Municipality of Clare
And Acadie for all!
Rosie Seaber moved from California to Maine for the express purpose of being closer to the Acadian community of Clare in southwest Nova Scotia. It all started with the accidental discovery of some Acadian music. This led to a little internet research that revealed their remarkable history and culture, causing Seaber to plan a visit.
In August of 2007, Seaber travelled to the Maritimes to witness Acadian communities for herself. She was smitten. "I stopped in six different Acadian communities and made lasting friends in both P.E.I. and Cape Breton," she says. "I then ended my little tour in Clare and was totally blown away by the hospitality I was shown there." As Seaber drove out of Clare, she felt like she was leaving her heart behind. She moved to Bangor, Maine the next spring and has already made a handful of trips to Clare.
Individuals falling in love with the region are no surprise to Pam Thibault, a Development Officer with the South West Shore Development Authority. In fact, the region is not only attracting repeat visitors like Seaber, Last year, the agency’s Immigration Information Navigator program assisted more than 200 immigrants with settlement services.
Geographically, the Municipality of Clare sits in the lower half of Digby County, between the port towns of Digby and Yarmouth. Shaped like a piece of pie, with the slender part pointing inland, most of the area’s 52 communities dot the 30-mile stretch of St. Mary’s Bay.
Largely known for its fishing, lumber, and shipbuilding industries, the area of approximately 9,000 people also employs local artisans and those working within e-business and tourism. Recently the topic of renewable energy has been on everyone's lips.
The Warden of the Municipality of Clare, Jean Melanson, reports that Clare was the first municipality in Nova Scotia to undertake an energy audit. "We learned that $40 million per year leaves the community in energy costs alone," says Melanson. "We're really focusing on ways to consume less energy and be more creative about where our energy comes from."
Twenty-eight potential renewable energy projects have been identified with eight regarded as financially feasible. Thus far, one project has roared out of the gates: Université Sainte-Anne's central heating plant is being converted to wood chips with plans to install a wind turbine and solar panels. "The community is 100 per cent behind this," says Melanson. "They're excited for these projects to move forward."
Becoming a national green star may also help draw in more tourists, although Tourism Development Officer Nicole Boudreau reports that tourism numbers are not suffering now. The Festival acadien de Clare alone brings in over 40,000 people while the oldest wooden church in North America – L’Église Sainte-Marie – registers 10,000 visitors per year.
A recent re-organization of Nova Scotia's scenic travelways by the provincial government has provided the region with more exposure. The entire southwest region, encompassing the Municipalities of Clare, Argyle, Yarmouth, and the Town of Yarmouth, is now named "Yarmouth and Acadian Shores." According to Boudreau, it's the best thing that could have happened to tourism in Clare. "This change has allowed our region to market itself so much more effectively in the global market," says Boudreau. "The use of the word Acadian gives far more visibility to our culture."
A host of new ideas have sprung to life, including the Acadian Shores Interpretive Tour – a self-guided tour to 25 different Acadian sites – and Savour the Local Sea, which allows visitors to enjoy fresh local seafood while hearing stories behind the traditional recipes. One of the best parts of Boudreau's job is the opportunity to share the wealth of the region and share its resources. "We're also able to make much more of an economic impact within the province."
This is good news for those who have always called Clare home and for the new immigrants choosing to settle in the area. Die-hard Clare fan Rosie Seaber doesn't need any further convincing. "The countryside is lovely, the weather is nice, and the attractions of the area are all very appealing," she says. "But what sets Clare apart is the warmth, friendliness, and the joie de vivre of the people who live there. That's something worth coming back for – again and again."
