Latest news with #Pictou
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Pictou County man who sexually abused his kids going to prison
Douglas Guthro Sr., 87, was sentenced to 10 years on Wednesday in Pictou. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge described his crimes as disturbing and said there was a need to denounce sexual violence against vulnerable children. Gareth Hampshire has the story.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Pictou County man sentenced to 10 years for historic sexual abuse against his 3 children
A Supreme Court judge in Pictou, N.S., has sentenced a Pictou County man who pleaded guilty to historical sexual abuse against his three children to 10 years in prison on Wednesday. Earlier this year, Douglas Guthro Sr., 87, pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual violence dating back decades. He admitted he abused his son and two daughters over several years. The judge described Guthro's crimes as disturbing and an egregious breach of trust. His son and two daughters — now in their 50s — had kept the abuse secret until November 2023 when they all came forward to police. The facts before the court showed all three recall being around the age of six or younger when the abuse began at the family home in Alma, N.S. Their father preyed on them in their bedrooms, sometimes after reading children's stories.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Iconic getaway in Pictou, N.S., officially reopens
An iconic getaway in Pictou, N.S., has officially reopened. Pictou Lodge was bought by new owners earlier this year. After months of hard work, it opened for the season in July. 'To have this business back up and running, it's exciting,' said Pictou Lodge co-owner Brad Hartlin. He and his brother purchased the property together. 'This is something that we want to keep in our family, hopefully for a long, long time. Maybe even generations. So, to have the opportunity to do this, we're going to make sure that we do things right,' he said. Hartlin has a long background in hospitality and other businesses. The lodge now employs more than 30 people – many of whom are very familiar with the property. 'One of the big things that we wanted to do is make sure that we had the staff that was here previously, because without them, we wouldn't be able to do it,' said Hartlin. 'We approached Gary Chambers, who has been the supervisor of the property for over 40 years, so as soon as he said he was in, that made us say, 'We're in. Let's do this deal.'' It's been a busy few months of replacing roofs, floors and just doing general repairs. 'It just shines in there. The place is spotless, and we couldn't be happier,' said Hartlin. 'We're still working on two of the older units that will be ready for 2026. We simply didn't have time in a three-month period with the staff that we had in place. They were working around the clock to get us up and running for July.' Rebounding from Fiona Pictou Lodge was badly damaged by Post-Tropical Storm Fiona in 2022. The previous owners had planned to reopen but it ultimately closed completely in 2023. 'There was a devastated feeling here in the community, not just because of the history and the importance of the lodge historically, but from a tourist perspective,' said Town of Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan. 'I think every business in this part of the province would have been affected by that one way or another.' While the lodge has only just reopened, with fewer rooms than before, bookings have already been rolling in. 'I think we're at a 75 per cent occupancy right now, which going into this, this is our first venture. We didn't really know exactly what was going to transpire,' said Hartlin. Ryan is excited to see the lodge reopen. 'Pictou Lodge is part of the package in northern Nova Scotia,' he said. Marking a milestone in 2026 Pictou Lodge first opened in 1926, and Hartlin is excited to be part of its next chapter. 'There's been so many people that have been part of the lodge. I go back to some of the stories like Babe Ruth stayed here, which to me being a sports fanatic like I am, just adds even more character to the space,' he said. One of the projects on the horizon is redoing the Babe Ruth room, something Hartlin is looking forward to. The big goal for 2026 is to open a restaurant on site. Due to the quick turnaround from purchasing to opening, Hartlin said a taphouse is open daily this year with local beers on tap. 'It's just it's such a tranquil space and anyone that wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, especially in the world we live in today, you can come up here and even if you don't stay, come up and spend the day here,' he said. 'We welcome people to come on to the property. We really want people from away and from Pictou to be able to come here and enjoy it, just like we do.' As Pictou Lodge's 100th anniversary approaches, Hartlin has big plans for its future. 'We're going to make sure that we do our part to celebrate the history of the lodge,' said Hartlin. 'The big thing is let's keep reinvesting into this property to bring it back to the glory days that it once was, and you can already feel it now in the air.' For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
