Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
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Glace Bay (2001 pop. 16,984) is a community in the eastern part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. It forms part of the general area referred to as Industrial Cape Breton and is situated at: 46°11'49"N, 59°57'25"W.
Formerly an independently incorporated town (1901-1995), the municipal government in Glace Bay was dissolved and the community has been amalgamated into the larger regional municipality. Prior to amalgamation, Glace Bay had been the province's fourth largest urban area and was the largest town in Nova Scotia (in population).
Suburbs include: Reserve Mines, Dominion, Tower Road.
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[edit] History
As early as the 1720's the French inhabited the area to supply Fortress Louisbourg with coal[1]. They named the location Baie de Glace (literally, Ice Bay) because of the sea ice which filled the ocean each winter. Following the formation of the Dominion Coal Company in 1893, a number of mines were opened in what was destined to become Glace Bay. Small communities grew up around the mines and by 1901 they came together to form the Town of Glace Bay. At the time of incorporation, the population was 6,945.[2]By the 1940's, the figure exceeded 28,000 and Glace Bay became Canada's largest town (in population).[3] In its heyday, the town had 12 collieries but none remain. The industrial decline has seen the population decrease to 16,984 as of 2001[4] and has been dissolved/deincorporated since municipal amalgamation in 1995 which formed the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
[edit] Economy
Glace Bay was once a prosperous coal mining town. In 1860 the Glace Bay Mining Company was formed and it operated two mines. The first large colliery, the Hub Shaft, opened in 1861. Large-scale mining commenced in 1893 after exclusive mining rights were granted to the Dominion Coal Company. Glace Bay was incorporated as a town nine years later. At its high point the company operated eleven mines in all, and was responsible for 40% of Canada's coal production. Coal was transported on the Sydney and Louisburg Railway to both of those ports for shipping. The S & L Railway's main operations, including the roundhouse and machine shops were located in Glace Bay. Glace Bay's extensive coal and rail operations made the town the industrial center of Cape Breton. As coal mining became less important, the mines were closed until, in 1984 Colliery No. 26 was closed by the Cape Breton Development Corporation. Many residents of Glace Bay started to work at the two other coal mines in the area: Prince Colliery in Point Aconi and Phalen Colliery and Lingan Colliery in Lingan. However, coal mining continued its decline with Lingan closing in the mid-1990s, followed by Phalen in 1999, and Prince in 2001.
Fishing was also an important industry throughout the 20th century. However, by the 1990s fish stocks were so depleted that the fishery was closed. Some fish processing still occurs here.
High unemployment in Industrial Cape Breton has forced many residents to leave to find employment.
[edit] Present day
The population of the former town of Glace Bay has a population of slighly fewer than 17,000 people. The people of Glace Bay are very proud of their mining heritage and efforts continue to be made to revive the town's economy. In 2001, the addition of a call center operated by Stream International, using post-industrialization subsidies, has been a positive influence for the local economy, creating job opportunities and raising demand for labour in general. The current unemployment rate, while high compared to other areas in Canada, is at historically low rate for the area.
The Australian mining consortium Xstrata is the primary partner in the Donkin Coal Development Alliance, which won the rights to develop an abandoned mine site in the nearby community of Donkin. If developed, this project is expected to add 300 jobs to the Glace Bay economy.
[edit] Historical features and places
[edit] Marconi wireless site
Parks Canada maintains a national historic site in Glace Bay honouring the role of Guglielmo Marconi in the development of radio communications. In 1902, the first official wireless message was sent from this site across the Atlantic Ocean to England. A spark gap transmitter with 75 kilowatts of power fed 4 tall antennas on the 5 acre site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Marconi chose this site for its elevated flat expanse and unobstructed view out over the ocean Some of the concrete footings for the massive towers can still be seen on the grounds.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Landscape
The local landscape is heavily forested and hilly. Some of the low lying areas at the bottom of hills consist of marshes and bogs. There are rocky cliffs around the ocean along most of the coast and erosion continues to be a problem in some areas. Part of North Street has fallen into the ocean due to erosion and because of this the street had to be split into Upper and Lower North Street.
