West Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia

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'West Lawrencetown in Nova Scotia

On Marine Drive

West Lawrencetown is a community within the Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia on the Eastern Shore on Route 207 along the scenic route Marine Drive.

History

Despite the British Conquest of Acadia in 1710, Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi'kmaq. Father Le Loutre's War began when Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21, 1749. By unilaterally establishing Halifax the British were violating earlier treaties with the Mi'kmaq (1726), which were signed after Dummer's War. The British quickly began to build other settlments. To guard against Mi'kmaq, Acadian and French attacks on the new protestant settlements, British fortifications were erected in Halifax (1749), Dartmouth (1750), Bedford (Fort Sackville) (1751), Lunenburg (1753) and Lawrencetown (1754).

In 1754, Nova Scotia's Lieutenant Governor Charles Lawrence, mindful of the threat the French posed at Fortress Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island, of the intentions of the Mi'kmaq and the Acadians, offered land grants to twenty families, who referred to their settlement as Lawrence's Town, which became Lawrencetown.

West Lawencetown is also the home of 2 beaches. Lawrencetown Beach, a south-facing stretch of sand that unfurls lazily for nearly 1.5 km (1 mi), is renowned as a prime destination for local and international surfers, located along Route 207, twenty-five miles from the hustle and cosmopolitan bustle of downtown Halifax.

Lawrencetown Beach is a provincial park and was one of the first beaches in the province to be supervised by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service who have been on duty there since 1973.

This beach is a local favourite. Families, couples, hikers, mountain-bikers (loving that great trail system near the beach), and body-boarders share the beach life with the dedicated surf crowd. For nature enthusiasts, Lawrencetown Beach area is home to lots of watchable wildlife. The beach is also the site of all kinds of activities and events. Surfers gather for contests like the September Storm Classic. Kids of all ages love the Kite Festival with demonstrations, a barbecue, and prizes. Other activities include guided flora and fauna walks and the annual Cyclesmith Duathlon that starts at Lawrencetown Beach.

References

Texts

• Grenier, John. The Far Reaches of Empire. War in Nova Scotia, 1710-1760. Norman: U of Oklahoma P, 2008.
• Griffiths, Naomi Elizabeth Saundaus. From Migrant to Acadian: A North American border people, 1604-1755. Montreal, Kingston: McGill-Queen's UP, 2005.
• Murdoch, Beamish. A History of Nova Scotia, Or Acadia. Vol 2. LaVergne: BiblioBazaar, 2009. pp. 166–167
• Wicken, William. Mi'kmaq Treaties on Trial: History, Land, and Donald Marshall Junior. University of Toronto Press. 2002.

Links

• West Lawrencetown
  • Explore HRM