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Nova Scotia’s Whale Sanctuary Project breaks ground but Crown lease still unsigned

The project still needs federal permits and fundraising to cover $15 million in construction and $1.5 million in annual operating costs.

  • On Friday, the Whale Sanctuary Project held a groundbreaking ceremony in eastern Nova Scotia for North America's first coastal refuge for retired whales, with CEO Charles Vinick calling the event a "significant milestone."
  • Premier Tim Houston's cabinet approved a 20-year Crown lease for the 40-hectare site last year, and Vinick noted the Natural Resources Department has agreed on all lease language, pending attorney review.
  • Local residents, including Tracy Burns-Gagnon, oppose the project, with Burns-Gagnon claiming the government broke a promise that the lease required unanimous consent from adjacent Wine Harbour property owners.
  • Construction at the wharf faces delays until late August due to nesting endangered barn swallows, while the sanctuary has yet to secure whales, as animals from Marineland in Niagara Falls are going to aquariums in the U.S. and Spain instead.
  • The project requires permits from the Fisheries Department and fundraising to cover $15 million in construction costs, plus $1.5 million in annual operating expenses for 24-hour staff and marine medical care.
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Winnipeg Free Press broke the news in Winnipeg, Canada on Friday, June 19, 2026.
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