Many areas surrounding former coal mines are experiencing subsidence as the old mine shafts collapse. There are several brownfields around the community at former industrial sites.
[edit] Flora and fauna
Glace Bay has a large amount of forests and swamp surrounding the town and within the town limits. Mammals present in Glace Bay include squirrels, rabbits, fox, deer, mice, beavers, muskrats, bald eagles, great horned owls, and coyotes . Bird species include ducks, Canada geese, crows, seagulls and pigeons. Pheasant are occasionally seen around wooded areas. Smaller birds such as robins, black capped chickadees, and sparrows are also present. Frogs, salamanders, and snakes are also common in Glace Bay.
Glace Bay and the surrounding areas are heavily forested. Common deciduous trees in Glace Bay include poplars, maples, and birches. Oaks, elms, and beech trees are also present but they are less common. Common conifers include spruce and balsam fir with some pine and tamarack present as well.
The introduced Asian plants of Japanese and Giant Knotweed are common throughout the town and surrounding woodlands and are colloquially known as "elephant ears". Children would commonly play "hide and seek" in them in the past.
[edit] Climate
Glace Bay has an average temperate marine climate. The average annual yearly temperature is approximately 9.1 degrees Celsius, although in recent years it is around 10.2 due to climate change. Average precipitation is around 1200mm per year. The warmest months of the year are July and August, both with a daily average of 21 degrees (26 in the day and 16 at night). The coldest months are January (-5.7) and February (-6.5). Glace Bay is usually frost-free for about 5 months of the year from about May 20th until October 20th. Summer weather starts in late June and tends to persist until mid to late September, but spring is delayed and there is ice in the harbour usually until mid to late April. Snow is usually not seen until mid November and usually not seen after the 1st of May. The normal yearly temperature range is usually between -20 degrees and 40 degrees. The highest temperature ever recorded in Glace Bay is 45.5 degrees on August 10th, 2001 and the lowest ever was -27.3 degrees on February 8th, 1994. (Source [5])
[edit] Politics
Currently, Glace Bay is represented by the Liberal party at both the Federal and Provincial levels. Federally it is located in the riding of Cape Breton - Canso, currently held by MP Rodger Cuzner (LPC) who was re-elected in the 2006 Federal Election. Provincially it is represented by MLA Dave Wilson (NSLP) as the member for the riding of Glace Bay. This provincial electoral district is formed by the former town boundary. The Province of Cape Breton movement also orginated in Glace Bay and is pushing for a free and independent province of Cape Breton within the Canadian federation.
[edit] Mayors of Glace Bay
While Glace Bay was a town, the following people were its mayor:
- David M. Burchill 1901-1907
- John C. Douglas 1907-1910
- Henry MacDonald 1910-1912
- Gordon S. Harrington 1912-1915
- Dan Cameron 1915-1916
- Angus J. MacDonald 1917
- Alonzo O'Neil 1918-1920
- E. MacK Forbes 1920-1921
- Charles MacVicar 1933-1934
- Dan W. Morrison 1934-1950
- Dan A. MacDonald 1950-1970
- Dan A. Munroe 1970-1981
- Bruce A. Clark 1981-1988
- Donald MacInnis 1988-1995
[edit] Notable people from Glace Bay
- John Bernard Croak (war hero, WW1, recipient of the Victoria Cross)
- Gordon S. Harrington (former mayor and former premier of Nova Scotia)
- Hugh MacLennan (novelist)
- Doug Sulliman (NHL hockey player, 1979 New York Rangers 13th overall draft pick)
- Daniel Petrie (Hollywood Director)
- John W. Morgan (present Mayor of CBRM)
- Marty O'Donnell (Olympic boxer)
- Aselin Debison (musician)
- JP Cormier (musician)
- Matt Minglewood(musician)
- Gerard Phalen (senator)
- Aldun MacVicar (musician)[6]
- Kenneth Porter (Skateboarder)
[edit] Attractions
The town of Glace Bay has several draws:
- Savoy Theatre
- Miners Museum
- Marconi Museum
- Miners Village
- Renwick Brook Park
- Queen Elizabeth Park
- Glace Bay Heritage Museum
- John Bernard Croak Memorial Park
[edit] See Also
[edit] External link
