
Canada Strong Pass opens doors to Halifax landmarks youth
Some of Halifax's most iconic landmarks are now more accessible to youth thanks to the newly launched Canada Strong Pass, which offers free or discounted admission to national sites and travel options across the country this summer.
From June 20 until Sept. 2, Canadians aged 17 and under can enjoy free admission to places like the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Canadian Museum of Immigration.
'We're expecting a lot of first-time visitors in Halifax this summer and they usually want to come and see our signature tourism attractions, things like the museum of tourism,' said Sarah Reeves, a spokesperson for Discover Halifax.
People aged 18 to 24 receive up to 50 per cent off admission at select museums and discounted travel on VIA Rail.
No registration or physical pass is required.
'We know that Canadians are travelling domestically this year and they're feeling a little more patriotic so anything that removes a barrier to access our historic sites is great news,' said Reeves.
The initiative includes access to national parks across the Maritimes, such as the Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, which offers hiking trails, waterfalls and views of the world's highest tides.
The Canada Strong Pass is part of a federal initiative to promote travel, storytelling and cultural connection among youth.
View
Georges Island is viewed from the Second World War deck at Pier 21 during the inauguration of the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011.
(Andrew Vaughan)
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Ministers Island is latest tourist site planning to hand keys back to province
Ministers Island is the only tourist attraction in New Brunswick where visitors can drive across the ocean floor, but the tides of change threaten to overtake the historic site in Saint Andrews. The board of the charity that runs Ministers Island says it is unable to keep the popular attraction going with the $100,000 it receives for from the province for its operations budget. "We've tried everything and we've tried everything for 17 years," said John Kershaw, chair of the board of the Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island. "We've decided as a board that unless we get additional investment from the province, we are going to, in August, give six months' notice that we will not operate next year." Ministers Island, accessible only at low tide, was once owned by Sir William Van Horne, who was famous for getting the Canadian Pacific Railway built. With an admission ticket, visitors get to explore the island Van Horne once called his summer home. Popular attractions include the mansion, bathhouse, livestock barn, windmill and walking trails that cross the island from shore to shore. It is one of many historic attractions in Saint Andrews. Kershaw argues that similar historic sites in the province, including Kings Landing, receive significantly more provincial funding even though they attract comparable numbers of visitors. According to its annual report, Kings Landing gets $3.7 million as a provincial operating grant on top of other non-recurring grants from the province. "We just feel that that level of difference is just not fair," Kershaw said. These historic sites are both owned by the province and operated by external boards. Kings landing saw 34,000 visitors last year and Ministers Island saw 24,000. Does 10,000 more visitors justify millions more in funding? The New Brunswick government bought Ministers Island in 1977, and the island was declared a national historic site about 20 years later. Ever since the Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island was set up this century, every chair of the board "has been calling on the government to enhance our level of funding," Kershaw said. The board functions as a custodian for the island, overseeing operations for the province. Operational funding to the island increased to $130,000 from $33,000 in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, then moved down to $100,000 in 2020-2021, where it has stayed each year since. Funding for the island also comes from various donations and non-recurring grants. WATCH | 'We're not fiscally sustainable' Uncertain future for Ministers Island 35 minutes ago The board is only able to hire one full-time paid employee to oversee operations on the island. The rest of the work is stretched among volunteer board members and seasonal employees. Kershaw said this is not enough help to sustain the island. The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture did not allow CBC News to interview Tourism Minister Isabelle Theriault and sent a statement instead. Despite the board's concerns, the statement said, the department is "committed to ensuring the continued conservation and public enjoyment of Ministers Island." "We renewed the funding that had been provided in previous years that Ministers Island received in the past," Premier Susan Holt said at a recent news when asked about the site's predicament. "At this point in time, the government doesn't have additional money to put more money into those heritage sites." Holt said that "the cost to operate is going up and that's leaving them with shortfalls. About $900,000 was cut from the provincial tourism budget in March. Not the first historical site to speak out The island's board is not the first to speak out about a lack of funding in New Brunswick. MacDonald Farm in Miramichi had to close because it didn't have the money to stay open. This historical site is also owned by the government but run by the Highland Society of New Brunswick at Miramichi. "We are a completely volunteer committee that operates this site and we just felt that having to fight to keep this site open is not something that we have the energy to do anymore," said society president Dawn Lamkey MacDonald. Impact on Saint Andrews tourism The lack of funding isn't just a worry for the Ministers Island board but also for the Explore Saint Andrews, the town's tourism marketing board. "Heritage and tourism is a big part of what draws people to Saint Andrews," said Explore Saint Andrews board member James Geneau. "I would argue that Minister's Island is an attraction that has lots of opportunity with a huge audience." Ganeau said that closing the island to tourists would have a significant impact on tourism that Saint Andrew's economy desperately depends on. "Losing that is going to be significant in terms of the overall offering that Saint Andrews can provide to tourists," Geneau said. "It's part of a broader offering which makes the area a destination for not just a night, but multiple days." Saint Andrews tourism works as a collective cluster with neighbouring sites such as the Huntsman Marine Science Center, Algonquin Golf Course, and the Blockhouse supporting each other, drawing visitors to stay in town for longer.


CTV News
12 hours ago
- CTV News
30 per cent drop in travellers arriving from N.B. at Maine border in June: U.S. agency
Data shows fewer Maritimers are crossing the international border in New Brunswick. The number of travellers arriving at Maine border crossings from New Brunswick dropped 30 per last month compared to June 2024, according to new numbers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protections agency. The data shows 178,704 travellers (counted as passenger vehicles, pedestrians, and trucks) crossed into Maine from New Brunswick last month, compared to 254,603 travellers the same month last year – amounting to 75,899 fewer travellers. A breakdown of the data at Maine's three busiest land border crossings shows: Calais June 2025: 65,719 June 2024: 97,251 Houlton June 2025: 28,693 June 2024: 42,673 Madawaska June 2025: 28,759 June 2024: 40,093 The new numbers continue a downward trend in cross-border traffic, which began in January when U.S. President Donald Trump's 51st state rhetoric grew more frequent. Early calls for Canadians to avoid U.S. travel haven't waned. On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Trump felt Canada was 'nasty' to deal with because of the boycotts on stateside travel, as well as American alcohol. Last month, Maine Governor Janet Mills visited New Brunswick to convey a message that Canadians were welcome in the state. Mills ordered new 'Welcome/Bienvenue Canadians/Canadiens' signs to be posted at border crossings and tourist destinations. According to Maine's department of tourism, about 800,000 Canadians visited the state last year, putting $500 million U.S. into the economy. Madawaska Bridge The Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge, connecting Maine and New Brunswick over the Saint John River, is pictured. (Source: Nick Moore/CTV News Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.


CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Entertainment expo draws large crowds in Saint John
Atlantic Watch Thousands of Maritime pop-culture fans made their way to Saint John, N.B., this weekend for the 2025 Atlantic Entertainment Expo.