Alison Strachan - Lunenburg Town Council

10/17/2026

Yesterday, the Lunenburg Academy Foundation hosted a visit from His Honour the Honourable Mike Savage, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, and Ms. Darlene Savage at the town-owned Lunenburg Academy.

The event was well attended by Academy tenants, community members, Mayor Jamie Myra, Councillors Dauphinee, Fullerton, and myself, and the Hon. Susan Corkum-Greek.

Academy Foundation President Bruce Hebb provided compelling opening remarks about the Academy and its importance not simply to the local community but to the broader community. Foundation Board Member, Tom Hayes, provided equally compelling closing remarks outlining the many years of public service that the Savage family has been involved in and thanking the esteemed visitors for stopping in to see what a gem we have.

In between Bruce Hebb and Tom Hayes, His Honour, who had made a complete round of the room shaking hands and having conversations with everyone, noted how remarkable it was for all of us to be gathered in a space that once was a bustling school and now was repurposed as a bustling community space. His words were encouraging to the volunteers in the community to continue to do what they have done and are doing to keep the National Historic Site a community space.

During Tom Hayes' comments, I recalled that it has been over 30 years ago that I sat on the North End Community Health Board and heard His Honour's father, then Premier Savage, say the same or similar words about how a committed volunteer board had created something that should be 'standard' throughout the province.

Today, there are over 20 traditional community health centres (like the North End Community Health Centre in HRM), alongside a broader network of over 120 collaborative Health Homes and 35 Community Health Boards (CHBs) across the province.

I was able to share this with his son as he was getting ready to depart for a personal tour of the Academy with Foundation members and the unbelievable guidance of volunteer, Gail Hayes.

Both the former premier and his son are absolutely correct - volunteers in this community are so important. Volunteer boards work hard for change, hope, and future and for that I am incredibly thankful that they exist.

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

TGIF Lunenburg! Today's image is of a painting by Hilton MacDonald Hassell titled "Dock Shapes, Lunenburg" (although for most here the "Lunenburg" need not be added as it is so recognizable). It is a 12" by 27 1/2"acrylic on canvas board and was last seen publicly at a Cowley Abbott auction this past spring.

Hassell's bio at the Zwicker Gallery in Halifax reads as follows:

"Hilton Hassell was born in 1910 at Lachine, Québec, and studied at the Ontario College of Art under J.E.H. MacDonald, J.W. Beatty, and F.H. Johnston, and also at the Heatherley’s School in England, under Heyward Veal. In 1955, he worked as a graphic artist at Brigden’s Limited and worked for other firms including MacLean’s Magazine. He eventually began to paint full-time, painting a variety of subjects including landscapes, figures, and portraits. He was also a member of the Ontario Society of Artists and exhibited with the Royal Canadian Academy. Hassell has exhibited his paintings in major collections including the Memorial University Art Gallery in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and the Eaton’s Fine Art Galleries in Toronto and Winnipeg." Hassell died in 1980.

Pull out your sweaters and have a great weekend! It looks like we'll have a mixed bag of weather!

10/15/2026

From Mendelssohn to Schumann with Kurtág and others in between.

Anya Wassenberg, October 13, 2026, THE SCOOP | The Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance Brings Acclaimed Pianist Jonathan Biss To Lunenburg Nova Scotia, New Classical 96.3, 102.9, 103.1 fm, Beautiful Music for a Crazy World:

"After studying with private teachers, he attended the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of 17, studying with Leon Fleisher. He began performing in public concerts at around the same time. He’s taken the stage with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, the Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco Symphonies, and performed frequently in Europe, including appearances with the London Symphony, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Staatskapelle Dresden, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, among others.

His talent has been recognized by multiple award wins, including the Leonard Bernstein Award. He currently serves as the Co-Artistic Director of the Marlboro Music School and Festival."


Town of Lunenburg

10/14/2026

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This coming weekend features 2 more incredible maritime songwriters loved across North America! Join us in Lunenburg for an entertaining evening show, or new afternoon 3pm performances!
Rose Cousins, Oct 16 @ 7:30 pm
Garnet Rogers, Oct 18 @ 3:00 pm

Tickets: folkharbour.ca/concerts
613-634-3180 / 1-888-311-9090

10/14/2026

If you haven’t seen this show, YOU SHOULD GO. This local theatre company showcases amazing talent in our community, while paying tribute to iconic Canadian musicians in a playful poke at “continental” politics. Thanks to Lunenburg Theatre Collective for doing this again. It’s an important reminder. And a lot of fun. 😁

10/11/2026

Happy Thanksgiving!