Announcement Related to Georges Island National Historic Site in Halifax Harbour

August 5, 2020                          Halifax, Nova Scotia                              Parks Canada

Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Jennifer Angel, President and CEO, Develop Nova Scotia, will make an important announcement related to Georges Island National Historic Site.

Designated in 1965 as a national historic site, Georges Island is part of Halifax Defence Complex. Due to its geographic and strategic location in the middle of Halifax Harbour, the island was part of the Halifax station, one of the major naval British stations in the 18th and 19th centuries. Home to Fort Charlotte and later its two powerful seaward-facing batteries and underground tunnel complex, the island is also the site of one of Canada’s first fully automated lighthouses. Georges Island is also fatefully associated with the history of the Deportation of the Acadians who were placed in detention camps on the island.

A media tour of Georges Island will follow the announcement (about 1 hour).

Note: The trail leading to Fort Charlotte is steep in places and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. In accordance with Nova Scotia’s public health directives, all visitors to Georges Island must wear a non-medical mask in interior spaces, including the tunnels, and whenever physical distancing is not possible. There is no running water on site, visitors are encouraged to bring a water bottle.

Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice.

The details are as follows:

Date:              Thursday, August 6, 2020

Time:              Announcement starts at 11:30 a.m. (ADT) on Georges Island

                        Boat to depart at 11:00 a.m. (ADT) from
                        Ambassatours Gray Line/ Murphy at the Cable Wharf
                        1751 Lower Water St, Halifax

                        Media to arrive by 10:45 a.m. (ADT).

                        After the announcement and media tour, boat to depart from Georges
                        Island at 1:00 p.m.

Announcement Location:         Georges Island National Historic Site
                                                        Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia

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