Pugwash, Nova Scotia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pugwash
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Village
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Pugwash Lighthouse
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| Motto(s):
World Famous for Peace
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 Pugwash
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Nova Scotia |
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| County | Cumberland | |
| Founded | 1807 | |
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Cumberland-Colchester |
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| Provincial | Cumberland North | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.80 km2 (3.78 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 746 | |
| • Density | 76.2/km2 (197/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | ATS | |
| • Summer (DST) | Atlantic Standard Time | |
| Postal Code |
B0K 1L0
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| Area code(s) | +1-902-243 | |
Pugwash is a small village in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in Cumberland County. The village sits on the Northumberland Strait, where the Pugwash River meets the sea.
In 2021, Pugwash had a population of 746 people. The name "Pugwash" comes from the Mi'kmaq word Pakwesk. This word means "a shoal," which is a shallow area in the water. This refers to a reef near the harbor's entrance.
Pugwash is known for fishing, salt mining, and small factories. It is also a popular place for tourists. The village is built on a very thick layer of salt, about 457 meters (1,500 feet) deep. It has the largest underground salt mine in Atlantic Canada. Salt from the mine is shipped from the port or by train.
Contents
A Look at Pugwash's History
Early Times and First Peoples
The ice age ended in this area about 13,500 years ago. After the ice melted, people known as Paleo-Indians settled here. The land where Pugwash is today is part of Mi'kma'ki. This is the traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq people. They have lived here for thousands of years. Old maps even show West Pugwash as "Indian land."
European Settlers Arrive
In the 1660s, French settlers called Acadians moved to the Chignecto area. This period ended with the Expulsion in 1755. During this time, the British burned villages like Wallace and Tatamagouche. These villages were important ports for the Acadians.
British settlers, called United Empire Loyalists, arrived in 1790. Later, the Seaman family from New York State moved here in 1795. They bought the land where Pugwash now stands from the Mi'kmaq in 1802.
Scottish Roots and Local Heroes
Many people in Pugwash today are descendants of Scots. These Scottish families moved to the area in the 1800s. To honor this heritage, all street signs in Pugwash are in both English and Gaelic. Every July 1st, the village celebrates its Scottish roots. They hold the annual Gathering of the Clans and Fisherman's Regatta.
The Pugwash area is also famous for its warm ocean waters and sandy beaches. Many people say the water here in summer is the warmest north of the Carolinas in the United States.
In 1870, a special monument was built in Pugwash. It is called the Crowley Memorial. It honors Mary E. Crowley, a 12-year-old girl. She died in 1869 after saving her younger brother and sister from a house fire. This is thought to be the first public monument in Canada built for a female.
The Great Fire of 1898
In 1898, a huge fire destroyed almost the entire town. About 1,200 people lost their homes. News reports said that 200 houses, 5 churches, 20 stores, 3 hotels, and several mills were burned down. Most of the town was not insured.
The Pugwash Conferences for Peace
Pugwash became famous worldwide in 1957. This was when an important international meeting took place here. Bertrand Russell, a famous thinker, helped organize it. The meeting was hosted by Cyrus Eaton, a steel businessman who grew up in Pugwash.
Scientists from both sides of the Cold War came to this meeting. They spoke out against nuclear weapons. This meeting was a follow-up to an earlier statement called the Russell–Einstein Manifesto. Famous scientists like Albert Einstein and Linus Pauling had signed it. The group that formed from these meetings is now known as the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs.
There's a fun myth about the children's cartoon character Captain Pugwash. Some people think he was named after these peace conferences. But the pirate character actually first appeared in 1950. This was several years before the first Pugwash conference was even planned!
Pugwash Today
When visitors first came to Pugwash, signs used to say "Home of the Thinkers." Now, the signs say "World Famous for Peace." This change happened because the International Pugwash Conferences won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995. They won for working to reduce nuclear weapons and eventually get rid of them.
The village has an elementary school named after Cyrus Eaton. There is also a regional high school for students from the surrounding area. During the summer, Pugwash has a farmers' market on Saturdays.
The old Pugwash railway station is now home to the Pugwash Library. It also houses the North Cumberland Historical Society. This building was designed by Sir Sandford Fleming and finished in 1892. It is a registered historic site in Nova Scotia.
