Herring Cove, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Herring Cove is a Canadian
suburban and fishing community in Nova Scotia
's Halifax Regional Municipality
. It is situated on the eastern shore of the Chebucto Peninsula
, 15 kilometres south of Downtown Halifax
. It is near the western approaches to Halifax Harbour
, and can be reached via Purcell's Cove and the Herring Cove Road through Spryfield.
It is notable as the landing point for several transatlantic communications cables including the fastest connectivity between London, England and New York City
. As of 2000, undersea connections in Herring Cove connected it with Europe via a 5,500km cable to Liverpool, another 5,600km cable to Dublin, to Boston via a 750km cable http://newscotland1398.ca/hist/nshistory51.html. As of 2012 Hibernia Atlantic
will add direct connections to London and New York City for a total distance of 6,021km, very close to the great circle route minimum; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8753784/The-300m-cable-that-will-save-traders-milliseconds.html The 30,000 square foot cable landing station at Hospital Point on Herring Cove remains the densest cluster of sub-70ms connectivity on the North Atlantic, the critical link on cables that connect the English speaking world's financial centres.
On November 24, 1797, the frigate HMS Tribune
ran aground on nearby shoals. Only 12 of the ship's 250 passengers and crew survived. The rescue was orchestrated by 13-year old Herring Cove resident Joe Cracker who rallied the community to the ship's aid and rescued the first two passengers in his small dory. There is a monument to Cracker at nearby Tribune Head which is named after the wreck.
Early surveyor's maps list the community as Dunk Cove, named for George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, also the namesake of the nearby city. The present name has been attributed to either the surname of early settlers, or the abundance of herring
in the cove
.
As an unincorporated rural community, Herring Cove was part of the Municipality of the County of Halifax
until April 1, 1996 when all municipalities in the county were amalgamated into the Halifax Regional Municipality
(HRM). Today, Herring Cove's economy is dictated not so much by the fishery (although this is still active: a narrow but relatively deep natural harbour makes a fine place to shelter fishing boats, and there is a government and many private wharves), but by its proximity to the HRM's urban core. Several subdivisions have been built in recent decades (since about 1980), leading to the decision by the Halifax Regional Water Commission
in February 2007 to extend municipal water and sanitary sewage service to the area.
In the late 1990s, the Hibernia Atlantic
trans-Atlantic communications cable project landed its western terminus at Herring Cove at Hospital Point. In 2000, Worldwide Telecom Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Worldwide Fiber Inc., built its 30,000-square-foot cable landing station. In 2010 successor Hibernia Atlantic
expanded the facility for new cables including a 59ms cable connecting London to New York City that was expected to enter service in 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8753784/The-300m-cable-that-will-save-traders-milliseconds.html and to provide an extremely strategic speed advantage to financial trading.
and Rick Mercer
participated in the 2011 jump, filming a segment for the Rick Mercer Report
.
and Route 349
, local roads servicing the southeastern side of the Chebucto Peninsula.
There are several hiking trails in the community; one to "The Look-off" (accessible from Purcell's Cove road) has become a popular place to picnic, and features a splendid view of the Atlantic. At the highest point on the cliffs (30 metres above sea level), there is an unfinished monument constructed of a pile of rocks in memory of George Brown, an Olympic rowing athlete. The look-off also affords a panoramic view of the entrance to Halifax Harbour
north to Halifax and east to Eastern Passage
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
suburban and fishing community in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
. It is situated on the eastern shore of the Chebucto Peninsula
Chebucto Peninsula
The Chebucto Peninsula is a Canadian peninsula located in central Nova Scotia entirely within the Halifax Regional Municipality on the Atlantic coast....
, 15 kilometres south of Downtown Halifax
Downtown Halifax
Downtown Halifax is the city centre of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern-central portion of the Halifax Peninsula, on Halifax Harbour, it serves as the business, entertainment, and tourism hub of the region.- Municipal:...
. It is near the western approaches to Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
, and can be reached via Purcell's Cove and the Herring Cove Road through Spryfield.
It is notable as the landing point for several transatlantic communications cables including the fastest connectivity between London, England and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. As of 2000, undersea connections in Herring Cove connected it with Europe via a 5,500km cable to Liverpool, another 5,600km cable to Dublin, to Boston via a 750km cable http://newscotland1398.ca/hist/nshistory51.html. As of 2012 Hibernia Atlantic
Hibernia Atlantic
Hibernia Atlantic is a privately held, US-owned, transatlantic submarine communications cable system in the North Atlantic Ocean which connects Canada, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe....
will add direct connections to London and New York City for a total distance of 6,021km, very close to the great circle route minimum; http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8753784/The-300m-cable-that-will-save-traders-milliseconds.html The 30,000 square foot cable landing station at Hospital Point on Herring Cove remains the densest cluster of sub-70ms connectivity on the North Atlantic, the critical link on cables that connect the English speaking world's financial centres.
