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Considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world, Cape Breton is in danger of losing some of its distinctive architectural heritage. On this adventure, you will work with local craftspeople and contractors to bring historic housing back to life, restoring a sense of vibrancy to the community and providing housing for at-risk families. Each historic project house will become a duplex and provide housing for two families.
The century-old “company houses” of Cape Breton are on Heritage Canada Foundation's 2010 list of the 10 most-endangered historic places in Canada. Adventures in Preservation is partnering with Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia Community College, the HomeMatch program, and community members to restore these houses to demonstrate that affordable, durable, adaptive re-use options exist, joining community volunteers in transforming them into homes for local families at risk of homelessness.
Work on the first house - Dominion Coal Company House Number 734 - is already underway. Students, faculty members and neighborhood volunteers have been working the past year to make the house habitable again. AiP team members will be working on the second project house.
This house is located in the Kolonia section of Whitney Pier, a multicultural community established in the early 1900s around the former Sydney steel plant. These homes were constructed from the dismantled Breton Hotel, which housed the workers who built the steel plant in 1899-1902.
Work on the project house is ongoing and you and your fellow volunteers will be involved in several of the following tasks:
- Restoration of period furnishings for appropriate re-use
- Window installation
- Repair and restoration of vintage woodwork, such as stair rails and mantels
- Floor installation
- Foundation repointing
Join this volunteer vacation and help:
- Keep a historic neighborhood intact
- Provide homes for families classified as “near homeless”
- Minimize project labor costs in order to maximize results
- Keep valuable building materials out of the landfill
- Create homes that are a model of energy efficiency and sustainable practices
Memories of your week spent with AiP will include:
- Working with a great team of people to address critical social issues
- Knowing your effort has the potential to impact more than 800 vacant houses
- Exploring the scenic wonder of the Cabot Trail, one of National Geographic's 500 of the World's Most Spectacular Trips.
- Experiencing the island’s Mi’kmaq, Scottish, and French Acadian cultures
As with all our adventures, you’ll take the skills you learn on this volunteer vacation home with you. They’re yours to use in restoring your own house, in your preservation career, or in volunteer restoration projects in your own community.
Two types of accommodation are available. Cape Breton University is providing a low cost dormitory-stay option. Meals will be provided by the university kitchen.
Lodging is also available for a B&B-stay at Vespers by the Sea. Vespers is housed in a 100-year-old convent situated on the cliffs of New Aberdeen overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Breakfast will be provided at the B&B, with lunch and dinner provided by the university kitchen.
Volunteers may wish to try some of the many excellent local restaurants in the evening; however, only meals at the university are covered by the project fee.
For the overnight field trip, lodging is included, though your evening meal is not, giving you the perfect opportunity to sample fine local food at its freshest.
Cape Breton Island is one of Canada's most scenic gems, containing the headlands of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, miles of unspoiled beaches, historic towns steeped in Mi’kmaq, Scottish, and French Acadian culture, and a coastline accessing both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
We will have a great time getting to know the island on a series of field trips:
You may wish to schedule extra time on Cape Breton Island to go whale watching or bird watching, descend to a coal mine beneath the ocean floor, hike into the spectacular National Park, and much, much more.
There are two cost options available for this volunteer vacation: a dorm-stay for US$990 per week, or a B&B-stay for US$1300 per week. Your fee covers:
- Double occupancy lodging
- Most meals (some evening meals not included)
- Field trips
- Insurance
- Project training and materials
Single rooms are available; contact us for details.
Most travelers to Cape Breton arrive via Halifax, flying into Halifax International Airport. From there you can rent a car and drive the four hours to Sydney-Glace Bay, or take a flight from Halifax to Sydney which has a small airport and is near the project site.
Residents of many countries will need only a valid passport to enter Canada, though citizens of some countries are required to have entry visas. Be sure to check the visa requirements for your country of origin.
If you would like assistance with travel arrangements, contact Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, AiP’s partnering travel agency.
Daytime temperatures in Sydney-Glace Bay in July range from 20-28C (68-82F). It may be humid, but temperatures rarely go above 30C. Weather can be unpredictable and may change quickly from sun to rain, and occasionally feature fog, high winds and cold spells. It is best to dress in layers to be prepared for any weather.
For work at the site bring a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, gloves and hard-soled shoes with closed toes that will be protective while working. Layering long sleeves over short is helpful. Remember that safety is always an important consideration at the work site.
NOTE: “Work at project site” may include work and instruction on site or formal instruction at a nearby location.
Sunday
Arrive at lodging. Casual gathering at 5pm followed by dinner.
Monday
Meet project leader at work site and begin instruction and work.
Afternoon tour of the company house neighbourhoods in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Tuesday
Work at project site. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Afternoon visit to Cape Breton Miners’ Museum and Glace Bay Heritage Museum.
Wednesday and Thursday
Work at project site. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Friday and Saturday
One of the great drives of the world! A tour of the Cabot Trail, with overnight stay along the trail.
Sunday
Free day. Arrival of new Week 2 volunteers.
(Week 2 volunteers may arrive on Friday and join the Cabot Trail trip.)
Monday
Work at project site. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Tuesday
Work at project site. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Afternoon trip to the town and Fortress of Louisbourg.
Wednesday
Work at project site. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Afternoon trip to beautiful town of Baddeck, home of Alexander Graham Bell museum and park.
Thursday
Work at project site. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Friday
Complete work, clean-up, and review of project. Lunch provided on-site or at a nearby location.
Saturday
Departure.
If you have additional questions or would like to discuss this adventure with AiP staff, please contact us at trips@adventuresinpreservation.org or call +1 303-444-0128.
