Parrsboro Rocks

Congratulations to the staff of the Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro for the highly successful reopening of their main exhibit area.  The museum was under wraps for about a year while the old main exhibit was dismantled and a whole new realm of discovery created to explore, involve and educate on the fasinating geology of the Fundy region.

Conservator, Chris Lavergne checks out the exhibits.

I attended the opening day festivities with many colleagues form the museum world on hand plus local dignitaries and residents. There was a great buzz to the event with much exploring and investigating of the gallery. The new exhibits have a family focus featuring many hands on activities to engage young visitors. Congrats to Ken Adams and staff and their Heritage Division colleagues for a job well done. Great to see some exhibit renewal happening in the provincial museums. Next up the Museum of Natural History main exhibit area.

On my way back I stopped at the Glooscap Heritage Centre near Millbrook and visited with staff.  This is a new institution on the provincial heritage scene located just off the highway outside Truro. It is easily found by going towards the giant figure of Glooscap on the grounds. The Centre is continuing to evolve and exapnsion plans include a second building to improve their events hosting capacity. On the heritage front, they are continually developing their programming and aside from workshops teaching Mi'kmaq skills have schools programming available aswell. Current plans include commemorative celebration in honour of Mi'kmaq veterans and the installation of a wall of honour. A project begun this past summer to landscape using plants native to the area will also contribute interpretation opportunities for explaining Mi'kmaq traditional land use.

Busman's Holiday in Wales

Following several seriously busy days at work, I flew off to Wales for two weeks vacation to visit family, friends and, of course, heritage sites. I thought I'd share some photos taken at various sites around Wales I visited and which have personal connections for me.

Saint Elly Church, Llanelly.

Church of Saint Elly, just outside the village of Gilwern is where I was christened and where several members of my family are buried. Its a very atmospheric spot, especially on a cold windy fall day. The church is 12th century and is surrounded by 700 year old yews and extensive grave sites. I met an elderly couple in the churchyard who turned out to be the parents of  a school day friend of mine. Small world.

Inner courtyard at Tretower Court

Restored & refurbished kitchen at Tretower Court. 

Tretower Court and Castle was my favourite site to visit as a child.  I loved visiting the site every opportunity I got - probably explains alot about my choices in career options.... The site is under the care of CADW, and has recently undergone major restoration, both inside and out. The site was the seat of the Vaughan Family, Norman aristocrats, and was partially occupied until the 1920's.

Looking up inside the castle tower.

The castle provides the name for the local community, three towers, and was originally a series of towers built within each other. Very typical fortification for this part of the border country  during the Norman period.

Another Norman fortification I visited was Cardiff Castle, site of the Great British Cheese Festival. Marvellous stuff. The keep pictured here was the original part of the much larger fortification built around it over many generations. Very impressive place I have also visited many times over the years. First time for the cheese festival though....

Cardiff castle keep flying the Welsh flag. 

In south west Wales I went to see Arthur's Seat, a neolithic chamber tomb, for the first time. Its situated in a beautiful location to which my photo does not do justice. 2,000 years old and counting.... Numerous summer holidays were spent in this part of Wales, in caravans, with cousins, in the rain.....

Looking through the remains of the door posts at the Church of Saint Micheal the Archangel.

Last, but definitely not least, I climbed the Skirrid Mountain, called the holy mountain for the legend it split at the time of Christ's death. During the middle ages, a church at the summit was dedicated to Saint Micheal, the Archangel and was the site of pilgrimage on Michealmas day. Little remains of the church now but it remains a compelling site with a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. The church was built within the remains of a much earlier iron age fortification site.

Fall Days

The Fall has been a busy time so far at ANSM. We have the new QR code project underway, plans move ahead for the database renewal project, the board has had serious discussion about plans for the future, we have submitted applications for funding which follow through on strategic plans to develop a museological core curriculum and advisory service and much more.

The dining room table arrayed with SDI applications looked rather like an altar!

Between administrative tasks are peppered visits to sites, plus attending and participating in community events. The SDI grant application review is an important task in late August and I prefer to place myself in seclusion for a day of serious concentration.

Harvest table at the Urban Farm Museum

I helped out at the Urban Farm Museum of Spryfield's annual Harvest Fair in mid-September. The event was well attended by local residents and featured delicious seasonal food cooked following the museum's recipe book plus sales of veggies grown at the farm. Katimavik sent a group of enthusiastic volunteers who soon had the children happily busy playing traditional outdoor games.

The Halifax Citadel, National Historic Site played host to this year's Atlantic Film Festival opening gala. I went with Paul Collins of CMAP to see how the site looked all decked out as Hollywood of Atlantic Canada. Red flood lights, pavilion tents, candle lit walkways and regimental highlanders all added to the dramatic setting. Great stuff and an interesting combination of contemporary event matched with historic setting.

Looking up the refurbished staircase from the basement level.

Last night, I went to take a look at the recently refurbished Government House while attending a talk by Clary Croft on folklore of Nova Scotia. Lt. Governor Mayann E. Francis is hosting a series of talks on a variety of subjects at the house over the course of the fall season. The house looks really fabulous and is much better prepared to fill its capacity as a venue for large scale public events. Her Honor referred to the house as the "ceremonial home of all Nova Scotians" in her opening remarks and the building has been refurbished with that role firmly in mind.