Canadian tourism folks & a certain Mr Claus go crazy for Bay of Fundy

Working as I do in the tourism field I run across all kinds of cool travelers at various conferences across the country. I wasn't really expecting to see a certain Mr Claus this close to Christmas but that's exactly what happened at the November national tourism conference.

I was actually seeking colleagues who were voting for Bay of Fundy in the New7Wonders of Nature contest and wow, did I find them. Check out this video of the whole crew:

Santa spotting....in a Bay of Fundy spa?

Hey there Santa....you'd better get a move on!

Yes, it's true, the big red guy was spotted this week relaxing at Eau Spa at the Old Orchard Inn & Spa, near Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and we've got photo evidence to prove it. hmmm maybe he was there buying me gift certificates...in that case, carry on with your good deeds, Mr Claus!

Tide watching from stilts

One of my favourite little corners of the Bay of Fundy universe is the village of Bear River, near Digby, Nova Scotia. Bear River is located about 6 km from the Bay of Fundy on an extreme tidal river.

Bear River is well-known throughout the region as a mecca for resident artisans and as Bay of Fundy's 'village on stilts'. I was recently in the area for several days and enjoyed both the view and the food at the Bear River Cafe, pictured here.

To learn more about Bear River, check out another local blog: Flora & Larry's chronicling their adventure moving from Toronto (pop'n 2 million) to Bear River (pop'n 800)

New Fundy book in time for the holidays

I've always been fond of Bay of Fundy books, poems & music so it's great to see another book to add to the collection especially near the holidays. The book is Head of the Bay by Jeffrey Ward
"A History of the Maringouin Peninsula". Here's a book description as sent by Al Smith, with Tantramar Heritage Trust in Sackville, NB.

Tales of heroism, hardship, sacrifice and success animate the pages of The Head of the Bay, by Jeff Ward. The bay in question is the Bay of Fundy and, in particular, its upper end, where the Maringouin Peninsula divides its tidal waters into Shepody Bay and Cumberland Basin. Now virtually forgotten, the communities of the peninsula once played an important role in the industrial and commercial history of Atlantic Canada. In the nineteenth century, fortunes were won and lost in the shipyards and quarries of the district and place names such as Upper and Lower Rockport, Slacks Cove, Pink Rock, Hard Ledge, and Johnson’s Mills were known and respected far and wide. Ward succeeds unerringly in linking local stories to the wider sweep of current events, showing how even small places and modest lives can influence the shaping of the world.

Looks like a neat book ~ it can be ordered from Tantramar Heritage Trust's website.