Chéticamp, Nova Scotia
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Chéticamp, Nova Scotia is a fishing community on the Cabot Trail on the west coast of Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia at the western entrance to Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The downtown area overlooks a large bay that is protected from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Chéticamp Island, into which the Chéticamp River flows. Having a number of public facilities it performs a service function for the northernmost part of Inverness County. The community has almost 4,000 residents, a large number of whom are Acadians and speak French natively, as well as English. Together with its smaller neighbour, Saint-Joseph-du-Moine, Chéticamp makes up the largest Francophone enclave on Cape Breton Island. The 2001 population was 3,145 people.[1]
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[edit] History
Chéticamp started as a fishing station used during the summer months by Charles Robin, a merchant from the island of Jersey. In the years following the Great Expulsion many Acadians came to this area. The first permanent settlers, the families of Pierre Bois and Joseph Richard, came to the area in 1782. The settlement was established in 1785 by a grant of land to the 14 original settlers. Today the area, which is at the entrance of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, is a popular tourist spot.
[edit] Economy
Apart from an important gypsum mine which operated off and on until the Second World War, the main industry in Chéticamp historically has been fishing. As fish stocks have declined, tourism has taken on more importance and is the largest industry at this time.
The tourism industry is based on the beautiful scenery found in this coastal village at the entrance of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Chéticamp is known for its traditional rug hookers ("tapis "hookers"), Acadian music and food. Activities for visitors include whale watching and deep sea fishing. They also host an Internation Dance Festival, Festival de l'Escaouette, and La fete National des Acadiens (le 15 Aout). The industry is highly seasonal, if they could manage to successfully expand to include winter tourism the economy would be considerably more profitable.
[edit] Recreation
The local beach named La Plage St. Pierre [1] gives the locals as well as the many tourists a great place for swimming, camping and many other recreational activities.
Northern Inverness Recreational Association also manage the golf course which is found directly behind the arena. Le Portage Golf Course is considered part of Cape Breton's Fabulous Foursome and is renowned for the beautiful views.
