There is so much love here for our oceans and for our coasts. You, too, can add your own image and quote right here.
Thank you for helping to #ProtectOurCoast #ProtectOffshoreNS!
Protect Our Coast
Gretchen Fitzgerald
When she asks about the night she was born, I always say to my daughter that the power of a wonderful ocean wave helped out. We have been enjoying canoeing in the Bay as the weather warms up and - wouldn't you know - she loves "surfing" the waves in the canoe. Being by the ocean as the seasons change has been a real gift: being able to see otter tracks on the ocean ice, then to see the birds arrive as they migrate north once again, and now to eat oysters from the beach - there are so many reasons to #ProtectOurCoast #ProtectOffshoreNS .
Mary Gorman
"I learned to swim before I could walk."
Mary Gorman is an activist and writer from Merigomish, Nova Scotia. Her love of the ocean was apparent from her earliest days, as the young Mary learned to swim in the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In 1988, she launched a Boat Harbour protest along the Pictou Causeway across from the pulp mill, which was considered the largest environmental protest in the history of Nove Scotia at that time. This mill finally stopped pumping effluent into Boat Harbour this year.
In the '90's she worked as an organizer for the Maritime Fishermen's Union and for Gulf Nova Scotia inshore multi-species fishermen.
In the late '90's she co-founded, with Elizabeth May, the Save Our Seas and Shores Coalition, to stop oil and gas leases issued in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence along both shorelines of our divinely beautiful Cape Breton island. After a three year struggle, the issue went to a Public Review and eventually, Hunt Oil and Corridor Resources leases were withdrawn. For the last ten years, she battled new oil leases in the Gulf, which were finally abandoned in April of this year - another testimony to Mary's tenacity, creativity, and devotion to protecting this special place.
In 2011, Mary's work was recognized when she was named a Canadian Green Hero. Producers have produced a short documentary which includes footage of Canadian literary icon and activist, Farley Mowat. The documentary was be aired on TVO in their 2012/13 season. She has also produced a film on the impact of seismic blasting on endangered whales in the Gulf, featuring Ethan Hawke.
Mary Gorman is an activist and writer from Merigomish, Nova Scotia. Her love of the ocean was apparent from her earliest days, as the young Mary learned to swim in the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In 1988, she launched a Boat Harbour protest along the Pictou Causeway across from the pulp mill, which was considered the largest environmental protest in the history of Nove Scotia at that time. This mill finally stopped pumping effluent into Boat Harbour this year.
In the '90's she worked as an organizer for the Maritime Fishermen's Union and for Gulf Nova Scotia inshore multi-species fishermen.
In the late '90's she co-founded, with Elizabeth May, the Save Our Seas and Shores Coalition, to stop oil and gas leases issued in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence along both shorelines of our divinely beautiful Cape Breton island. After a three year struggle, the issue went to a Public Review and eventually, Hunt Oil and Corridor Resources leases were withdrawn. For the last ten years, she battled new oil leases in the Gulf, which were finally abandoned in April of this year - another testimony to Mary's tenacity, creativity, and devotion to protecting this special place.
In 2011, Mary's work was recognized when she was named a Canadian Green Hero. Producers have produced a short documentary which includes footage of Canadian literary icon and activist, Farley Mowat. The documentary was be aired on TVO in their 2012/13 season. She has also produced a film on the impact of seismic blasting on endangered whales in the Gulf, featuring Ethan Hawke.
Marion Moore
Marion is a founding member of the Campaign to Protect Offshore Nova Scotia (CPONS) and co-chair. CPONS’ mission is: To protect Nova Scotia waters, shorelines and ecosystems from risks associated with offshore exploration and development. "This is a photo of Gaff Point in Kingsburg, off Hirtle’s Beach near my home in Lunenburg. For many years, this has been the place I go to for rejuvenation, for long hikes and picnics, and for ocean swims and was once called a ‘secret beach,’ which you have to access by climbing down a rope. But in the last couple of years when I have gone there, the experience is bittersweet - because all I can think of is, “What will happen to this incredible place if there is an oil spill?"
Jacob Albury
Surfer Jacob Albury shared these powerful photos taken by Robert Teuwen in Lunenburg County in August 2019.
Nancy Rogers
Nancy is a local tourism operator. The South Shore of Nova Scotia depends on tourism and fisheries; both are sustainable and vibrant industries.
Plastic Free Lunenburg
Duncan Kroll and Senator Wilfrid Moore, members of PLF, pictured here distributing ceramic mugs to Lunenburg Farmer’s Market coffee drinkers.
Plastic Free Lunenburg
Plastic Free Lunenburg is a collective of concerned citizens, committed to stemming the flow of single use plastics which threaten our most valued assets: our ocean and land, our health, our vital and diverse economy, our beautiful and caring coastal communities. Together we can address the plastic pollution crisis. Think big, start small, act now!
Ira Reinhart-Smith
This picture is of my mom, my two sisters, and me watching the surf and stone move together in symphonic harmony on the coast of Cape Breton. I am much younger in this photo but much remains the same; I still love the ocean and all the wonders it holds. I also still feel the need to help protect it. My name is Ira Reinhart-Smith and I am fifteen years old. I am quite involved in climate activism and I feel the ocean plays a big part in that. The climate crisis will damage ocean habitats and raise its temperature. It will also be catastrophic in terms of coastal erosion. I feel that our government is not taking the climate crisis seriously enough and that is why I joined a youth lawsuit against the Canadian Federal Government with fifteen other youth. We want a serious, science-based climate plan to be put into effect so that we can be assured that our future will be livable. All across the world the ocean is essential to life. I know that it is worth conserving.
