Brier Island

Brier Island is an island in the Bay of Fundy in Digby County, Nova Scotia.

Geography

The island is the western-most part of Nova Scotia and the southern end of the North Mountain ridge with Long Island lying immediately northeast; both islands constitute part of the Digby Neck. Brier Island measures approximately convert|7.5|km|mi|abbr=on long and convert|2.5|km|mi|abbr=on wide.

The island's shoreline measures approximately convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on in length. Brier Island is separated from Long Island by the convert|0.5|km|mi|abbr=on Grand Passage.

The island is an important stopover point for migrating sea birds.

The island's name is believed by some to come from the wild brier roses found there, another possibility is that the original name of the Island was "Bryer's" after a sea captain from New England who was one of the first settlers to spend any time on the island.

Economy

The local economy is driven by the year-round commercial fishing industry and the seasonal tourism industry, which is largely focused on whale watching tours.

The island has one general store(that includes gas pump and cafe), one hotel and several hostels, bed and breakfasts, and gift shops.The island contains the fishing village of Westport which is connected to Freeport on Long Island by a ferry operated by the provincial government.

Brier Island is frequently inundated by fog and has witnessed 57 recorded shipwrecks. [ [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/wrecks/wrecks/Results.asp?Search=Brier+Island&fieldSelect=locWreck&submit.x=19&submit.y=10 "Brier Island" shipwreck search "On the Rocks" Nova Scotia Museum Marine Heritage Database] ] The island has "a lighthouse per mile" with the Northern and Western lighthouses on the island, as well as the Peter Island lighthouse in Grand Passage; all are automated and are operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The wreck of the barque "Aurora" in 1908 provided the lumber for the Westport Community Hall. [ [http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/wrecks/wrecks/shipwrecks.asp?ID=512 "Aurora-1908" "On the Rocks" Nova Scotia Museum Marine Heritage Database] ]

The Canadian Coast Guard operates CCG Station Westport in the village. The rescue cutter CCGC "Westport" provides 24-hour per day, 7 days per week response to search and rescue incidents within the eastern Gulf of Maine and the southern and eastern Bay of Fundy.

Famous residents

Brier Island was the childhood home of world famous sailor Joshua Slocum who became the first person to circumnavigate the world. A monument to Slocum and the bootshop where he worked as a boy can be seen in Westport.

References

* [http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/cap/places/page.asp?ID=727 "Place Names of Nova Scotia" "Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management" website]
* [http://ithieldavis.com/chapter6/ "Brier Island" "The Davis Family" online family history]