Post-tropical storm Fiona shut down the Pictou Lodge in 2022. It's back in business
The Pictou Lodge Beach Resort is officially back in business after the nearly century-old business was severely damaged by post-tropical storm Fiona in September 2022.
On Monday, Brad Hartlin, who owns the 99-year-old resort with his brother Mark, confirmed the news to CBC's Mainstreet Halifax.
"It's been a long process, but we're very excited about the opportunity and I'm very thankful to be part of it," he said.
In 2023, the previous owners concluded they couldn't continue to operate the business. The damage from Fiona included roofs being blown off cabins.
Hartlin said he and his brother created a business plan to revive the lodge. The first step was talking to longtime staff with knowledge of the property to see what was possible.
Some buildings were removed and some were sold by the previous owner. Hartlin noted Pictou Lodge will be a smaller operation.
Previously, the lodge had 80 to 100 rooms, he said. This season, it will be operating with 41 rooms.
"There's lots of room to grow in the future if we think that it can warrant it and we can pull it off. This year will be a learning curve for us," Hartlin said.
"It's been three months now getting everything together and we're going to do it in baby steps. We're not going to reinvent the wheel or think that we can do anything much better than previous owners before, but smaller and then we'll grow into it."
Some of the repairs have included redoing the roof on the main lodge, its chimney and the floors inside.
Hartlin said the pool, which was completely redone, has reopened. There's also a beach, pond and trail on the property.
"What we offer is nature. That's the No. 1 thing ... it's going to be a place that people can go and really relax and enjoy themselves," said Hartlin.
Some former staff rehired
Hartlin said people in the area have been very receptive to the lodge reopening. He said they were able to give some of the previous staff their jobs back.
The kitchen will reopen next year, but Hartlin said it will operate as a taphouse this year.
"The main lodge has been completely redone inside. It's got a very cool atmosphere and nostalgia that when people come in, they can sit and relax and have the memories of the Pictou Lodge — what it was and what it will be in the future," he said.
MORE TOP STORIES
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports
-- In the latest development signaling progress in cross-border defense cooperation, Canada and the United States have begun exchanging a working document outlining the potential terms of a new bilateral security deal. The draft, fewer than five pages, has been sent between Ottawa and Washington, according to reporting by CBC News and Radio-Canada. Sources familiar with the talks told CBC that the document includes a framework for Canadian participation in the 'Golden Dome' security initiative, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposal also incorporates pledges for increased Canadian infrastructure investment in the Arctic and renewed commitments to meeting NATO defense spending targets. Despite signs of movement, officials involved in the process are cautioning against premature conclusions. 'There's no deal agreed upon by both countries,' a Canadian government official told CBC, speaking on background due to the confidential nature of the negotiations. The same official added that such documents are common as countries test the waters in complex discussions: 'In a negotiation, there will be many documents sent back and forth with several hypothetical scenarios.' While the text provides a structural basis for talks, sources suggest multiple issues remain unresolved. Two sources confirmed to CBC that there is no expectation of a finalized agreement in time for the G7 summit slated to take place in Alberta next week. This indicates that, while the process has advanced, significant hurdles remain before anything can be formally announced. Both sides are said to be weighing domestic and geopolitical considerations linked to the deal's provisions. The stakes are high, with long-term security collaboration and defense readiness among the core components under review. Related articles Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports U.S. suspends nuclear equipment supplier licenses to China amid trade war Trump discusses Ukraine war, Iran with Putin Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports
-- In the latest development signaling progress in cross-border defense cooperation, Canada and the United States have begun exchanging a working document outlining the potential terms of a new bilateral security deal. The draft, fewer than five pages, has been sent between Ottawa and Washington, according to reporting by CBC News and Radio-Canada. Sources familiar with the talks told CBC that the document includes a framework for Canadian participation in the 'Golden Dome' security initiative, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposal also incorporates pledges for increased Canadian infrastructure investment in the Arctic and renewed commitments to meeting NATO defense spending targets. Despite signs of movement, officials involved in the process are cautioning against premature conclusions. 