Nancy and David Schandall
Nancy and David are community activists and sailing enthusiasts. David is a master mariner and was an inshore fisherman for many years.
Nancy and David Schandall
Pictured above: unloading fish in Canso about 1970. There were herring off Canso, in shoals 5 miles long and 60 feet deep. The codfish came into Chedebucto Bay after the herring. Herring seiners, draggers and gill nets had finished it all by the early 80's. Today’s contamination of the bay is part of the reason the rebound hasn’t been what was hoped for.
South Shore Raging Grannies
The South Shore Raging Grannies in Nova Scotia are committed to raising awareness about the risks to ocean health and marine life posed by oil exploration and development. We have many parodies that we sing to express our displeasure with the federal and provincial governments that promote fossil fuel development, endangering our coastal way of life and the ocean we all depend on. “Take Your Freakin’ Frackin’ Drilling” says it all:
Take Your Freakin’ Frackin’ Drilling (to the tune of “Glory Glory Hallelujah”
Can-ada’s addicted now to fossil fuel and oil, and
Off-shore fracking’s on the rise—that makes our blood just boil.
Subsea blowouts risk all life in water and on soil.
Stop drilling off our shores!
Take your freakin frackin drilling and, keep it off our seas,
We don’t want an accident to harm our fisheries,
Take your freakin’ frackin’ drilling off to Mars or Mercury
Stop drilling off our shores!
CHORUS
Oil-y tides put oil in motion/Oil-y fish and birds die victims
Of oil-y slim-y corporations/Stop drilling off our shores!
Capping subsea blowouts takes not one but thirteen days,
All because the capping stack must travel from Norway.
All we need is clean green en-er-gy to light our way.
Stop drilling off our shores!
Take your freakin frackin drilling and, keep it off our seas!
We don’t want an accident to harm our fisheries.
Take your freakin’ frackin’ drilling off to Mars or Mercury!
Stop drilling off our shores!
Source: BP Oil Spill Protest Anthem (Florida Grannies)
Revised by Wolfvile Grannies and South Shore Grannies, Mar 13, 2017
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/shell-canada-subsea-blowouts-nova-scotia-drilling-1.3280181
Take Your Freakin’ Frackin’ Drilling (to the tune of “Glory Glory Hallelujah”
Can-ada’s addicted now to fossil fuel and oil, and
Off-shore fracking’s on the rise—that makes our blood just boil.
Subsea blowouts risk all life in water and on soil.
Stop drilling off our shores!
Take your freakin frackin drilling and, keep it off our seas,
We don’t want an accident to harm our fisheries,
Take your freakin’ frackin’ drilling off to Mars or Mercury
Stop drilling off our shores!
CHORUS
Oil-y tides put oil in motion/Oil-y fish and birds die victims
Of oil-y slim-y corporations/Stop drilling off our shores!
Capping subsea blowouts takes not one but thirteen days,
All because the capping stack must travel from Norway.
All we need is clean green en-er-gy to light our way.
Stop drilling off our shores!
Take your freakin frackin drilling and, keep it off our seas!
We don’t want an accident to harm our fisheries.
Take your freakin’ frackin’ drilling off to Mars or Mercury!
Stop drilling off our shores!
Source: BP Oil Spill Protest Anthem (Florida Grannies)
Revised by Wolfvile Grannies and South Shore Grannies, Mar 13, 2017
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/shell-canada-subsea-blowouts-nova-scotia-drilling-1.3280181
Star Family of LaHave
The Star family spent time experimenting with fabric and photography at some favourite local spots just before beaches were closed this winter. The pictures definitely speak for themselves!
Star Family of LaHave
Star Family
Star Family of LaHave
Star Family
Star Family of LaHave
Star Family
Marilyn Kellough
"Late Summer" - Marilyn is a watercolour artist from Port Mouton, on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. “The two Carters Beach paintings represent the pure pristine waters of Port Mouton Bay (Carters Beach) where sand dollars, lobsters, fish, human experiences and more are threatened by negative issues made by man. These paintings may be a glimpse of the past if oil exploration should invade our natural beauty, where one will no longer be able to enjoy the purity of our beaches, fisheries, sports and enjoyment we now experience.”
Marilyn Kellough
"Incoming Tide at Carters Beach"
Marilyn Kellough
"The Early Morning Rhythm" … an image of years gone by, but the practice is still alive today
Christopher Ball
Christopher Ball is director of photography, cinematographer and camera operator based in Toronto and Nova Scotia, Canada. Nominated for a Gemini Award, Christopher has shot feature films, dramas, TV series, documentaries, commercials, short films and music videos. As a hang glider pilot, ultralight aircraft instructor, diver, white water paddler, sailor and wilderness tripper, Christopher brings the spirit of adventure to his craft. He shared this amazing aerial of Hirtle’s Beach, a favourite for many Nova Scotians.
Christopher Ball
Christopher Ball image