ParksProject Website Design and Content © by Eric Krause, Krause House Info-Research Solutions (© 1996)
All Images © Parks Canada Unless Otherwise Designated

  Researching the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
  Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITES OF CAPE BRETON
LIEUX HISTORIQUES NATIONAUX DU CAPE-BRETON

Vol. 5, No. 06
June 2003 - juin 2003 

Please Click on this  image to enlarge it

• July 7th – Bluenose II arrives
• July 8th – Maintenance Day
• July 9th – Public Sailing (9:30 – 11:30 & 1:00 – 3:00)
• Kids activities & Games (2:00 - 4:00 ) – Crabfest Site
• Evening Concert – Chad Tetford (7:00 – 10:00) Crabfest Site
• July 10th – Public Sailing (9:30 – 11:30 and 1:00 – 3:00)
• Kids activities & Games (2:00 – 4:00 ) – Crabfest Site
• Evening Concert – Aspen Grove (7:00 – 10:00) Crabfest Site
• July 11th – Bluenose departs

Tall Ships

The sailing vessels, Bel Espoir II and Rara Avis arrived in Louisbourg the morning of Friday 13, June. It was a beautiful day.

They left Brest, France on December 20, sailing to Portugal, the West Indies, New York, Halifax and Louisbourg. They left in the afternoon, after eating lobster and visiting the Fortress, sailing to St. Pierre/Miquelon before heading home.

National Acadian Day

August 15^th was officially designated as National Acadian Day in a bill passed by Parliament on June 12^th. It now awaits royal assent to become the law of the land.

This is also the date of the Feast of the Assumption which is celebrated at the Fortress in a manner similar to the Fete de St. Louis.

Learning & Discovery Passes

Once again the Learning & Discovery Passes are being given to all Parks Canada employees. This program was initiated to encourage employees to experience and learn about other national parks and historic sites and to share best practices. The pass enables an employee, accompanied by one other adult and dependent children, free entry into any ten Sites or Parks across Canada administered by Parks Canada.

To be eligible, an person must be employed for more than 60 days a year by Parks Canada.

These passes were distributed by the various supervisors during the week of June 9^th. If for some reason you did not receive your pass please check with your supervisor or Donna MacNeil at Local 3551.

News from AGB

Excerpt from a letter from Mrs. Alexander Graham Bell to Mr. David Fairchild (her son-in-law) Beinn Bhreagh, Near Baddeck, Nova Scotia, circa 1920 and the plant life indicates June.

"...I wish you and Daisy could come sometime at this season. You have only seen Beinn Bhreagh in late July and August. To my mind it is much more beautiful and interesting now with the delicacy and fairness of early youth.

Apple blossoms are practically over, but the lilac is in profuse and fragrant bloom. I don’t think you in Washington have anything to compare with it, the blossoms are so large and free and last such a long time. The Washington spring is lovely, but it is gone almost before you realize its presence. Here we can enjoy it at leisure and take in to the full every manifestation in narcissus, tulips, cherry, plum and other flowering shrubs whose names I have forgotten. The garden is gay with brilliant scarlet patches of the Bracteatum poppy contrasting with the vivid Lupines. There are also bright globe flowers and white ones, and Bleeding Hearts are out, and I gathered a dozen lilies of the valley where last years were only three."

In late May, our main gardeners in General Works, Kathy Kerr and Gary Pierrard, took part in Don Nicholson’s garden column on CBC Radio’s Information Morning. Ian MacNeil came to the site with his tape recorder and talk centered around micro-climates, use of hardy and drought tolerant perennial plants, a healthy attitude toward dandelions (as Gary said, "We just mow them, except for the ones that duck, and in a few weeks they are gone for another season."), adhering to the ideals of ‘ecological integrity’ via the use of mulch and no pesticides and other environmentally friendly gardening practices. The magnolia trees were just beginning to bloom.

Heritage Presentation Services are active as usual at this time of year serving visitors including school groups who are enjoying hands-on tours including role playing as Alexander Graham Bell or one of his associates; preparing for a Visitor Information Program Survey taking place from June 18^th to September 8^th; responding to many information and photo requests from a variety of sources; and planning Canada Day, Parks Day, Aviation Day and Harvest Home.

Canso Islands NHSC and Marconi NHSC are open as of June 1^st.

‘Tis the season, and while numbers are down there is never a dull moment.

Congratulations, Irene

On the Score Golf website a wonderful article, entitled "Paying Tribute to First Lady of ‘Fab Four’ was noticed. As you read along, you realize just how fabulous Highlands Links really is and also how lucky we are to have someone like Irene Khattar marketing this jewel. The article is a wonderful tribute to Irene and we are all very proud of her. You can read the article by clicking on this link:

http://www.scoregolf.com/columnists/index.cfm?fuseaction=Rick 

Getting to know our Parks....

Dawson Historical Complex NHSC

While turning over my Parks Canada calendar to the month of June, I was delighted to see the picture of a lovely house that is located somewhere in the Dawson Historical Complex. I searched the web high and low and could not locate the same picture but I do have some other interesting information about this house.

In the early years of the rush, the Canadian government was represented by the North West Mounted Police. In July of 1897, the federal government appointed a commissioner to head the government of the newly declared Yukon Territory. Very quickly, Dawson City grew from a city of tents and shacks to a modern metropolis, boasting churches, hotels, a school and a hospital. Perhaps more than any other building, the Commissioner's Residence represented the confidence the government had in this new town and its prospects.

It was built in 1901 to present and image of elegance and confidence, to attract potential investors, and give the town a settled and solid appearance. The office of the Commissioner itself represented a coming of age for the Yukon Territory and J.H. Ross, the Yukon Commissioner at the time, wanted the significance of his position to be reflected in a building of suitable grandeur. It was designed by Thomas Fuller, whom later became the Dominion architect and designed Ottawa's present parliament buildings. The first building on the site was a simple, two story structure with classical lines. It was modified within two years after its construction into a fanciful Victorian mansion with verandas and elaborate gingerbread ornamentation.

(Original Commissionaire’s House)

After a fire in 1906, the building was reconstructed to the form and appearance of the house that stands today.

Please Click on this  image to enlarge it

Rollie Lamothe

We regret to inform you of the death of Rollie Lamothe on Sunday, June 22, 2003.

Rollie was employed at the Fortress as Materiel & Contract Services Officer from 1993 to 2002 when he retired because of poor health.

Rollie will be missed by all who knew and worked with him over the years.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Rollie’s name can do so directly to the NS Kidney Foundation or by contacting Donna MacNeil at Local 3551.

Statistics

For the week ending June 23 our year to date totals were: 11,262 - a small decrease of 4% from last year.

Happy Canada Day

This is a reminder that once again this year, entry to national parks and national historic sites will be free on Canada Day. Entry on Parks Day, July 19, will also be free at national parks only. All other service fees will continue apply on both these days.