Brier Island Nova Scotia
491 Water Street B0V1H0 Westport, NS, Canada

Bingo starts this Friday , January.29th 6:45-8:45

Additionally to my previous post, here is the story of the S.S. Corinthian. Over the years I have heard many stories about this wreck and the history that it b...rought to Brier and Long Islands. There had also been a salvage operation I believe in the 1970’s by Neil Peters and others. What we found was largely hull plates, piping and boilers. Very little is left of this once grand ship, as this area in the winter can be very violent. .Built in 1900 by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast, she was a 6,227 gross ton ship, length 430 ft. x beam 54.2 ft., with one funnel, two masts, a single screw and a speed of 13 knots. There was accommodation for 50 first class, 150 second class and 400 third class passengers. She sailed from Saint John, New Brunswick at 7:00 am on December 14 (1918) carrying a load of foodstuffs intended to alleviate wartime shortages in Britain. She lost her way in thick fog at the entrance to the Bay of Fundy and at 3:00 in the afternoon struck the Northwest Ledge of Brier Island. Her hull began to pound in the swell and her forward hull began to flood. The lighthouse supply ship CGS ABERDEEN and naval patrol vessel HMCS FEUSTUBERT were dispatched to assist from Saint John along with the tug HELENA. In the thick fog they were unable to find CORINTHIAN until the next morning.' When people heard of the grounding they went out in boats to rescue the passengers and salvage the cargo of food. This was all accomplished without the loss of life. Shortly after the "salvage operation", she broke up and what cargo was left floated ashore.

Approximately 25+ years ago, an exciting dive location with a group of adventurous friends. Diving the wreck of the S.S. Corinthian on North West Ledge, Brier I...sland. We had a short dive window at low tide right at the break of dawn. I still use most of the gear seen in the picture , although the Viking drysuit has retired. This day was very memorable to me. It was just the beginning of my love of exploring what’s below the water’s surface. Thanks for posting the pic Dan Norwood. See more

An amazing moment with a mother and calf from our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sJSfz4F6rE&t=40s

I (your admin Amy Tudor) was sadden to hear of Caroline Bedell Norwood passing. I did not know her well but I always felt a connection to her. She was a writer, photographer, story teller, historian, mother, helped to get a public library in Westport, worked on the sea and I am sure so so much more than I was aware of. I visited her a few times and I just loved her home. It was brimming with history and oddities and she was willing to share the stories with me. She wro...te a book about Brier Island (one of many books she wrote) called "Life on Brier Island, Nova Scotia: Stories and photos about the place, the people, and the boats." The book was written in 1995 and it has been a dream of mine to write the follow up to it. I spoke with Caroline about this many years ago and she gave me her blessing and encouraged me to do so. I wish I would have taken on this task while she was still of sound mind. My deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. https://www.middletonfuneralhome.com/obitu/caroline-norwood

A learning moment.

While visiting Long Island Trading in Tiverton we spotted some beautiful works of art inspired by Brier Island. The unique works are by former resident Jesse Swift and are available for sale.

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an... unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. THE EDITORIAL DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? VIRGINIA O’HANLON. 115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET. VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

2 ferries crossing in the Grand Passage. The M/V Joe Casey assumed to be coming back from Meteghan via the St. Mary's Bay passing by Peters Island and the M/V Margaret's Justice on regular runs in the Grand Passage.

Merry Christmas!

Brier Island Businesses and Services WHALE-WATCHING Mariner Cruises Whale & Seabird Tours...Continue reading

We will host a costume party and contest on Halloween 8-12 pm.

Brier Island is designated as a VIB a very important birding area.

We have been asked to post our current hours: Thursday-Saturday 5pm-12pm (last call 11pm) Sunday 5-10 pm (last call 9pm) We have the following weekly events:... Thursday pool at 7 - food by the Travelling Mermaid Sunday chase the ace 6pm food by Whitney & Tesha Friday nights Adult $$$ Bingo! Beginning on November 6th with Donairs for sale!

From the days of old!

Ferry Wharf Repairs October 5th & 8th Freeport Ferry wharf shot from the Grand Passage. October 5th construction during high tide... October 8th construction during low tide See more

Anyone know who the young man is?

The Brier Island Bog Trail got some new signage over the summer. Big, bright and bi-lingual boards now offer visitors an education on some of the birds, plant...s and history of the bog trail. A new bench was added as well for those who may need a break or just want to sit and enjoy the views. See more

Hand painted photos became popular in and to the late 1800s. Between 1915-1925 hand coloured or overpainted photographs were common among the middle class in th...e U.S. and Canada, becoming out of fashion when Kodachrome film was introduced in the 1960s. At first, dyes were diluted and used after the photo was primed with shellac. Water colours, oil paints, crayons and pastels were utilized as well. Colours were applied through the use of brushes, fingers, cotton swabs or air brushes. [Wikipedia] Have a look through some of our hand coloured photos in our collection. See more