Lunenburg Part 1 - Introduction and Background August 30.pdf

Rivière in the 1630s, but by 1745 there were only two residents remaining. The earliest English
settlers arrived in 1769. By the early 19 th century, the town’s population grew to support a church
and school; by mid-century the town had three churches and a post office 55 .
The communities of Petite Rivière, Green Bay and Crousetown had a combined population of
481 in 2006 – a loss of 6.1% from 1996. Population loss occurred in most age cohorts under 50,
while gains of over 100% occurred in age 50-60 cohorts 56 .
While traditional resources and settlement patterns are still integral to the area, the natural
beauty and historic character of the area are playing and increasingly important role in
determining settlement patterns. Today, the majority of settlement remains concentrated in the
area’s historic communities; however, there has been an increase in development close to the
coast – particularly in the Riverport and Kingsburg areas – as new residents vie for the stellar
ocean views that the area has to offer. The residence locations of fewer and fewer residents are
directly related to their place of employment. The secondary planning strategies for some areas
in the District of Lunenburg indicate that many residents now choose the location of their home
based on aesthetic considerations and preferences regarding community features.
Another recent trend in land use is the focus on spaces for leisure activity. The Lunenburg area
boasts numerous parks, public beaches, trails, and scenic viewpoints. There are 20 provincial
parks in the area, as well as the Seaside Adjunct of Kejimkujik National Park. The District of
Lunenburg also maintains several municipal parks and trails. The abundant natural beaches and
other coastal access points are a draw to the area for both residents and visitors.
The scenic beauty, delicate ecosystems, and important wildlife habitat in the Lunenburg area
have sparked the formation of several initiatives aimed at preserving both the quality and
accessibility of coastal lands. The Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy (KCC) is a group that
acquires land, primarily in the Kingsburg Beach area, in order to manage it appropriately and
protect it from development. This is important in the area, particularly as the proportion of public
land is so small. Although private, land held by the Conservancy still serves a public purpose.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has also protected parcels of land at two sites in the
Lunenburg area. Deep Cove is an area of important forest habitat and is home to several rare
lichens. It is part of a group of contiguous protected areas that includes the Province’s Blandford
Nature Reserve, as well as lands managed by the Department of National Defense. Gaff Point is
an undeveloped headland lined with beaches and coastal wetlands. In collaboration with the
KCC, the NCC has acquired and now manages this land. Both groups continue to acquire land
when possible in order to increase the level of habitat protection, though the rising price of land –
particularly on the waterfront – makes this difficult.
Society and Economy
In spite of its touristic and retirement appeal, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is
currently grappling with demographic and economic challenges. As is typical of both Canada and
Nova Scotia, the District’s population is aging. Although the proportion of Lunenburg District
residents over the age of 80 is very similar to the Provincial average, the proportion of District
residents under the age of 35 is lower than in the Province as a whole. The District of
Lunenburg’s population is also declining at a rate measured at -1.6% between 2001 and 2006 57 .
55 Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1967.
56 Nova Scotia Community Counts, 2011.
57 Statistics Canada, 2006.
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