Annapolis River busy on holiday

Annapolis County on Canada Day was all about 150 years of Confederation - and about the Annapolis River.

While locals celebrated all day with fun, food, and music at Jubilee Park in Bridgetown, it was the celebration in the evening that captured the enduring quality of the people who have lived beside that waterway for centuries.

“Certainly today we are proud Canadians, and today we celebrate an important milestone here in Bridgetown on the shores of the Annapolis River as we officially open the Bridgetown Jubilee Floating Dock,” said county recreation manager Debra Ryan at the official opening ceremonies in the evening. As part of that celebration a flotilla of five boats had arrived from downstream with flags to exchange at the new dock.

Premier Stephen Mcneil watched them arrive.

“This country is much older than 150 years old, and those of us who live in this part of Canada recognize that the values it’s founded on began here over 400 years ago when Membertou welcomed Champlain at Port Royal,” said Mcneil.

He said 400 years ago that river was the mode of transportation and the actual body of water upon which Membertou met and welcomed the French.

Being Canadian

Warden Tim Habinski also told the crowd it was a delight to be there to celebrate Canada Day with them.

“We have a lot to celebrate about being Canadian,” he said. “We could talk about our natural resources, the physical beauty of our country, the richness and diversity of our culture and our history, but to me the thing that I celebrate most, the thing that I think about most on Canada Day – and particularly this corner of Canada – is a culture that connects us. We are connected in this area by a culture of kindness and compassion.”

West Nova MP Colin Fraser was also at the evening celebration.

“This will be a new treasure for this community and link other communities on the Annapolis River and cause more people to want to come to this beautiful town and this beautiful area of this beautiful country,” Fraser said.

The project includes an 85foot floating dock with four 16foot fingers, a ramp, and staging deck all built by Bear River Plastic Welding. The staging area and pathway development was done free of charge by Spicer Construction. In all, the project came in at under $30,000.