Thinker's Lodge: Pugwash, NS

 A year ago I had been to Pugwash to check out the Thinker's Lodge - it has interested me for a couple of decades.  We visited in June and it was not open to the public.  I tried best to arrange a day when I could have a tour and I had success.  For those of you who have never heard of the Thinker's Lodge,  I'm including this link for a short description: 

Thinkers Lodge National Historic Site

I very much enjoyed my visit to the "lodge" and I learned that this is exactly what it was - lodging for the people who came to discuss peace in a world with nuclear warfare.  The guide did provide me with lots of information at the entranceway of the house and then you are "on your own" travelling up and down 3 separate staircases to get to various bedrooms.  I was a bit dismayed that the very nice bedspreads on the beds all had labels with "made in China" on them.  But I did learn quite a bit about who had been there and the various conferences that were held in this tiny Nova Scotia town over the years.  The first Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs was held in 1957 and the location has changed throughout the world.   

In 1995 Jozef Rotblat, a scientist who left the Manhattan Project prior to its conclusion, and the Pugwash Conferences,  were awarded the Nobel Prize for their efforts to bring about global peace.  I believe Jozef stayed in the room pictured above.  

Krushchev met with Cyrus Eaton, the owner of the Lodge, when he went to Europe to attend one of the conferences.  Krushchev felt strongly that nuclear disarmament was an important issue in the world.  He and Eaton had a very friendly visit and Eaton, a dual Canadian/American citizen earned criticism for his "red" tolerance. 

The actual conferences took place in this building, about 1/2 km away from the Lodge.  The Lodge was the place where attendees slept and probably stayed up partying.  

The first thing you will see is the quotation on the upper part of the wall directly in front of you after entering the Peace Hall.  By the time the conference started, everyone attending would have heard the Russell-Einstein Manifesto that the two great thinkers issued about the critical issue of nuclear war.  Pugwash, NS has played a part in trying to make the world a more peaceful place.  

Visiting Two New (to me) NS Towns

We left the Annapolis Valley after a few days of visiting family and admiring the Fundy shore to head north towards PEI.  That was our major destination for a family holiday where we were renting a house in North Rustico and spending a week with "the cousins", etc. (that really means our grandkids and their parents).  

One place that I wanted to visit was New Glasgow, NS - thanks to Johnny Harris and Still Standing - who gave me the information about Viola Desmond and her contribution to NS and Canada.  Sure, I'd seen her picture on the $10 bill and I'd heard a bit about her, but New Glasgow honours this citizen for her stand against the establishment who refused to let her have a seat in a local theatre because of her race.  The rest is history.  Thank you, Viola.  

This is a photo of Viola's Way in New Glasgow, NS.  

Below is the "condensed" version of her achievement.  

Then we travelled on to learn a thing or two about Pictou, NS, a town that I really liked the look of.  They had a "thing" for Middle Eastern cooking, too, because there had been an influx of Middle Eastern immigrants in the past.  We did end up eating seafood and had the best "fries" of our entire trip.  I loved the "forbidden" walk that I completed because of the fire bans - walked along a paved trail in the harbour with beautiful views and a lovely setting sun.  Bah Humbug on trail closures!  

Summer in the Maritimes!

 We just spent nearly 3 weeks in the Maritimes, visiting both Nova Scotia and PEI.  Ironically, in BC we are having the "best summer ever" with very few fires, mostly reasonable temperatures, no smoke, and somewhat regular rain.  It's been delightful.  Meanwhile, the rest of Canada has been hit with fire after fire and NS is no exception.  One frustrating thing we discovered on our last day in the province was that the "woods were closed" and this basically meant not being able to walk on ANY trail anywhere.  I walked in Pictou, NS on a lovely paved walkway along the seashore but it was officially closed.  Fortunately, I was not "caught" because hefty fines had been issued for violations.   The one stop that we made in NB, at Cape Jourimain had also closed its trails and that place is worth a visit.  It's at the junction of the Confederation and the province of NB.  A great place to get a good picture of the bridge!   Too bad Google won't allow me access to my photos at the moment!

The Confederation Bridge from Cape Jourimain, NB.