History
John Salusbury owned a 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) estate there in 1750, which he sold within a few years having been unable to earn an income from it. European settlement occurred in earnest around 1790. Many current residents are the descendants of original Irish-Catholic settlers to the area.On November 24, 1797, the frigate HMS Tribune
HMS Tribune (1796)
HMS Tribune was a Royal Navy 36-gun fifth rate. This frigate was originally a French ship captured and commissioned into service in the Navy. She only served for a year before being wrecked off of Herring Cove, Nova Scotia with the loss of all but 12 of her crew.-Capture:Tribune was originally the...
ran aground on nearby shoals. Only 12 of the ship's 250 passengers and crew survived. The rescue was orchestrated by 13-year old Herring Cove resident Joe Cracker who rallied the community to the ship's aid and rescued the first two passengers in his small dory. There is a monument to Cracker at nearby Tribune Head which is named after the wreck.
Early surveyor's maps list the community as Dunk Cove, named for George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, also the namesake of the nearby city. The present name has been attributed to either the surname of early settlers, or the abundance of herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
in the cove
Cove
A cove is a small type of bay or coastal inlet. They usually have narrow, restricted entrances, are often circular or oval, and are often inside a larger bay. Small, narrow, sheltered bays, inlets, creeks, or recesses in a coast are often considered coves...
.
As an unincorporated rural community, Herring Cove was part of the Municipality of the County of Halifax
Halifax County, Nova Scotia
Halifax County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein...
until April 1, 1996 when all municipalities in the county were amalgamated into the Halifax Regional Municipality
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia
Halifax Regional Municipality is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Regional Municipality had a 2006 census population of 372,679, while the metropolitan area had a 2010 estimated population of 403,188, and the urban area of Halifax had a population of 282,924...
(HRM). Today, Herring Cove's economy is dictated not so much by the fishery (although this is still active: a narrow but relatively deep natural harbour makes a fine place to shelter fishing boats, and there is a government and many private wharves), but by its proximity to the HRM's urban core. Several subdivisions have been built in recent decades (since about 1980), leading to the decision by the Halifax Regional Water Commission
Halifax Regional Water Commission
The Halifax Regional Water Commission is the municipal water, wastewater and stormwater utility serving the residents of the Halifax Regional Municipality , pursuant to the Public Utilities Act...
in February 2007 to extend municipal water and sanitary sewage service to the area.
In the late 1990s, the Hibernia Atlantic
Hibernia Atlantic
Hibernia Atlantic is a privately held, US-owned, transatlantic submarine communications cable system in the North Atlantic Ocean which connects Canada, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe....
trans-Atlantic communications cable project landed its western terminus at Herring Cove at Hospital Point. In 2000, Worldwide Telecom Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Worldwide Fiber Inc., built its 30,000-square-foot cable landing station. In 2010 successor Hibernia Atlantic
Hibernia Atlantic
Hibernia Atlantic is a privately held, US-owned, transatlantic submarine communications cable system in the North Atlantic Ocean which connects Canada, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe....
expanded the facility for new cables including a 59ms cable connecting London to New York City that was expected to enter service in 2012 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8753784/The-300m-cable-that-will-save-traders-milliseconds.html and to provide an extremely strategic speed advantage to financial trading.
Events
Popular events include the annual Herring Cove Polar Bear Dip, currently in its 17th year. Swimmers jump from Government Wharf into the frigid Atlantic waters on New Years Day, raising money for a local charity. Ron JamesRon James
Ron James MBE is a mountaineer, rock climber, writer and co-founder of the Ogwen Cottage Mountain School in Snowdonia, North Wales, UK.He was an accomplished rock climber with over 40 first ascents in North Wales many of which have become classics such as Grey Arete, Glyder Fawr, Meshach and the...
and Rick Mercer
Rick Mercer
Richard Vincent "Rick" Mercer is a Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and blogger.Mercer first came to national attention in 1990, when he premiered his one man show Show Me the Button, I'll Push It, or Charles Lynch Must Die at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in...
participated in the 2011 jump, filming a segment for the Rick Mercer Report
Rick Mercer Report
Rick Mercer Report is a Canadian television comedy series which airs on CBC Television...
.
Setting
The community is at the intersection of Route 253Nova Scotia Route 253
Nova Scotia Route 253 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Halifax Regional Municipality and connects Armdale with Herring Cove.It is also known as the "Purcells Cove Road."-Communities:*Armdale*Jollimore...
and Route 349
Nova Scotia Route 349
Route 349 is collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in the Halifax Regional Municipality and connects Armdale at the Armdale Traffic Circle with Sambro at Route 306 ....
, local roads servicing the southeastern side of the Chebucto Peninsula.
There are several hiking trails in the community; one to "The Look-off" (accessible from Purcell's Cove road) has become a popular place to picnic, and features a splendid view of the Atlantic. At the highest point on the cliffs (30 metres above sea level), there is an unfinished monument constructed of a pile of rocks in memory of George Brown, an Olympic rowing athlete. The look-off also affords a panoramic view of the entrance to Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour
Halifax Harbour is a large natural harbour on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, located in the Halifax Regional Municipality.-Harbour description:The harbour is called Jipugtug by the Mi'kmaq first nation, anglisized as Chebucto...
north to Halifax and east to Eastern Passage
Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia
Eastern Passage is a Canadian urban community in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.Located at the southeastern edge of Halifax Harbour, fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Passage derives its name from the narrow strait separating the mainland from McNabs Island and Lawlor Island, both...
.