Louisbourg showcases diverse history, culture
A millennium after the Vikings first landed in Newfoundland, the historic village of Louisbourg prepared this week for the arrival of another Norwegian vessel, only to have the MS Fram expedition cruise ship opt not to enter the harbour due to rough seas.
But disappointment over the cancellation of the season’s first cruise ship visit didn’t last long as community residents instead turned their attention to the many local visitors who ventured to the waterfront area to check out the Louisbourg Market that will operate throughout the summer on days of scheduled cruise ship arrivals.
Market co-organizer Jayme Burns said vendors, including artisans, crafters and bakers, didn’t learn of the ship’s altered plans until about 10:30 a.m.
“It was disappointing to hear, but it’s heartwarming to see everybody coming out to support us regardless of the cruise ship not coming in, so I’m really happy about that,” said Burns, whose mother and aunt were among the approximately two dozen vendors set up in the Seniors Social Club.
“This is a strong community and is very supportive of the market and of growth in our community — this gave us a good idea of what to expect when the cruise passengers do come.”
And there are more ships scheduled to either anchor or dock in Louisbourg’s sheltered harbour during the next few months. In fact, four different ships are set to make eight visits to the centuries-old fishing village. The MS Fram returns on May 11 and again in October, while three other cruise ships, including One Oceans Expedition’s Akademik Loffe, will sail into the harbour that is overlooked by the Fortress of Louisbourg.
Co-organizer Dr. Bibiana MacLeod said the market was revived after closing in 2015.
“We stopped then because not enough people were coming, but when we heard the cruise ship was coming we thought this was a good opportunity to revamp the market and give it a new face,” she said. “We want to change the profile of Louisbourg because it’s more than a fortress.”
Fay MacLeod said she spent the entire previous day in the kitchen preparing baked goods for the market. And while she may not have sold as much as she would have liked, she said she’s looking forward to busier days when she and others can show off the island’s renowned hospitality.
“This is Cape Breton and everybody knows our hospitality is second to none,” she said. “This is really exciting — at one time this place was booming, so hopefully this is the start of making that happen again.”
There’s no doubt the community was ready for the no-show cruise ship. Along with the market, local residents had also unlocked the doors at the nearby Sydney and Louisbourg Railway Museum and at least one tour bus was parked near the dock.
On Thursday, the Oceans of Opportunity Marine Science and Heritage Centre held its official opening. The revitalized cluster of buildings houses a marine museum, boat-building shop, science lab and a working office where biologists are presently studying the problem of marine species getting entangled in fishing industry gear.