Press Releases
For Immediate Release
April, 2010
How
about giving that person 250 suggestions?
Members
of the Cobequid Planters 250 Society are
compiling a big “to-do” list for communities along the Cobequid Bay as
part of
their two-year celebration to mark the arrival of New England and Irish
settlers in the region in 1761.
The
“250 Things to do in Cobequid” campaign was
launched today as part of an event to proclaim 2010 and 2011 as Years
of the
Planters in Colchester County. A new web page was also launched and is
linked
to the Colchester Historical Society’s web site at www.genealogynet.com/Colchester.
“We’re
looking for 250 ways to celebrate 250 years,”
says Ken Henderson, president of the Cobequid Planters 250 Society.
“We’ve
come up with a few of our own ideas to get
the project started, but we’re looking to the public to really make
this list
mean something special to all of our communities,” Mr. Henderson said.
At
the top of that preliminary list is: Host a
Reunion or a Homecoming. The society is hoping families and communities
will
use the 250th celebration in 2011 as a great
opportunity to throw
gather together, throw big parties and celebrate.
Possibilities
for the list are endless. Suggestions
could promote existing attractions, events and special places, or they
could
encourage people to try their own new and unique activities. For
example, a
family, group or community could organize a history-related treasure
hunt or
plant a tree.
Mr.
Henderson said society members are looking for a
broad range of ideas so those reading the list will be able to find
many suggestions
which appeal to them. It is hoped that many events would promote a
greater
understanding and appreciation of the significant contributions the New
England
and Irish settlers made to the region.
Cobequid
refers to lands once known as the Truro,
Onslow and Londonderry Townships, which generally speaking include the
communities along the Cobequid Shore.
Suggestions
can be sent to Cathy von Kintzel at the
Town of Truro Parks, Recreation and Culture Department: email: cvonkintzel@truro.ca; mail:
P.O. Box 427,
Truro, N.S. B2N 5C5; or dropped off on the third floor of Town Hall at
695
Prince St., Truro, N.S.
For
media information
Cathy von Kintzel
Special events and culture co-ordinator
Town of Truro Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture
902-893-6093
cvonkintzel@truro.ca
Background
A
significant time in Colchester County’s rich cultural history will be
marked in
2010-2011 as residents celebrate the 250th
anniversary of the
arrival of settlers from New England and Ireland.
Known as “Planters,” these
settlers occupied rich, dyked farmlands left vacant following the
Expulsion of
the Acadians. These lands were in areas then known as Truro, Onslow and
Londonderry Townships.
A Planters 250 Committee has
been established to help co-ordinate and promote anniversary activities
over
the next two years.
Representatives of prospective
settlers came to this region in the summer of 1760 to view lands, and
settlement began in the spring of 1761. To recognize this, the
celebration will
be extended over nearly two years, beginning in April 2010 and
continuing to
December 2011.
Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009
Planters
250 Committee
planning two years of activities
marking the 250th
Anniversary
of the arrival of New England/Irish Planters in Cobequid
TRURO,
N.S. – A significant time in Colchester
County’s rich cultural history will be marked in 2010-2011 as residents
celebrate the 250th anniversary of the arrival
of English-speaking settlers
from New England and Ireland.
Known as “Planters,” these
settlers occupied rich, dyked farmlands left vacant following Expulsion
of the
Acadians. These lands were in areas then known as the Truro, Onslow and
Londonderry townships, which today include Truro, Bible Hill, Onslow,
Old
Barns, Glenholme, Londonderry and coastal communities from Great
Village to
Economy-Five Islands.
A Planters 250 Committee has
been established to help co-ordinate and promote anniversary activities
over
the next two years.
Committee members are looking
for ideas on how to best mark this historic occasion. They intend to
contact
organizations in celebration communities to find out if they have plans
for
Planters 250 events, or if they would be interested in holding special
events.
In some cases, groups may choose to brand existing or ongoing
activities such
as sport tournaments or cultural events under the Planters 250 theme.
“We see this as an opportunity
for our communities to come together to celebrate all that we have
become over
the past 250 years,” says Ken Henderson, member of the Planters 250
Committee.
In so doing, Mr. Henderson
says, the committee and public also acknowledge the roles played by the
region’s Mi’kmaq and Acadians.
“All components of our
population should take this as an opportunity to reflect on and honour our shared history,” he
says.
“Above all, it’s an
opportunity to develop, nurture and express shared appreciation in the
accomplishments
of our region and to have a memorable celebration.”
Representatives of prospective
settlers came to this region in the summer of 1760 to view lands, and
settlement began in the spring of 1761. To recognize this, the
celebration will
be extended over two years, beginning January 2010 and continuing to
December
2011.
The Colchester Historical
Museum is among organizations already planning to observe the
anniversary with
two displays, one in 2010 and the other in 2011. Other groups which
would like
to be involved can contact Cathy von Kintzel, special events and
culture
co-ordinator for Town of Truro Parks, Recreation and Culture Department
at
893-6093 or at cvonkintzel@truro.ca
The Planters 250 Committee
represents historical societies, museums, cultural groups, churches and
municipalities throughout Colchester County. Members are interested in
linking
local events to Planters 250 celebrations being held elsewhere in Nova
Scotia.
For
more information:
Cathy
von Kintzel
Special Events and Culture Co-ordinator
Town of Truro Parks, Recreation and Culture
902-893-6093
cvonkintzel@truro.ca