Harbouring Success in and Out of the Water

Georgetown boasts the first harbour to be built on the Eastern Seaboard and one of the deepest harbours in North America.

Georgetown Harbour was recognized by both French and English colonists as one of the best anchorages. Makes sense, then, that it has generated much of the area’s economic activity. For example, in the late 19th century, Georgetown was a major shipbuilding centre and port, and it played a major role in the East Coast’s shipping industry. It also provided steamship service to Pictou, Nova Scotia, thus enabling a railway connection to the rest of the country. Georgetown Harbour was the last port to freeze over in heavy winters and often the only point of contact with the mainland. Today, the bustling harbour is still a major community attraction.