Peggys Cove: Let’s tread more lightly

It seems we have an almighty Nor’easter whipping on the shores of one of our most precious icons.

Tenders have been issued for a $3.1-million “viewing platform” which aims to make Peggys Cove more accessible for Nova Scotians and visitors of all abilities.

The deck is 14,000 square feet — 12,000 square feet, covering the road and another 2,000 square feet extending over the rocks. It is being funded by federal and provincial money and the project is being led by provincial Crown corporation Develop Nova Scotia.

To my mind, the design resembles a big curvy backyard deck where you might have a barbecue and drink beer.

But this is not someone’s private backyard. It’s Peggys Cove, a world-renowned lighthouse set on ice-agemolded granite rock formations famous for their rugged beauty. It is also a working fishing village admired for its authenticity, home to 40 people and a special place most Nova Scotians hold near and dear to our hearts.

Peggys Cove is vintage Nova Scotia.

So when you go in with an idea to alter this icon with a large, man-made edifice, well, of course protest is going to swell up like ocean waves in a winter storm.

This is going to happen today when a group calling itself Save the Natural Beauty of Peggys Cove marches in a “friendly protest” through the village to the rocks to express opposition to the project.

Their position is that this boardwalk will impose on the rugged beauty and authenticity of the place. They say there wasn’t enough consultation and suggest the money could be used in less intrusive ways to enhance accessibility.

Develop Nova Scotia says the deck will provide access to people with mobility issues. They say they did consult, and that the design doesn’t interfere with the view or the experience of Peggys Cove.

So here we are, polarized and divided over one of the most beautiful things in this province.

From what I have seen of the design, the deck itself is not an ugly monstrosity. In another place — like a waterfront harbour walkway in Halifax, Lunenburg or Pictou — something like this would fit in quite nicely.

But here, on the unspoiled rocky coastline of Peggys Cove, this construction will read as an out-of-proportion protuberance that will alter the experience of Peggys Cove and impose itself on a natural wonder.

Part of the problem is the process. To the average Nova Scotian living through a pandemic, this whole plan just sort of popped out of the blue. DNS hasn’t done a good job communicating to Nova Scotians and integrating public concerns into this project.

What I find really sad about this whole thing is the way this project has driven a wedge into Nova Scotia, polarizing and dividing people over one of the most treasured places in this province.

The debate has devolved into “either-or" thinking. Either we have this intrusive deck with accessibility or we don’t have waccessibility.

It doesn’t have to be like this. With clever way-finding design and creative redeployment of the $3.1-million, we can preserve the integrity of Peggys Cove and enhance accessibility.

It has been observed on Trip Advisor that Peggys Cove already has paved pathways through the granite landscape which enhance accessibility.

Perhaps that $3.1 million could be used to improve these? Maybe some of that decking material and concrete supports could be used to create an expanded matrix of accessible pathways that take people right out to the lighthouse and around the other parts of the rock face.

Money could also be spent on navigators — real Nova Scotians — who could provide assistance to visitors, shepherding them through the pathways. Wheelchairs and mobility devices could be purchased and made available free of charge.

Those navigators might also be deployed to keep wave watchers away from wet rocks during storms.

Thinking big doesn’t always have to mean building big. There are other ways around this and around Peggys Cove.