News

Friends of McNabs Island Society – Rewarding Finds include Money, a Silver Spoon plus Tires and Lobster Traps at our Annual Beach Cleanup

(June 26, 2023) On June 25, 130 volunteers headed to McNabs Island in Halifax Harbour to clean up garbage at our rescheduled beach cleanup – cancelled earlier this month due to the park closure.
Volunteers collected approximately 250 bags of garbage, 10 broken lobster traps, a dozen tires, a $10 and $20 bill, an antique silver spoon and an odd assortment of junk.

In total, volunteers have collected 16,750 bags of garbage and recyclables from the beaches of McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park and Fort McNab National Historic Site over the past 33 years. This cleanup is the longest-running and largest cleanup in the Maritimes!

Ghost Gear Marine Fisheries Debris continues to be a significant part of the garbage collected from the beaches, though the number of lobster traps collected this year was down. Lobster bands, tags and bait bags, broken fish crates, and lobster traps as well as Styrofoam of varying sizes, and a dozen tires were hauled off the beaches.

Unusual items found on the beaches included a weathered $10 and $20 bill. The plastic coating on the bills had worn off adding more micro-plastics to the ocean. Various items of clothing including dresses, underwear, hats and shoes were also found.

The bulk of the items collected continue to be plastics which deteriorate into micro-plastics over time but stay in the environment for centuries. Plastic tampon applicators from the sewage system and Tim Horton’s coffee cups continue to litter the beaches.

Thanks to teams from McInnes Cooper, CBCL, Butterfield Support Services, Halifax and Hammonds Plains Pathfinders, the Alnass Community Association and many individuals and families who volunteered to pick up garbage that littered the island park. Support for the cleanup this year came from Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Ghost Gear Fund.

The Friends of McNabs Island Society is a volunteer-driven registered charity dedicated to preserving and protecting McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park and Fort McNab National Historic Site. Since 1990, the Friends of McNabs have improved the trails and park facilities, organized community beach cleanups, offered guided tours to island visitors and this year opened an Outdoor Education Centre on the island – making McNabs Island a welcoming park for everyone.

Friends of McNabs Island Society – World Environment Day Cleanup brings in Mainsail, and more Tires and Lobster Traps!

MEDIA RELEASE (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
(June 5, 2022) Today on World Environment Day, 130 volunteers travelled to the McNabs Island in Halifax Harbour to clean up garbage that has washed ashore since last fall’s beach cleanup. Volunteers collected approximately 400 bags of garbage including a

In total, volunteers have collected 16,500 bags of garbage and recyclables from the beaches of this Provincial Park and national historic site over the past 32 years. The McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park cleanup is the longest-running and largest cleanup in the Maritimes!

Ghost Gear Marine Debris continues to be a large part of the garbage collected from the beaches. More giant-sized rope was found, motor oil containers, lobster bands and tags, fish crates and lobster traps, Styrofoam of varying sizes, and dozens of oversized tires were hauled off the beaches of the island park. This year there as an odd assortment of personal items and toys – a bedroom slipper, an orthopedic shoe and a bra, plus toy soldiers, a miniature doll’s boot, and a fuzzy koala. And there is a sailboat out there somewhere without its mainsail.

The bulk of the items collected are plastics which deteriorate into micro-plastics over time but stay in the environment for centuries. Plastic tampon applicators from the sewage system and Tim Horton’s coffee cups continue to litter the beaches.

Thanks to teams from McInnes Cooper, Scotian Shores, the 339 Iroquois Sea Cadets, the Alnass Community Association and many individuals and families who volunteered to pick up garbage that littered the park. Support for the cleanup came from McInnes Cooper, Develop Nova Scotia, HRM, Source Atlantic, A&M Sea Charters, Ambassatours, Taylor Made Tours and the Port of Halifax.

The Friends of McNabs Island Society is a volunteer-driven registered charity dedicated to preserving and protecting McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park and Fort McNab National Historic Site. Since 1990, the Friends of McNabs have improved the trails and park facilities, organized community beach cleanups and offered guided tours to island visitors – making McNabs Island a welcoming park for everyone.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRES, CONTACT:
Catherine McCarthy
Friends of McNabs Island Society – email: info@mcnabsisland.ca – cell: 902-456-9167
https://mcnabsisland.ca/

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2021 MEDIA RELEASE - Lawlor Island Cleanup

(October 3rd, 2021)
Friends of McNabs Island Society – Lawlor Island cleanup brings in gill fishing net, a port-a-potty, and more Lobster Traps!

