Developing Our Waterfront
Our Waterfront is a part of our history and our identity. We have made some great strides with the establishment of our artist incubator and the new Oceans Innovation Centre (former creamery building). We have new updates at the waterfront, such as the new fully accessible active transportation waterfront trail, and accessibility work and upgrades at the Granville Green grounds and Sunset Park. We have a great Waterfront Development Committee eager to roll up their sleeves to continue to grow our waterfront!
- Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton
Waterfront Renewal
The Town of Port Hawkesbury sought funding from the Province’s Beautification and Streetscaping Program in 2023 and 2024 to revamp and renew our waterfront on Lower Water Street. Also added to the waterfront via project partnerships were visitor kiosks for small watercraft rental and commerce, as well as planter boats and outdoor furniture. Over the next few years plans will continue to renew our waterfront area.
Sunset Park.
PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION, “THE WAVE”, TAKES UP RESIDENCE IN SUNSET PARK
Port Hawkesbury’s latest public art installation was designed and created by well known Cape Breton artist Gordon Kennedy. With different shapes, forms and colours, Gordon expresses ideas and emotions.
His intention is to touch and excite the imagination. Gordon’s latest piece “The Wave” which has been installed in the Sunset Park, captures the beauty that our surrounding natural setting provides each day. Gordon’s idea is the most important part of the creative process, rather than the result. Gordon attended Vancouver Art School, now called the Emily Carr College of Art, in the early 70’s, where he studied painting and metal sculpture. After graduating, he traveled to Europe and then returned to Vancouver and set up a painting studio. In 1977, he moved to Toronto to experience the art scene. From there, he found his way to Cape Breton Island in the early 80’s and has been living and working here ever since.
In the 90s, he responded to the ever-present need to change, and he began to experiment again with three-dimensional forms which has led to his most recent works which include sculptures of metal, fibreglass and cement. There have been many shifts in his work over the years, but the basic underlying drive remains the same: that is to touch and to excite the imagination.
Gordon has noted that, “When thinking about this project and Port Hawkesbury’s rich history, it provided many interesting options to work with. Ship building, fishing and lumber are a few. They all had a connection with the ocean. The ocean being a major influence, I worked with the rhythms and shapes I associate with it to create this sculpture. The location of the sculpture in the new Sunset Park with the water behind and evening colours made the choice of stainless steel a natural. Its reflective qualities will pick up the subtle changes of colour throughout the day and catch the sunset in the evening. Even at night there will be interesting reflections. Thank you to the Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Waterfront Advisory Committee, Joe Jenaga Engineering for donating the pedestal design, and C.W. Bennett Cement for construction of the pedestal, Target Hydraulics the art piece fabricator, and our funding partners The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia. Work will continue on Sunset Park in the spring, with the addition of plantings, walkways, sorting areas, picnic shelters and seating.
I’d like to congratulate our hard-working Port Hawkesbury Waterfront Development Advisory Committee made up of community and business citizens, council members and town staff. This artwork is demonstrative of the ongoing commitment, development and creativity being invested at one of our town’s strongest assets – our waterfront. Our council has made waterfront development one of our key priorities and we love hearing the positive feedback from both people living in and visiting our town.
- Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton
Creamery Building Transformation.
The Creamery Building had been a chronically vacant and unfinished building when I became Mayor in 2016. Today, it looks much different! It is home to both the Nova Scotia Community College and Nautical Institute’s Marine Training Extension Facility, and the new Oceans Innovation Centre that will continue to evolve in the next term.
In 2016, the Town made a commitment to prioritize waterfront development and part of this focus was the “Creamery Building” that had been vacant and in poor condition for many years. We promoted this building to various private sector developers and industry partners. We were so pleased to work with the Nova Scotia Community College and Nautical Institute and have them become partners in transforming this very historic property.
The Creamery Building’s Transformation.
It is so fitting to have a footprint for the Nautical Institute at the Port Hawkesbury Waterfront. Canadians everywhere rely on marine transportation for trade, travel and security. The program contributes to a strong marine industry in very high demand, and it is also very inclusive in that the program is built to encourage and support underrepresented groups to train for, and seek jobs in the marine sector.
The Oceans Innovation Centre now includes an extension office for NSCC that contains a dedicated classroom space and facilities to train approximately 95 students per year at this location. The site will also be used as a preparatory orientation site for all marine students who will be boarding training vessels at the Port Hawkesbury Wharf.
There is still a section of the Oceans Innovation Centre yet to be developed, and plans are underway in partnership with others like the Cape Breton Partnership to continue to develop this space and to determine next steps for the Innovation Centre.
Waterfront Refresh Days with Town Staff.
The talented and resourceful staff of the Town of Port Hawkesbury often participates in Waterfront development “refresh” work, alongside community volunteers. It is always great to see “team building” - and quite literally “town building” happening at our waterfront.
Staff had a lot of fun, and I know citizens have appreciated the refreshes over the years at one of waterfront, one of our favorite Town locations!
Custom’s House Artisan Incubator
Like the Creamery Building, the former “Wellness Centre” had been a chronically vacant building owned by the Town when I became mayor in 2026. This historical building has been completely transformed into “Custom’s House Artisan Incubator.”
This has been a phenomenal addition to our waterfront, and the artists have a place to hone their craft and skills, plus it is an opportunity for them to sell and promote their art.
Custom’s House is a wonderful example of what can be accomplished with great community partners! Thanks to the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design.
Please stop by or visit the website to see many of the artists who’s work is showcased at Custom’s House.
Ocean Innovation Centre.
A Marine Innovation Centre “Feasibility Study” is presently underway.
The Creamery Building is an important historical landmark in our Town, nevertheless it has been sitting in poor repair for more than a decade and has been chronically vacant. Stakeholder engagement for a “Marine Innovation Centre” led to interest from NSCC to enter into a long-term lease agreement and they have invested $1 million of renovations into this important historical building. The Marine Innovation Centre, should this project reach fruition, will compliment the NSCC anchor tenants.
Signing and Branding.
New modern signage and branding is giving our Town a fresh new vibe. Its important to put our best foot forward, because first impressions are the longest lasting ones. If we want to attract and retain people and businesses to Port Hawkesbury, we must continue to work on our Town’s brand as a modern and progressive Town that has a small town feel, but BIG TOWN opportunities and potential.
