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Where is the Bay of Islands?
Bay of Islands is the historic name (1800's) for the
region stretching along the Atlantic coastline between
Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke on Nova Scotia's Eastern
Shore. The island archipelago, which includes the Eastern
Shore Islands Wildlife Protection Area, is well known
to birdwatchers, sailors and kayakers.
The Bay of Islands Center is located in Moser River,
roughly 1/2 way between the two communities on Highway
#7. See maps...
What is the Bay of Islands
Center?
The Bay of Islands Sustainable Economic Development
(SED) Center is a Nova Scotian non-profit association
established ad hoc in August 2001 to promote the social,
economic and environmental principles of sustainable
development, to advance the Bay of Islands concept between
Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke as a destination for nature
based and cultural tourism, and to establish the Bay
of Islands Center as a tourist attraction and educational
facility.
The physical "Center" is a 50+ acre heritage
property strategically located east of the Moser River
Bridge with frontage on Highway #7 and the river. The
intersection at Highway #7, Nauglers Settlement Road
and Parker's Loop Road (old highway 7) forms the basis
of a large 'corner' that will benefit from 'micro-enterprise
clustering' vis a vis a country market and rest stop,
to draw in traffic travelling east from Halifax and
west from Antigonish & Cape Breton.
The Center is comprised of two century houses,known
locally as "Holman's Forge" and the "Shellnut
House", a barn and several work shops, fields,
a mill stream, and wooded areas of various ages and
topographies. It is listed (2003) in NS tourism publications
as an attraction.
Currently, the Association is made up of a provisional
Board of 5 founding members described as 'social entrepreneurs'
with an additional 5 individuals desirable of becoming
board members. Volunteers at the Centre have come from
as close as the community and as far as Europe.
The AGM of the Bay of Islands Centre Ass'n will be
held prior to its fiscal year end of March 31st, 2004.
Incorporation and an advisory board are planned for
2003.
Since 2001, Center staff & volunteers have been
working on an expanded version of the economic development
report laid out for Moser River and Area by Conrod Consulting.
"Bay of Islands" branding and logo has been promoted
through hosting events like a Spring Business Showcase,
Stone Soup Festival, Ironbound Adventure Race and similar
events and through working cooperatively with other
organizations to promote the concept of business clustering.
Bay of Islands Center projects include building a heritage
walking trail along the River and planning a Regional
Trail System (HRM) to increase visitation to the region.
On the horizon are workshops on renewable energy (wind/solar),
sustainable forestry and green building technology.
Planning and infrastructure financing is needed to
develop the property into an attraction of excellence
- a destination facility that will demonstrate "appropriate"
technology for a sustainable future, facilitate relevant
events, workshops, conferences, etc. and provide food
and accommodation (camping and fixed roof) for visitors
to the Center itself and tourists in general.
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Marine
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