action. I went next door confident the neighbour would know who I needed to contact. She did, with the phone number conveniently located right by her phone and rescue was quickly dispatched. Thanks again to Dorothy's husband and neighbour, Jane, for rescue support.

We enjoyed supper and a visit with Cheryl Stanton of Admiral Digby Museum http://www.admuseum.ns.ca
Lots going on at her site over the summer months with regular farmer's market on the grounds plus tea party events and art openings. Also acted as a donation delivery agent for the museum. Multitasking is the name of the game.

Made our weary way back to Halifax arriving in the city late Friday evening with our mission accomplished. General agreement amoungst Team 3 and everyone I have spoken to that participating in the evaluation process is as much a valuable experience for those evaluating as for those being evaluated. Definitely lots of food for thought. Thanks to Julie and Aidan for being great travelling companions as well as professional and diligent team members and to all at the participating museums for their welcome and cooperation - you know who you are....