Sheena Masson has been working on the Nova Scotia Coastal Water Trail website since 2007. Prior to the creation of that website however, Mason also worked on a pilot project in 1999 from Halifax to Lunenburg to document launch sites for all types of vessels, including power boats.
The project is put together by Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia and is co-funded by the province.
Masson spends her summers documenting launch sites for boats across Nova Scotia, although she also works at the Thomas H. Raddall Library and owns a kayak guide and rental business.
“I drive the entire coast of each section that I do and I have worked as a kayak guide and have own my little kayak business in Port Medway so I know what to look for in terms of what is suitable for paddling,” says Masson.
Sheena Masson has been working on the Nova Scotia Coastal Water Trail website since 2007. Prior to the creation of that website however, Mason also worked on a pilot project in 1999 from Halifax to Lunenburg to document launch sites for all types of vessels, including power boats.
The project is put together by Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia and is co-funded by the province.
Masson spends her summers documenting launch sites for boats across Nova Scotia, although she also works at the Thomas H. Raddall Library and owns a kayak guide and rental business.
“I drive the entire coast of each section that I do and I have worked as a kayak guide and have own my little kayak business in Port Medway so I know what to look for in terms of what is suitable for paddling,” says Masson.
Queens and Lunenburg counties were documented in 2007, one of the earliest on the website, they just received much needed updating.
Queens and Lunenburg counties are both popular spots for paddlers.
“The coastline is sensational, there’s beaches, there’s headlands, there’s sheltered coves, there’s islands to explore, there’s a combination of islands and villages to pull into” says Masson. “It’s really ideal.”
Some of the sites are also suitable for swimming, surfing, or sailing and that information is also available on the website.
“It provides a baseline for communities to see what they have, what they may need,” says Masson.
Masson says the information isn’t only useful to paddlers, but also helps show communities what launch sites they have and hopefully will help preserve them.
Each site on the map provides directions by land and water, GPS coordinates, and photos of the site. Other information, such as places to stay and eat or get supplies is also available on the website.
Go online
Check out the Nova Scotia Water Trails website here: http://www.trails.gov.ns.ca/