Stewardship and management

Located high above the confluence of the Avon and St. Croix Rivers in Nova Scotia, Fort Edward played a central role in the British struggle for predominance in North America in the 1700s and is home to centuries-old military architecture.

The fort – which today consists primarily of a simple wooden blockhouse which once housed soldiers – was built in 1750 by the British to assert their newly established authority over both Acadian settlers (of French origin) and the local Mi’kmaq people. In 1755, Fort Edward would serve as a prison and deportation centre for 1,200 Acadians, part of a sombre historical chapter known as the Deportation of the Acadians.

Today, visitors can explore the historic blockhouse and even see graffiti from soldiers stationed here in the 18th century. From your vantage point high on the hilltop where two cannons still stand sentinel, it’s easy to imagine the historical dramas and military struggles that played out here centuries ago.