Rotary Friendship Exchange Report

                Lunenburg                                                          Mahone Bay

 

On Tuesday 27^th we were taken on a tour of the local area which included the Scarecrow Festival in Mahone Bay.  Unfortunately, the day turned rather inclement which curtailed afternoon walking activity previously planned.  That evening we had a pot luck dinner at one of the hosts homes where we conducted our first presentation. 

 

Wednesday 28^th saw us travelling to Bridgewater, including a small trip on a car ferry and lunch was with the Bridgewater Rotary Club where we conducted our second presentation.  From there we travelled on to the Ross Farm Museum, having a good look around and then travelling on to Halls Harbour to view low tide.  That evening was a pot luck dinner at Halls Harbour with all the group and their hosts.

 

Bridgewater Rotary Club                                                        Ross Farm

 

Thursday 29^th we met at a strawberry farm operation, owned by a Rotarian and host, which had some innovate techniques for growing the crop and maximising production.  From there we were taken on a tour of the agricultural activity in the valley, followed by a return to Halls Harbour to view high tide (reflecting the spectacular approximately 11 metre tide differential) and then culminating in lunch at Lucketts Winery, which was also owned by a local Rotarian.  After lunch we went to the ‘Grand Pre’ historical site which gave us an insight into the plight of the Arcadian people.  That evening we conducted our third presentation to the Kentville Rotary Club at a Potluck dinner.

 

Max, Margie, Judith outside Strawberry Farm                     Pictou Rotary Club

 

Friday 30^th September the group travelled to Sydney in Cape Bretton and on route stopped at the Pictou Rotary Club where we were provided with a lovely lobster lunch.  This club made a special effort to put on lunch despite the fact half the club was attending a funeral for a fellow rotary member.  Further they would take no payment; we were very humbled by their hospitality.  A presentation was given to the club members, who were present, which they enjoyed.

 

We met our Cape Bretton hosts at Boston Pizza Sydney, which was a restaurant owned by a rotary member.  Everyone was given refreshments and some stayed on for dinner at the restaurant whilst others went with their hosts home for the evening.

 

Saturday 1^st October the group was taken for a tour of another historical site, the Fortress of Louisburg. followed by a visit to the first lighthouse in North America.  Some of the group enjoyed a pleasant walk along the foreshore.  A potluck dinner took place that evening.

 

Fortress of Louisburg                  Fortress of Louisburg staff in period costume       Pot luck Dinner Sydney

 

Sunday 2^nd October the group went to the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck which was extremely interesting because, as the group discovered, Alexander Bell was involved in a wide range of inventions and had a fascinating life.   After lunch the group was fortunate enough to be given a private tour of the museum at the Gaelic College, a site where the reverend Norman McLeod left in 1851 to eventually arrive in New Zealand and settle in Waipu.  So there was quite a connection.  That night was dinner with respective hosts.

 

Monday 3^rd October an early departure from Sydney was necessitated in order to be in Truro in time to do a lunch time presentation to the Truro Rotary Club.  This was the biggest meeting we had attended to date with an estimated 50 Rotarians in attendance.  From Truro we travelled into Halifax to be met by our hosts.  At this point the two drivers, Joe Ueffing and Don Gray, took the vans and returned them to Bridgewater from where they had been hired.  A quiet night was spent by the group with their respective hosts.

Tuesday 4^th October was a free day with no commitments.

 

Wednesday 5^th October the group were taken to downtown Halifax and started the day with a Harbour Hopper Tour seeing the city from both the land and the sea.  After that most of the group toured the Maritime Museum and then later met at the new Halifax library for afternoon tea.  That evening a potluck dinner was held at one of the Rotarian host’s apartment.

 

Peggy Cove Lighthouse                                 Halifax Harbourside Meeting                          Halifax Town Crier

 

Thursday 6^th October was a journey to the famous ‘Peggy’s Cove’, stopping on route for a nice viewing and walk at ‘Polly’s Cove’.  Peggy’s Cove was spectacularly busy with the coinciding visit of 5 cruise ships into Halifax creating an enormous array of tour bus visitor traffic.  Another potluck dinner took place that evening at another Rotarians home.

 

Friday 7^th October we met at Halifax Harbourside Rotary Club for a breakfast presentation after which we were all conveyed to the Halifax Airport.  Accompanied by 29 Nova Scotia Rotarians we left Canada and flew to the French Island of Saint Pierre-et-Miquelon arriving early afternoon.  There were activity choices in the afternoon scoping, Skeet shooting, visiting a local museum or visiting the hospice activity centre, a local rotary project.  That evening the local Rotary Club put on a barbecue where we carried out our final presentation of the exchange.  This presentation was the longest on the trip as it became a filler whilst the food was being prepared.

 

Boarding Flight to St Pierre                           Skeet Shooting                           Pot Luck Dinner 1st night St Pierre

 

Saturday 8^th October we had an early start on a walking tour of St Pierre and also had a guided tour of the Heritage Museum, a special treat as this was a privately owned museum.  It was an extensive museum with a vast array of historical items and information.  Lunch took place at ‘Rotary House’ and a special effort was made to provide a traditional array of French foods.  After lunch we went on a 2-hour boat excursion to the island of et-Miquelon, although we did not get off the boat.

 

Colourful houses                             Lunch provided by Rotary Club of St Pierre           Mick & Wendy Tuck feeling warm

 

St Pierre Township                                                 Purple Pinky Dinner

 

That evening we attended a ‘Purple Pinky Dinner’ and about $2,000 was raised for Polio via contributions and blind auctions.  An excellent result.

 

Sunday 9^th October we went on a guided bus tour to the other end of St Pierre followed by lunch at one of the local restaurants.  The group then had a free afternoon to explore St Pierre at their leisure.  Our final evening we enjoyed more delicious French cuisine, a lovely way to end the Group Friendship Exchange.

 

• Without doubt the hospitality, courtesy and friendship extended to us by all Rotarians with whom we came in contact.   Our hosts could not have been more hospitable and went out of their way to make us all feel at home.
• The exchange was well organised and the scope of the activities covered a wide array of interests.
• This was the first time the Rotary Club of St Pierre had ever hosted a Friendship Exchange and certainly a group in total of 41 Rotarians was quite a challenge.  But they certainly rose to that challenge and provided a very memorable weekend. Organiser Rodney Coady-Bouillie is to be commended for putting it all together.  Every event required interpreters to ensure everyone felt included as St Pierre is entirely French speaking.  We were in fact the main news and had newspapers and television airing our visit throughout the weekend.
• Having drivers provided was of great benefit given that Canada and France drive on the right hand side of the road.  Additionally we recognised the significant contribution of Don Gray and Joe Ueffing who accompanied us for much of the week.
• Max Patmoy is to be commended for setting up and running the group Facebook page and being our photographer; he did an outstanding job..