Marion Bridge (community)
Marion Bridge (Scottish Gaelic: Drochaid Mhira) (2001 pop.: 1711[1]) is a Canadian rural community in Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
The community is named for the eponymous bridge that crosses the Mira River; Marion Bridge being approximately mid-way between the river's source in Grand Mira and its discharge point at Mira Gut. The current concrete highway bridge was constructed in 1982 as a replacement for an older bridge, which collapsed after an accident involving a snow plow.
Marion Bridge was made famous through a popular song written by Allister MacGillivray. entitled Song for the Mira which contained the refrain:
Can you imagine a piece of the universe,
More fit for princes and kings?
I'll trade you ten of your cities for Marion Bridge,
And the pleasure it brings.
Mira Gala
Marion Bridge plays host to the Mira Gala, an annual festival held every summer, which lasts approximately 1-2 weeks between late June and early July.
Events held at the Mira Gala often include family square dances, a street parade, auctions, beef barbecues, music entertainment in the evenings, a canoe race, a bathtub race, dinner theatre, a strawberry social, an antique and custom car show, a flea market, roast beef dinner, hay rides, sports events, children's fun days and a boat parade along the waterfront.
References
- Borggreen, Jørn (2012). Right to the Helm: Cape Breton Square Dances, third ed. Jyllinge, Denmark: The author.
Coordinates: 45°58′48.18″N 60°12′46.91″W / 45.9800500°N 60.2130306°W