The Canadian Maritime Heritage Foundation

The Canadian Maritime Heritage Foundation helps the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic gather resources to become the best it can be—a dynamic force for excellence in the preservation of objects, the telling of stories, and the creation of inspiring public programs that illuminate our rich maritime heritage.

Right now we're working with the Museum to build a new Boat School at on the Halifax Waterfront to do boat building and sail training workshops with kids from marginalized communities, with a focus on youth from economically and socially disadvantaged communities, the Mi'kmaw community, the African Nova Scotian community, the immigrant and refugee communities and young women.

The Boat School's Building Boats, Changing Lives program will challenge teams of kids in activities that introduce them to a sense of their own power to achieve things they had never before dreamed of and express themselves in a voice that is uniquely their own. Through this we aim to  plant a seed that, if nurtured, can have a profound impact on them and, through them, on their communities. Here are links to three videos were produced which capture the essence of the activities we envisage for the Boat School.

Check them out.

Building Boats, Changing Lives

Building Boats: A Kids Point of View

2019 Boat Weekend

The new Boat School will be placed in a high profile location, right on the Waterfront adjoining the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The School will supplement the Maritime Museum’s current facilities. Already, the wharf which is home to the historic CSS Acadia has been extended by 60 feet, and the floats for a small boat marina on the north side of Acadia have been built. The Boat School will be located on the harbour side of the Waterfront Boardwalk. The facilities onboard the newly renovated CSS Acadia will also be integrated into the program of the Boat School.

Details of the project can be seen on the Foundation’s web site: CanadianMaritimeHeritage.ca 

The Foundation has been joined by over 100 members of our community who believe in what we’re doing. Each one of our new Patrons has contributed $1,000 as Founding Patrons to help us build the capacity to fund and build the Boat School.