Whitney Pier

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Whitney Pier is a distinct section of the former city of Sydney, Nova Scotia, which is now a part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) following amalgamation in 1995. It is a triangle-shaped area located on the north east corner of the city, contained in about three square miles. "The Pier", as locals refer to it, has historically been considered the "other side of the tracks". It is separated from the downtown district of the city of Sydney by an overpass and, yes, at one time, actual railroad tracks.

1 The People Of Whitney Pier
2 From The Overpass To Deadman's Turn
3 The Tarpond - North America's Worst Toxic Waste Site
4 From The Pier Dear
5 The Whitney Pier Nickname Song
6 Historic Whitney Pier

[edit] The People Of Whitney Pier

Whitney Pier is a community of distinct neighbourhoods from various ethnic backgrounds. With the construction of the Dominion Steel Company in the early 1900's, the availability of work caused families of Polish, Croation, Carribean, Italian, and African decent to settle in the area. After more than 100 years of "togetherness", the people of Whitney Pier have created what today is a vibrant and varried community living in harmony.

[edit] From The Overpass To Deadman's Turn

Victoria Road is Whitney Pier's "Main Street". From the overpass to dead man's turn, Victoria Road has, over the years, been home to a variety of interesting shops, restaurants, and community venues. Fred Tomey's Athletic Club, Archie Nathanson's King Of Lower Prices, the Swan Lunch, the Venus Grill and Mary-Jo's Restaruant were there. Joe Brookes convenience store, the Thistle Tavern, Jack The Jew's (respecfully included), Moraff's Yarns & Crafts, Feder's Jewellery, and the liquor store were there on Victoria Road too. The Star Theatre, the Polish Village, Trinity Hall, Victoria Lunch, and the Eatmore Eat In OrTake Out, whose home-made spaghetti and meatballs were "TO DIE FOR" were there too. Dickey Dye's, Mary Duck's, Maw Morrison's, Tate's Grocery Store. All on Victoria Road.

[edit] The Tarpond - North America's Worst Toxic Waste Site

The Sydney Tarpond] is considered North America's worst toxic waste site. Today it poisons that ground of Whitney Pier which lies closest to it and has caused serious health concerns among the residents. The Tar Pond was created by 100 years of steel making, and of 100 years of releasing it's poisonous by-products into a containment pond in the very heart of Sydney. For a more detailed description of this environmental catastrophy, visit Wikipedia's The Sydney Tar Pond

To date, there have been hundreds of millions of dollars spent at studying and attempting to remedy the site; none of which were successful. Currently, under a promise by the former Federal Government in 2004, a clean-up project costing $400 million will commence in the near future. The goal of the project is to keep the tarponds "out of sight and out of mind" by sealing the toxic site with cement.