12-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Historic Nova Scotia ship that led to wave of Scottish immigrants relaunched
Social Sharing A restored replica of the square-rigged sailing ship that sparked a wave of Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia more than 250 years ago was relaunched Saturday with a mighty splash into Pictou harbour. After a restoration and public fundraising effort that began in 2019, the rebuilt hull of the Hector was eased into the water sideways during a colourful ceremony on the town's scenic waterfront. During the launch, the vessel was guided down seven ramps, known as launchways, after supporting wedges were removed — a process master shipbuilder Vern Shea described as a sight to see. "It's kind of nerve-racking," Shea said in a recent interview. "I've witnessed quite a few launches in my career, and you always get the hair on the back of your neck rising and the goosebumps every time you see it." Shea was instrumental in the original build of the Hector replica, which was not fit for sailing, and was installed 25 years ago, next to the interpretive centre and outbuildings of the Hector Heritage Quay. The wooden vessel was built from the original designs, using traditional methods and materials, Shea said. Over the years, the vessel wasn't properly maintained and fell into disrepair before the Ship Hector Society bought it for a few dollars in 2010 from the Town of Pictou. The society has spearheaded a $4 million fundraising effort for the latest restoration, which required an extensive rebuild to transform the Hector into a fully working sailing vessel. "It was the vision to sail it. It's been my hope all this time," said Shea. "It's becoming a reality, which is very fulfilling." Shea, who also worked on the engineering drawings for the rebuild of Nova Scotia's iconic schooner Bluenose II, said the latest rebuild of the Hector required all of the hull planking above the ship's waterline to be removed and replaced because of rot. The ship was then covered in fibreglass for added protection. "We replaced all of the rotten planks up to the main deck with Douglas fir planking and then we filled the seams with pine and then used two layers of fibreglass," Shea said. Inside the hull are two cramped compartments built as they would have been in 1773, when 189 men, women and children made the harrowing 11-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Smallpox claimed 18 lives during the journey. "It would have been disgusting, there's no two ways about it," said Shea. On its website, the Ship Hector Society says those who arrived aboard the Hector made "enormous cultural, political, intellectual and industrial contributions that shaped Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada." Saturday's launch was attended by several dignitaries, such as Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, federal Attorney General Sean Fraser and Chief Tamara Young of the Pictou Landing First Nation. Settlers 'changed the course of history' Young said the arrival of Scottish settlers in northeastern Nova Scotia in 1773 changed the course of history for "everyone who calls this land home." "For us as Mi'kmaq, our story does not begin with that ship. It began long before with thousands of years of life, culture and knowledge," she said. "The launch of this new ship, Hector, gives us an opportunity not just to commemorate the past, but to shape a better future." Now that the ship is in the water and as more funding becomes available, the next phase of the project will begin, such as installing electric motors, masts and sails. It's hoped the refurbished Hector will be ready for harbour tours by 2027, said society chair Wes Surett. He said just over $2 million in public funds had been raised so far for the project, with another $1.8 million to go to finish the ship. Interpretive centre opened last month On Saturday, that effort got an added boost with a donation of $1.25 million, announced by David Sobey from the Sobeys grocery chain and co-chair of the Hector capital campaign. Surett said the interpretive centre opened last month after an extensive revamp through funding from the federal and provincial governments. Future plans for the site also include the addition of a sailing program, along with a wooden shipbuilding school. Surett said a Hector that can finally set sail will be the real money-maker. "We really see it [the ship] and that sailing experience generating the revenue to sustain the attraction long term," he said.
