Historic Nova Scotia ship that led to wave of Scottish immigrants relaunched

Keith Doucette · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jul 12, 2025 3:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 12

A restored replica of the square-rigged sailing vessel that sparked a question of Scottish migration to Nova Scotia much than 250 years agone was relaunched Saturday with a mighty splash into Pictou harbour.

After a restoration and nationalist fundraising effort that began successful 2019, the rebuilt hull of the Hector was eased into the h2o sideways during a colourful ceremonial connected the town's scenic waterfront.

During the launch, the vas was guided down 7 ramps, known arsenic launchways, aft supporting wedges were removed — a process maestro shipbuilder Vern Shea described arsenic a show to see.

"It's benignant of nerve-racking," Shea said successful a caller interview. "I've witnessed rather a fewer launches successful my career, and you ever get the hairsbreadth connected the backmost of your cervix rising and the goosebumps each clip you spot it."

Shea was instrumental successful the archetypal physique of the Hector replica, which was not acceptable for sailing, and was installed 25 years ago, adjacent to the interpretive centre and outbuildings of the Hector Heritage Quay.

The woody vas was built from the archetypal designs, utilizing accepted methods and materials, Shea said. Over the years, the vas wasn't decently maintained and fell into disrepair earlier the Ship Hector Society bought it for a fewer dollars successful 2010 from the Town of Pictou.

The nine has spearheaded a $4 cardinal fundraising effort for the latest restoration, which required an extended rebuild to alteration the Hector into a afloat moving sailing vessel.

"It was the imaginativeness to sail it. It's been my anticipation each this time," said Shea. "It's becoming a reality, which is precise fulfilling."

Shea, who besides worked connected the engineering drawings for the rebuild of Nova Scotia's iconic schooner Bluenose II, said the latest rebuild of the Hector required each of the hull planking supra the ship's waterline to beryllium removed and replaced due to the fact that of rot. The vessel was past covered successful fibreglass for added protection.

"We replaced each of the rotten planks up to the main platform with Douglas fir planking and past we filled the seams with conifer and past utilized 2 layers of fibreglass," Shea said.

Inside the hull are 2 cramped compartments built arsenic they would person been successful 1773, erstwhile 189 men, women and children made the harrowing 11-week voyage crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Smallpox claimed 18 lives during the journey.

"It would person been disgusting, there's nary 2 ways astir it," said Shea.

On its website, the Ship Hector Society says those who arrived aboard the Hector made "enormous cultural, political, intelligence and concern contributions that shaped Nova Scotia and the remainder of Canada."

Saturday's motorboat was attended by respective dignitaries, specified arsenic Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, national Attorney General Sean Fraser and Chief Tamara Young of the Pictou Landing First Nation.

Settlers 'changed the people of history'

Young said the accomplishment of Scottish settlers successful northeastern Nova Scotia successful 1773 changed the people of past for "everyone who calls this onshore home."

"For america arsenic Mi'kmaq, our communicative does not statesman with that ship. It began agelong earlier with thousands of years of life, civilization and knowledge," she said. "The motorboat of this caller ship, Hector, gives america an accidental not conscionable to commemorate the past, but to signifier a amended future."

Now that the vessel is successful the h2o and arsenic much backing becomes available, the adjacent signifier of the task volition begin, specified arsenic installing electrical motors, masts and sails. It's hoped the refurbished Hector volition beryllium acceptable for harbour tours by 2027, said nine seat Wes Surett.

He said conscionable implicit $2 cardinal successful nationalist funds had been raised truthful acold for the project, with different $1.8 cardinal to spell to decorativeness the ship.

Interpretive centre opened past month

On Saturday, that effort got an added boost with a donation of $1.25 million, announced by David Sobey from the Sobeys market concatenation and co-chair of the Hector superior campaign.

Surett said the interpretive centre opened past period aft an extended revamp done backing from the national and provincial governments.

Future plans for the tract besides see the summation of a sailing program, on with a woody shipbuilding school.

Surett said a Hector that tin yet acceptable sail volition beryllium the existent money-maker.

"We truly spot it [the ship] and that sailing acquisition generating the gross to prolong the attraction agelong term," helium said.