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Fall on the East Coast

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Fall On The East Coast

It’s that time of year to “head to the hills” we say!

East Coasters know; all to well, about seasonal changes and living life along the coast. As true East Coasters; we shift gears pretty quick, and adjust to the shorter days and cooler weather. Fall on the East Coast is one of our most beautiful seasons! Yearly; we can experience the changing colors in the trees and the colourful carpet of leaves that surround us!.

Our vast woodlands of maples, birch, poplar, oak, ash, intertwined with the evergreens display a pretty colourful scene with the seasons changes. Whether it’s a walk in your neighbourhood, a hike in the woods, a bike ride along your favourite path or a drive on the country backroads; there is a spectacular display of colors everywhere you turn.

We all know; too well, that fall is in the air by the feel of the autumn morning sun, the smell of the fresh crispy air, the leaves crunching under your feet, the early morning dew and the cooler winds are blowing. It’s a time when we gather and give thanks, we store up and prepare for the colder days ahead!

So put on your best sweater, get outdoors and experience fall on the East Coast! Just where is that place for you?

Filed Under: Livin' Life on the East Coast Tagged With: East Coast, fall, Fall on the East Coast

Coal Mining In Atlantic Canada

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Coal..black coal…or better known as “King Coal” dominated the energy industry for about three centuries. When coal and coal mining was at it’s height; it provided a great amount of employment in the eastern half of Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick. Although profitable it was a dangerous business that brought a lot of hardship to miners and their families.

Black Coal (photo onzecretivitijd)

Coal Mining

Coal mining; on the East Coast, began in Port Morien, Cape Breton in the early 1700’s. The French had just built Fortress Louisbourg and they needed a better source of energy. Coal became the answer to a more efficient high energy need. Cape Breton; on the Atlantic Coast; had an abundance of coal and thus a major industry developed over time. In the early days; coal was mainly surface mined and was used primarily for home use. By the mid-1800’s; during the Age of Industrialization, there was increased demand and coal mining soon went underground to keep up with supply. The high heat generated from burning coal was needed to manufacture steel, power the latest steam ships and fire the steam engines for the railroad. In short, “Coal was King.” In 1920, 65% of Canada’s energy output was in the form of coal and it dominated right up until the late 1940’s.

Mine Shaft(photo Dariuszsankowski)

Coal Miners

Generations of families were brought up mining coal in mining towns all over the Coast. Men of all ages braved the depths of the underground mines to make a living and provide for their families.. A Miner’s job brought tremendous risk, was physically tasking, dangerous and a constant worry for the men and their families. In the early days; the company owned the town, the store and the miners. Wages were limited for the work at hand. Imagine working underground for six days a week and 10 long hours at a time. Never seeing the light of day! Black lung disease; from the coal dust, was no stranger to many. Back then there were limited safety measures in place and the danger was so real. Around 1880; miner’s unions were organized and gradually the working conditions and wages improved. It was still a risky place to work so far underground. It was a way of life for many in Eastern Nova Scotia and in the Minto area of New Brunswick.

Brave Coal Miner(photo tunoolger)

Mining Disasters

Underground mining; for coal, was a high risk profession and to the Miner there was always the fear of a mine collapse; and rightly so. Coal gave off a very combustible coal dust that generated methane inside the mines. One spark could easily ignite a disaster. In Cape Breton; the Drummond Mine Collapse(1873), 60 miners perished. In New Glasgow; The Westray Mine Disaster(1992) 26 miners perished. The community hardest hit over time was Springhill, Nova Scotia. In 1891, 125 miners perished, in 1956, 39 perished and in 1958, a collapse killed 74 more.

Early Mining Shaft(photoPublic Domain Pictures)

These days, coal is not in much demand but some surface mines are still in operation. Do you remember the coal delivery, shoveling it into the basement and firing the furnace. Black smoke dotted the air from the chimneys everywhere. There are many books written about the Mining Days and many a song that has been sung. Cape Breton’s singers; “Men of the Deeps” keep the stories and the memories very much alive. Coal mining and the Miners are an integral part of our history. It’s history that we should all know about and carry forever in our hearts.  We honour these brave men of the deep.

Filed Under: Livin' Life on the East Coast Tagged With: Coal Miner, Coal Mining, Coal Mining in Atlantic Canada

Ice Fishing

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It’s winter and the ice is frozen! The ice fishing shanties are clustered in little communities all over the waterways. Well, ice fishing is as old as the hills all over northern climates of the world. You just cut a hole in the ice and drop a line! Do it for sport and just for the commaraderie. It’s sure to be a good time.

