Lunenburg

In 1749 the British government posted handbills in Europe to encourage colonial emigration to Nova Scotia.  Approximately 2700 Protestants from Germany, France and Switzerland, mostly farmers, answered the call and booked passage to Halifax.  Upon arrival they randomly picked playing cards to determine ownership of the town lots, configured in a grid according to traditional British colonial site plans.  Named after King George II, the Duke of Brunscheig-Lunenburg, and established in 1754, the town of Lunenburg grew from a vibrant economy of farming, fishing, ship building, marine related industries and the West Indies trade over the next 200 years.

Today Lunenburg is still architecturally defined by many beautifully preserved public buildings, churches, businesses and homes from the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  With the decline of the fishing and maritime industries in the late 20^th century, Lunenburg adapted to this change by promoting its rich heritage and becoming a must see tourist destination, sustaining a population of about 2300.  Confirming its historic importance to Canada, the government of Canada designated Old Town Lunenburg as a National Historic District in 1992.  Shortly thereafter in 1995, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) identified Old Town Lunenburg as a World Heritage Site, officially making the community a world treasure.

In November of 2008 the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg began work to develop an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan to act as the basis and guide for the area’s sustained growth and development based upon environmental, social, cultural and economic criteria.  Along with neighbouring Bridgewater and Chester it is among the first provincial municipalities to institute such a plan.  (Photos courtesy of H. Holm, http://www.NovaScotiaPhotoAlbum.com)