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Gulf Oil Refinery dock1975
Point Tupper, Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada
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OIL REFINERY - 1969 - British American Oil invested $50 million building the Gulf Oil Refinery in Point Tupper, Richmond County on the Cape Breton Island side of the Strait of Canso. Another $13 million was invested by the Federal Government building the wharf for that facility. Both were completed in 1971. The refinery had the capacity to process 87,000 barrels a day which came primarily from the Persian Gulf.37
Port Malcolm Expropriation20 March 1969
Port Malcolm, Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada
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LAND EXPROPRIATED - For communities like Port Malcom, expropriation was a sad reality as industry and government continued their expansion plans. In an article in the March 20th, 1969 paper, The Sun, published in Port Hawkesbury, there is an extensive article on the expropriation of land in Port Malcolm.Since the land had previously been of little value, the fact that it was now in an area of major expansion of heavy industry, some of the residents wanted $200 an acre. ("Similar bush land in Port Hawkesbury is selling for $500 as a case in point.")They were offered $30.00 instead.
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Mulgrave Machine Works advertisement27 March 1969
Mulgrave, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Canada
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HOME GROWN BUSINESS - 1969 - Mulgrave Machine Works was established in Mulgrave, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia by Tom Williams, Charles Simpson and Bob Reid who saw the need for a custom metal fabrication company. They provided services for their pulp contracting business and for companies like Acadia Fisheries, Nova Scotia Pulp Limited, Nova Scotia Power and the Heavy Water Plant as well as many other businesses.This company has grown and prospered, adapting to the needs of new customers such as offshore oil rigs. Mulgrave Machine Works is still owned and operated in 2005 by Bob Reid's children.
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Industries on the Strait of Canso1975
Point Tupper Industries
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HEAVY WATER PLANT - Hundreds of men were employed at the peak of construction of the Canadian General Electric Heavy Water Plant in Point Tupper, Richmond County, Nova Scotia at a cost of $65 million . . This plant was able to produce more than 700 million kilowatt hours each year or enough to supply power to 110,000 homes each year. The first reactor grade heavy water was produced on September 26th, 1970.At the same time, the Nova Scotia Power Commission built a thermal generating plant on the water side of the road at a cost of $18,200,000.00. This was to provide 1.2 million pounds of steam to the Heavy Water Plant thermal power generating plant as well as for the provincial grid.
The Heavy Water Plant closed in 1985. There were expansions over the years at Nova Scotia Power and they are still in 2005 providing jobs in the Strait of Canso region.
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Freight Boats1979
Mulgrave, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Canada
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HARD TIMES IN MULGRAVE - Unfortunately Mulgrave wasn't to reap the benefits that Mayor Leonard O'Neil had hoped to attract new jobs to replace all those lost on the auto and train ferries as well as the railroad after the completion of the Canso Causeway in 1955.It was a good sized town in 1951 with a population of 1212. Life would be difficult, but they moved forward.
The Mulgrave wharf would play a significant role in the lives of people in the community with freighters from Newfoundland stopping as well as fishing industry boats.
By 2004, they boast an expanded, state of the art marine wharf facility and the offices of the Strait of Canso Superport organization.
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Photo of the Strait of Canso1980
Strait of Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada
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POTENTIAL ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CAUSEWAY - The Strait of Canso looking south towards the communities of Mulgrave on the right (further down the Strait) and Port Hastings, Port Hawkesbury and Point Tupper on the left. Since 1955, the Canso Causeway blocks the winter ice on the north side creating a very deep, ice free harbour that is wide enough to accomodate the largest of ocean going tankers to sail into the south end of the Strait of Canso and turn to leave.By 1959, the first of many industries located here creating jobs and making it possible for residents, if they wished, to remain and or return home.
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POSITIVE OUTLOOK - "New Strait Area City Within Next Six Years Growth Explosion Expected " ( part of article in 1967 )"The town of Port Hawkesbury, with a prediction it will be part of Nova Scotia's fourth city within six years, would also like to become the western Atlantic terminal for giant bulk carriers shuttling between Europe and North America......Mayor Arthur Langley of Port Hawkesbury with the prospect of a sudden mushrooming in the size and population of his town, was here Friday for a meeting with Premier Stanfield to discuss the problems involved and seek provincial aid".
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Strait of Canso Impact Industries1975
Point Tupper Industries
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