West Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
West Lawrencetown is a community within the Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia
on the Eastern Shore
on Route 207
along the scenic route Marine Drive
.
in 1710, Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi'kmaq. Father Le Loutre's War
began when Edward Cornwallis
arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21, 1749. By unilaterally establishing Halifax the British were violating earlier treaties with the Mi'kmaq (1726), which were signed after Dummer's War
. The British quickly began to build other settlments. To guard against Mi'kmaq, Acadian and French attacks on the new protestant settlements, British fortifications were erected in Halifax (1749), Dartmouth (1750), Bedford (Fort Sackville) (1751), Lunenburg
(1753) and Lawrencetown
(1754).
In 1754, Nova Scotia
's Lieutenant Governor
Charles Lawrence, mindful of the threat the French
posed at Fortress Louisbourg
on Cape Breton Island
, of the intentions of the Mi'kmaq and the Acadians, offered land grants to twenty families, who referred to their settlement as Lawrence's Town, which became Lawrencetown.
Lawrencetown Beach is a provincial park and was one of the first beaches in the province to be supervised by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service who have been on duty there since 1973.
This beach is a local favourite. Families, couples, hikers, mountain-bikers (loving that great trail system near the beach), and body-boarders share the beach life with the dedicated surf crowd. For nature enthusiasts, Lawrencetown Beach area is home to lots of watchable wildlife. The beach is also the site of all kinds of activities and events. Surfers gather for contests like the September Storm Classic. Kids of all ages love the Kite Festival with demonstrations, a barbecue
, and prizes. Other activities include guided flora and fauna walks and the annual Cyclesmith Duathlon that starts at Lawrencetown Beach.
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...
on the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore (Nova Scotia)
The Eastern Shore is a region of Nova Scotia Canada. It is the Atlantic coast running northeast from Halifax Harbour to the eastern end of the peninsula at the Strait of Canso....
on Route 207
Nova Scotia Route 207
Route 207 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is located in the Halifax Regional Municipality and connects Dartmouth to Porter on the Eastern Shore.-Dartmouth:...
along the scenic route Marine Drive
Marine Drive (Nova Scotia)
The Marine Drive is a designated scenic route along Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. It closely follows the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the Strait of Canso from the Canso Causeway to the junction of Route 322 and Highway 111 in Dartmouth....
.
History
Despite the British Conquest of AcadiaSiege of Port Royal (1710)
The Siege of Port Royal , also known as the Conquest of Acadia, was conducted by British regular and provincial forces under the command of Francis Nicholson against a French Acadian garrison under the command of Daniel d'Auger de Subercase, at the Acadian capital, Port Royal...
in 1710, Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi'kmaq. Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre's War
Father Le Loutre’s War , also known as the Indian War, the Micmac War and the Anglo-Micmac War, took place between King George's War and the French and Indian War in Acadia and Nova Scotia. On one side of the conflict, the British and New England colonists were led by British Officer Charles...
began when Edward Cornwallis
Edward Cornwallis
Lieutenant General Edward Cornwallis was a British military officer who founded Halifax, Nova Scotia with 2500 settlers and later served as the Governor of Gibraltar.-Early life:...
arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on June 21, 1749. By unilaterally establishing Halifax the British were violating earlier treaties with the Mi'kmaq (1726), which were signed after Dummer's War
Dummer's War
Dummer's War , also known as Lovewell's War, Father Rale's War, Greylock's War, the Three Years War, the 4th Indian War or the Wabanaki-New England War of 1722–1725, was a series of battles between British settlers of the three northernmost British colonies of North America of the time and the...
. The British quickly began to build other settlments. To guard against Mi'kmaq, Acadian and French attacks on the new protestant settlements, British fortifications were erected in Halifax (1749), Dartmouth (1750), Bedford (Fort Sackville) (1751), Lunenburg
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
(1753) and Lawrencetown
Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia
There are several locations in Nova Scotia with the name Lawrencetown:* Lawrencetown in Annapolis County* Lawrencetown in Halifax County* Upper Lawrencetown, also in Halifax County* West Lawrencetown, also in Halifax County...
(1754).
In 1754, 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 Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
Charles Lawrence, mindful of the threat the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
posed at Fortress Louisbourg
Fortress of Louisbourg
The Fortress of Louisbourg is a national historic site and the location of a one-quarter partial reconstruction of an 18th century French fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia...
on Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, of the intentions of the Mi'kmaq and the Acadians, offered land grants to twenty families, who referred to their settlement as Lawrence's Town, which became Lawrencetown.
Beaches
West Lawencetown is also the home of 2 beaches. Lawrencetown Beach, a south-facing stretch of sand that unfurls lazily for nearly 1.5 km (1 mi), is renowned as a prime destination for local and international surfers, located along Route 207, twenty-five miles from the hustle and cosmopolitan bustle of downtown Halifax.Lawrencetown Beach is a provincial park and was one of the first beaches in the province to be supervised by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service who have been on duty there since 1973.
This beach is a local favourite. Families, couples, hikers, mountain-bikers (loving that great trail system near the beach), and body-boarders share the beach life with the dedicated surf crowd. For nature enthusiasts, Lawrencetown Beach area is home to lots of watchable wildlife. The beach is also the site of all kinds of activities and events. Surfers gather for contests like the September Storm Classic. Kids of all ages love the Kite Festival with demonstrations, a barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
, and prizes. Other activities include guided flora and fauna walks and the annual Cyclesmith Duathlon that starts at Lawrencetown Beach.