ANNAPOLIS ROYAL: UN names Nova Scotia town world’s most livable

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL WEB CAM Note- On web cam page please scroll to bottom of web cam page for image

CTV.ca News Staff

It’s often called the cradle of Canada, where Samuel de Champlain settled four centuries ago. Now, the Nova Scotian town of Annapolis Royal is being recognized as the perfect little town.
According to the International Awards for Livable Communities, a contest endorsed by the United Nations Environment Program, the coastal town along the shore of southwestern Nova Scotia is the “most livable” small town in the world for 2004.

The community was awarded first place in the category of communities with a population of less than 10,000. It won the award based on the beauty of its landscape, preservation of local heritage and environmental stewardship.

Annapolis Royal Mayor John Kinsella (2004) says the reason his town won is simple.

“I can walk down the street without fear or any concern anytime of day or night,” he says.

“My child walks to school every day. I walk to buy my groceries. I have a lifestyle that other people that live in big cities that have to commute 45 minutes to their jobs on highways. They would love to do that.”

At last count, there were 525 people living in Annapolis Royal, so size wasn’t a factor in this contest. The town’s deputy mayor says the distinction is something the entire province should be proud of.

“Nova Scotia should be proud of the area because we’re nothing without the people around us,” says Trish Fry. “And the province has every bit as much a right to brag about this as we do.”

The town has a long and proud history. Champlain chose the site, the first permanent European settlement in North America north of St. Augustine, Fla., in 1605 after exploring the area the year before.

The town still has a notable arts community and tourists flock to the area to visit the national historic park that recreates Champlain’s settlement.

Attracting tourists has never been a problem; what has been is getting people to live here.

Now, being designated the most livable small town in the world could change that.