CTV News
12-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Historic Nova Scotia ship that led to wave of Scottish immigrants relaunched
Ship Hector was relaunched into Pictou Harbour in Pictou, N.S., Saturday, July 12, 2025 after several years of restoration work. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) PICTOU — A restored replica of the square-rigged sailing ship that sparked a wave of Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia more than 250 years ago was relaunched Saturday with a mighty splash into Pictou Harbour. After a restoration and public fundraising effort that began in 2019, the rebuilt hull of the Hector was eased into the water sideways during a colourful ceremony on the town's scenic waterfront. Ship Hector Thousands of people gathered in Pictou, N.S., to watch the relaunch of Ship Hector's replica Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) During the launch, the vessel was guided down seven ramps, known as launchways, after supporting wedges were removed -- a process master shipbuilder Vern Shea described as a sight to see. 'It's kind of nerve-wracking,' Shea said in a recent interview. 'I've witnessed quite a few launches in my career, and you always get the hair on the back of your neck rising and the goosebumps every time you see it.' Shea was instrumental in the original build of the Hector replica, which was not fit for sailing, and was installed 25 years ago, next to the interpretive centre and outbuildings of the Hector Heritage Quay. Ship Hector Ship Hector is pictured in Pictou, N.S., prior to its relaunch into Pictou Harbour Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Courtesy: Don Jerrett) The wooden vessel was built from the original designs, using traditional methods and materials, Shea said. Over the years, the vessel wasn't properly maintained and fell into disrepair before the Ship Hector Society bought it for a few dollars in 2010 from the town of Pictou. The society has spearheaded a $4 million fundraising effort for the latest restoration, which required an extensive rebuild to transform the Hector into a fully working sailing vessel. 'It was the vision to sail it. It's been my hope all this time,' said Shea. 'It's becoming a reality, which is very fulfilling.' Ship Hector Ship Hector is pictured in Pictou, N.S., ahead of its relaunch Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) Shea, who also worked on the engineering drawings for the rebuild of Nova Scotia's iconic schooner Bluenose II, said the latest rebuild of the Hector required all of the hull planking above the ship's waterline to be removed and replaced because of rot. The ship was then covered in fibreglass for added protection. 'We replaced all of the rotten planks up to the main deck with Douglas fir planking and then we filled the seams with pine and then used two layers of fibreglass,' Shea said. Inside the hull are two cramped compartments built as they would have been in 1773, when 189 men, women and children made the harrowing 11-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Smallpox claimed 18 lives during the journey. 'It would have been disgusting, there's no two ways about it,' said Shea. On its website, the Ship Hector Society says those who arrived aboard the Hector made 'enormous cultural, political, intellectual and industrial contributions that shaped Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada.' Ship Hector A replica of Ship Hector was relaunched into Pictou Harbour in Pictou, N.S., Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) Saturday's launch was attended by several dignitaries, such as Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, federal Attorney General Sean Fraser and Chief Tamara Young of the Pictou Landing First Nation. Young said the arrival of Scottish settlers in northeastern Nova Scotia in 1773 changed the course of history for 'everyone who calls this land home.' 'For us as Mi'kmaq, our story does not begin with that ship. It began long before with thousands of years of life, culture and knowledge,' she said. 'The launch of this new ship, Hector, gives us an opportunity not just to commemorate the past, but to shape a better future.' Ship Hector Ship Hector is pictured in Pictou, N.S., prior to its relaunch Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Callum Smith/CTV Atlantic) Now that the ship is in the water and as more funding becomes available, the next phase of the project will begin, such as installing electric motors, masts and sails. It's hoped the refurbished Hector will be ready for harbour tours by 2027, said society chair Wes Surett. He said just over $2 million in public funds had been raised so far for the project, with another $1.8 million to go to finish the ship. On Saturday, that effort got an added boost with a donation of $1.25 million, announced by David Sobey from the Sobeys grocery chain and co-chair of the Hector capital campaign. Ship Hector Thousands of people gathered in Pictou, N.S., Saturday July 12, 2025 to watch the relaunch of Ship Hector's replica into the harbour. (Courtesy: Mike Jerrett) Surett said the interpretive centre opened last month after an extensive revamp through funding from the federal and provincial governments. Future plans for the site also include the addition of a sailing program, along with a wooden shipbuilding school. Surett said a Hector that can finally set sail will be the real money-maker. 'We really see it (the ship) and that sailing experience generating the revenue to sustain the attraction long-term,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025. -- By Keith Doucette in Halifax