In 1999, a rare event happened in Pugwash: a tornado hit the village. Tornadoes are not common in Nova Scotia.
People and Numbers
In the 2021 Census, Pugwash had 746 residents. These people lived in 343 of the 458 homes in the village. This was a small increase from 736 people in 2016. The village covers an area of 9.8 square kilometers (3.8 square miles).
How Pugwash Makes a Living
Pugwash is unique because it sits between two fishing areas. This means it has two fishing seasons on the Northumberland Strait. The first season is in May and June. The second is from mid-August to mid-October. Many boats fish from Pugwash harbor. They can carry up to 300 lobster traps at a time.
The village is also home to the Canadian Salt Company Mine. This is the only salt mine and the only underground mine in Nova Scotia. It has been open since 1959. Most of the mine is under the Pugwash River, not directly under the village. The mine produces different types of salt. This includes salt for industry, salt blocks for farms, and refined table salt for homes. About 1,200,000 tons of salt are produced each year. The salt is sent out by road or by large ships from the company's port. You can often see these ships in the harbor from spring to late autumn.
Making crafts and souvenirs from pewter is another important business in Pugwash.
Weather in Pugwash
Pugwash has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers with cool nights. Winters are long, cold, and snowy.
| Climate data for Pugwash (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.0 (64.4) |
17.0 (62.6) |
19.0 (66.2) |
25.5 (77.9) |
32.2 (90.0) |
33.5 (92.3) |
36.0 (96.8) |
35.0 (95.0) |
32.5 (90.5) |
26.5 (79.7) |
23.0 (73.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
36.0 (96.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
2.5 (36.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
21.0 (69.8) |
24.7 (76.5) |
24.1 (75.4) |
19.8 (67.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
7.3 (45.1) |
1.2 (34.2) |
11.2 (52.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−6 (21) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
10.6 (51.1) |
15.9 (60.6) |
19.8 (67.6) |
19.4 (66.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
9.2 (48.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
6.7 (44.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.8 (10.8) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
0.2 (32.4) |
5.8 (42.4) |
10.8 (51.4) |
14.8 (58.6) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
5.2 (41.4) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
2.3 (36.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −33.0 (−27.4) |
−37.0 (−34.6) |
−27.5 (−17.5) |
−13.0 (8.6) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
2.8 (37.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−20.0 (−4.0) |
−29.0 (−20.2) |
−37.0 (−34.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 88.1 (3.47) |
64.8 (2.55) |
77.4 (3.05) |
81.9 (3.22) |
95.3 (3.75) |
81.5 (3.21) |
72.7 (2.86) |
78.5 (3.09) |
98.1 (3.86) |
103.8 (4.09) |
99.7 (3.93) |
96.4 (3.80) |
1,038.2 (40.87) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 40.1 (1.58) |
26.4 (1.04) |
41.9 (1.65) |
69.6 (2.74) |
93.9 (3.70) |
81.5 (3.21) |
72.7 (2.86) |
78.5 (3.09) |
98.1 (3.86) |
103.8 (4.09) |
91.2 (3.59) |
57.7 (2.27) |
855.4 (33.68) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 47.9 (18.9) |
38.5 (15.2) |
35.5 (14.0) |
12.3 (4.8) |
1.4 (0.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
8.5 (3.3) |
38.8 (15.3) |
182.8 (72.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 12.2 | 10.3 | 12.7 | 13.9 | 14.3 | 13.0 | 11.8 | 11.3 | 11.9 | 14.0 | 15.5 | 14.0 | 154.8 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 4.8 | 4.0 | 7.5 | 12.5 | 14.3 | 13.0 | 11.8 | 11.3 | 11.9 | 14.0 | 14.1 | 8.2 | 127.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 7.7 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 2.7 | 0.25 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 32.0 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Famous People from Pugwash
- Charles Aubrey Eaton (1868–1953) – A clergyman and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives.
- Cyrus S. Eaton – A famous businessman and peace activist who hosted the Pugwash Conferences.
- Norman MacKenzie – A notable politician.
- James Dewar – The inventor of the popular snack, Twinkies.
Parks to Explore
- Gulf Shore Provincial Park
- Heather Beach Provincial Park
Images for kids
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The Northumberland Strait from the Gulf Shore Road in the Pugwash area
