Hector 250
marquee events
September 15 - 17, 2023

 

PLEASE NOTE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EVENT VENUE CHANGES DUE TO POTENTIAL WEATHER CONDITIONS. CHANGES ARE REFLECTED IN THE BELOW ON-LIST OF EVENTS, BUT NOT THE PDF PRINTABLE PROGRAM. 

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September 15, 2023  marks the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Ship Hector in Pictou, Nova Scotia. The Hector was the first ship that brought emigrants directly from Scotland to Nova Scotia in 1773. The 189 Highlanders endured a harrowing voyage to start a new life in a new land. Those who arrived aboard the Hector, as well as those Scottish settlers who followed, made enormous cultural, political, intellectual, and industrial contributions that shaped Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada.

Planned activities to commemorate the historical event are detailed below in our list of events.  A major component of the weekend will be the unveiling and first opportunity to see the restoration progress on the Hector.   

The Charting Our Course campaign, which is funding the restoration, has raised over $1.8 million for the ship. Community and corporate support will help us achieve our target of $2.5 million to complete the project. Once fully restored the Hector will be able to do tours of Pictou Harbour. It will be the only tall ship in Canada powered by solar energy and many other ‘green energy’ features.

The Society is also leading a major project which will see a complete update and renovation of the Interpretive Centre. The renovation will include  innovative and interactive displays that provide a more  thorough telling of the partnership of the Scottish settlers and the Indigenous people of Pik’tuk. The entire site and ship will be fully powered by solar panels and will be a leader in using green technology in public spaces.

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Printable Hector 250 Program: