Welcome to the Nova Scotia Heritage Schooner Rescue Society (NSHSRS), formed to preserve a unique part of our Maritime heritage.
Small wooden schooners have been a traditional sight off the coast of Nova Scotia for decades, however they are quickly becoming extinct. There are few new schooners being built, and those that do exist are getting older and more difficult to maintain, leading to a concern that Nova Scotia built schooners are beginning to lose their relevance.
A number of these wooden boats have been identified that sit “on the hard”, and many others are abandoned and deteriorating, have broken up, or have been exported elsewhere; soon many will be lost forever. NSHSRS is a new not-for-profit society formed with the express purpose of reversing this trend and protecting our schooner fleet.
How You Can Help
As we purchase, rebuild and launch schooners we plan to engage the younger generation— who have less time and disposable income to put into wooden boats—in the Schooner Rescue projects so they can carry on ensuring our maritime heritage is preserved for years to come. And, in the process, build confidence in youth through hands-on skills and sail training, connecting them to a unique part of our history, the ocean and the natural environment.
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The society has a vison to see “all unwanted Nova Scotia built schooners have been identified, rebuilt, and are once again sailing in Nova Scotian waters” , with our mission to “refurbish old Nova Scotian schooners while engaging our youth and communities in their restorations, heritage and in sail training.”
We’d be pleased if you could join us, or donate to help us achieve our mission.