Ice fishing on the Bay of Chaleur(photoD.Dugas)

The shelters can be as simple as a tent and as fancy as a small house you can actually sleep in. The most popular is a basic 6X6 shanty made of wood and decorated up in some colorful ways. All you need beyond this, is something to sit on, a line,a hook with a bobber, fish bait, an auger to cut the hole and a scoop to keep the hole free of sludge. Fresh caught and frozen on the ice; for a great feed back home! Doesn’t get any better ‘n that! Dress warm but a small propane heater can heat a shanty right nice. The season usually ends in early March. Beware when the weather begins to warm up as many a shanty has been lost due to an early thaw!

Ice Fishing(photo:igrishkoff)

It is certainly not a sport for kings but it’s surely a popular one. Be so lucky if you ever get invited out to a shanty. The social gathering on the ice with yer buddies is guarenteed to be a good time. I just betcha have a lot of fun!

Filed Under: Livin' Life on the East Coast Tagged With: Ice Fishing

Maple Sugar

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An East Coast winter would not be complete without the advent of Maple Sugar Season. The syrup and sugar production was first discovered by the Indigenous Peoples who thankfully shared the technique with our earliest settlers. Maple Sugar has always been associated with the northern climate as Maple and Birch Trees thrive in that weather. From mid-February to early March(weather permitting)production begins and the producers head to the woods to tap the trees for the treasured syrup.

Maple Trees

Liquid Gold Syrup

The majestic Maple tree produces starch, stores it in it’s roots, gradually converts this into sugar then this sugar rises into the sap of the tree. With the right temperature; the saps runnin’ and the real work begins. Time is crucial as the ideal weather needs to be above freezing days and nights below freezing. The liquid sap is collected and transported to the Sugar Camps; in barrels, hauled by horse and sled. In todays world; you may see a tubing system connected to each tree that gravity feeds the sap; on down to the Sugar Shack. At the camp; the sap is boiled down, often on an open fire. This evaporates the water content and produces the pure liquid gold syrup we all so love. An average tree can have a producing life span of 100 years and provide up to 60 litres of raw sap over the season.

Sap Runnin'(photo:diapicard)

So; when you are out driving along a mountain ridge and see smoke rising deep in the forest, someone’s boiling sap. Maple sugar season is in full swing. Stop into your local Sugar Camp and enjoy some fresh syrup, maple sugar, candy and a feed of pancakes; if you are lucky. Spring is in the air!

Filed Under: Livin' Life on the East Coast Tagged With: Maple Sugar, Sugar Camps, Sugar Shack

Pond Hockey

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Hockey

History

HOCKEY! Pond Hockey! It surely is one of our great Canadian national sports! How did it come about? Well; it all started in Europe as a simple stick ball game played on outdoor fields. It soon evolved into ice hockey when this side of the pond became populated. In our early years; our country had mainly a rural population and the people needed to have recreational games all winter long. We had ice on our frozen waterways everywhere and we had skates! Pond Hockey was soon developed from the game of stick ball. It is said that this modern game of Hockey had origins in Windsor, Nova Scotia; around 1810, when the English military were stationed there. This could be but I am sure variations of the game were being played over the years in many areas. Never the less the good ol’ game of hockey became a popular sport!

Frozen Pond

Play Hockey

Once the colder temperatures set in and the ice was thick enough; people everywhere gathered on the frozen patches to play this game. Teams were picked from whoever showed up at the time. All you needed was markers for a goal line, a stick, a block of wood, a pair of skates, some buddies and a smooth patch of ice! The objective was to just score and the only rule was for one team to score more than the other. Now what’s better than playing a game of pick up hockey; on a frozen pond, with yer buddies! (Pucks were only invented in the late 1800’s so a ball or a block of wood was used instead.) They would play from morning ’til night with players coming and going as the day went on. There was no real coaching and yer skills were developed by trying to hold onto that block of wood, passing it to a teammate and trying to make a great score!

Hockey

Hockey

Pond hockey really thrived until about the mid 1900’s when the population started a major shift to the cities. Ice hockey; as we know it, became a more organized sport in the late 1800’s. Teams were then formed by local sporting clubs, YMCA’s and Minor Hockey soon evolved. As a matter of fact; the NHL recruited some of the greatest hockey players of our time, that grew up playing pond hockey. It’s here that they really honed their skills. All for the love of the game!

Hockey Ready

Pick Up Hockey

Even today; somewhere out there during the winter months, there is a game of Pond Hockey going on. There is even an organized tournament for Pond Hockey lovers at the annual World Pond Hockey Championship in Plaster Rock, N.B. There is truely something special about playing Hockey outside on a frozen patch of ice; the way it was originated. Cold! Yes its cold! Your toes, your hands and your face are frozen but pay no mind. Equipment! Who needs it! Right! You call out; “no liftin'” after you get that puck in the shins! All in all it’s just good ol’ fun. Man, does it get any better!

Filed Under: Livin' Life on the East Coast Tagged With: Hockey, Pond Hockey

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