'There's no deal agreed upon by both countries,' a Canadian government official told CBC, speaking on background due to the confidential nature of the negotiations. The same official added that such documents are common as countries test the waters in complex discussions: 'In a negotiation, there will be many documents sent back and forth with several hypothetical scenarios.' While the text provides a structural basis for talks, sources suggest multiple issues remain unresolved. Two sources confirmed to CBC that there is no expectation of a finalized agreement in time for the G7 summit slated to take place in Alberta next week. This indicates that, while the process has advanced, significant hurdles remain before anything can be formally announced. Both sides are said to be weighing domestic and geopolitical considerations linked to the deal's provisions. The stakes are high, with long-term security collaboration and defense readiness among the core components under review. Related articles Canada and the U.S. exchange draft document on security deal, CBC reports U.S. suspends nuclear equipment supplier licenses to China amid trade war Trump discusses Ukraine war, Iran with Putin
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
NYC mayoral candidates answer questions on taxes, affordability, spending
The Brief The Citizens Budget Commission sent out a questionnaire to the New York City mayoral candidates. Nine of the candidates responded, answering questions regarding government efficiency, taxes and other topics. NEW YORK CITY - The Citizens Budget Commission's (CBC) new questionnaire sheds some light on the potential future spending habits of New York City's mayoral candidates. All answers provided by the candidates were taken from their responses to the CBC's 2025 New York City Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire. What we know SKIP TO: Services and operations | Education | Attracting residents and businesses | Taxes Twelve candidates were sent the questionnaire – only New York City Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Senator Zellnor Myrie did not submit responses. The other candidates are as follows: Former Assemblymember Michael Blake Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani Senator Jessica Ramos (who just recently endorsed Cuomo) Curtis Sliwa Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer Whitney Tilson Jim Walden A more comprehensive look at each candidate can be found here. What they're saying Here are some of the subjects broached by the questionnaire. A majority of the candidates rated the efficiency of NYC's services and operations from fair to poor, with only Jim Walden rating the efficiency as "good" – Mamdani, Sliwa and Tilson were the three to rate the services and operations as "poor." In comparison, none of the candidates rates the quality of these services as "poor," with Stringer and Blake going so far as to label them "good" (the other candidates all settled on "fair"). "If you can't afford rent, find a good school or feel safe walking home, you're not staying in New York City." Senator Jessica Ramos The variation of answers was far greater when the candidates were asked which two major agencies offer significant opportunity to improve said efficiency. Blake and Ramos highlighted NYCHA (NYC Housing Authority) as one of their two chosen agencies; Blake, Mamdani and Sliwa pointed to education. While on the subject of education, only one candidate argued against the concept that increasing public school per-student spending would increase achievement: Curtis Sliwa. "Results come from better leadership, not blank checks." Tilson did not commit to a yes or no answer: "Higher per-pupil spending generally does not increase achievement, but I want to invest in certain areas, such as expanding 3-K and reading tutors in elementary schools, for struggling children." All seven other candidates agreed with the idea that an increase in per-student spending would lead to higher achievement rates. Every candidate who participated in the questionnaire agreed that public safety and housing affordability were the two most pressing issues regarding attracting new residents and businesses. "New Yorkers with children under the age of six are leaving the city at more than twice the rate of those without young children." Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani When asked to choose a third factor, the candidates began to diverge in perspective. Lander, Ramos, Stringer, Tilson and Walden concurred that the city's quality of education offered is an obstacle to attracting newcomers. Sliwa cited high taxes as his suspected issue, while Mamdani zeroed in on childcare, or more accurately, a lack of affordable childcare options. Cuomo and Blake settled on similar matters, with Blake attributing the issue to the cost of living overall, while Cuomo pointed to "quality of life write large" as the issue. All candidates involved said they would keep the city's sales tax as it is currently – answers diverged in regard to personal income taxes and property taxes. Ramos and Mamdani would increase the personal income tax of New Yorkers, while Cuomo and Sliwa would decrease them, with the other candidates saying they would keep them the same. Walden, Cuomo and Sliwa would decrease the property tax rate, while Blake would increase it – most other candidates would keep the rate as it is now, except for Ramos, who did not provide an answer. The Source This article includes information from a Citizens Budget Commission questionnaire.