On Sunday, 50 volunteers paddled or ferried to Lawlor Island in Halifax Harbour to clean up the beaches. Lawlor Island is a 50 hectare island directly across from MacCormacks Beach in Eastern Passage and is part of McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park. The island is an environmental protection zone and has no public access.

Volunteers spent the day digging out tires and collected approximately 300 bags of garbage including 20 lobster traps, a large gill fishing net, lots of fishing rope and a port-a-potty.

Two weeks ago volunteers collected 800 bags or 5 tonnes of garbage from McNabs Island. The Lawlor cleanup adds to this amount. Over the past 30 years, more than 16,000 bags of garbage and recyclables have been collected from the beaches of the island park. The McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park cleanup is the longest-running and largest cleanup in the Maritimes!

About 20 kilograms of gill net fishing gear was untangled from the trees and rocks along the shoreline. This plastic Ghost Gear Marine Debris doesn’t break down and entangles marine animals and wildlife. Other marine debris collected included motor oil containers, lobster bands, bait bags, trap tags, fish crates and 20 lobster traps. Large and small pieces of Styrofoam and dozens of tires were hauled off the beaches of the island park. Interesting items discovered at this cleanup include a port-a-potty, a VHS tape, a broken drone and a miniature boxing glove.

Thanks to the many volunteers from the Friends of McNabs Island and Scotian Shores who picked up garbage that littered the island park. Support for the cleanups came from Develop Nova Scotia, McInnes Cooper, HRM, Nova Scotia Natural Resources, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The Friends of McNabs Island Society is a volunteer-driven registered charity dedicated to preserving and protecting McNabs and Lawlor Islands Provincial Park and Fort McNab National Historic Site. Since 1990, the Friends of McNabs have improved the trails and park facilities, organized community beach cleanups and offered guided tours to island visitors – making McNabs Island a welcoming park for everyone.


2021 MEDIA RELEASE - McNabs Island Fall Foliage Tours

Join the Friends of McNabs Island Society for our annual Fall Foliage Tours of McNabs Island Provincial Park on Sunday October 17th.
See the island in its autumn splendour and participate in guided heritage, nature, adventure or family tours.

- Discover how important McNabs Island was for the Mi'kmaq First Nations.
- Learn more about the role McNabs Island played during the world wars from animators in military costume at Fort McNab National Historic site.
- Hear the story of Bill Lynch, the "midway king" and how he got is start in the fairground business.
- Learn the tragic story of the SS England that was quarantined off McNabs in 1866.
- Discover the island's coastal environment, plants and wildlife.
- Visit the Victorian Gardens being restored by the Friends of McNabs Island.
- Peak into the abandoned Teahouose that is being converting into an Outdoor Education Centre.

We offer a variety of tours at the McNabs Island Fall Foliage Tours. There are two Heritage tours - one to Fort Ives and the other to Fort McNab; a Nature Tour; an Adventure Tour to Thrumcap suitable for hikers over 16 years of age and a Family Tour for parents/guardians with children 12 years and under.

Wear comfortable shoes or hiking boots and dress for the weather. Bring a lunch and drinking water.

Travel to McNabs Island with Murphy's on the Water from 1751 Lower Water St on the Halifax Waterfront departing at 9:30 AM. Depart from McNabs Island at 3:30 and return to Halifax by 4:30 PM.

Everyone must get their tickets in advance via Eventbrite!

Ticket costs: $35 (Adults), $15 (children/youth under 16), $25 ( discounted price for Friends of McNabs Island members). Children under 3 years are FREE but need a ticket.

Tickets on sale via Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mcnabs-island-fall-foliage-tours-oct-17-hal...

The Rain Date is Sunday October 24, 2021.

For the safety of everyone, all participants are expected to follow Nova Scotia Public Health protocols for the pandemic including providing Proof of Full Vaccination. Wearing a mask is required on the boat, but not necessary while on the island.

For more information on this event contact; info@mcnabsisland.ca or http://mcnabsisland.ca/contact.

Friends of McNabs Island Society
email: info@mcnabsisland.ca
cell: 902-456-9167
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https://mcnabsisland.ca/
Twitter: @mcnabsisland
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