The society’s vision: “All unwanted Nova Scotia built schooners are identified, rebuilt, and are sailing in Nova Scotian waters.”
Our mission is to “Refurbish old Nova Scotian schooners while engaging our youth and communities in their restoration, heritage and in sail training.”
There is increasing concern that Nova Scotia built schooners are beginning to lose their relevance. There are few new schooners being built and those that exist are getting older and more difficult to maintain. A number 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 protecting our schooner fleet.
As a society, with community and volunteer help, we hope to rediscover and share the art and skill of traditional wooden-boat building and ultimately return these magnificent vessels to active sailing. The society is inviting members to join in this effort to save an important part of our maritime heritage.
We plan to engage the youger 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.
