Porters Lake Provincial Park Opening to Honour Veterans

Nova Scotia's veterans will be honoured at the official reopening of Porters Lake Provincial Park on Friday, July 29.

The ceremony will feature a commemorative tree planting and will include the presentation of "parks packages" to representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion by Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Natural Resources. The packages contain passes for free camping at Nova Scotia provincial parks and parks memorabilia. Each of the 15 legion zones will receive a package to help generate funds for their respective activities.

"This ceremony will honour our veterans, but it is really they who have honoured us with their patriotism and courage," said Mr. Hurlburt. "We are pleased to recognize their contributions to the people of this province by dedicating these reopening ceremonies to them."

Cecil Clarke, Minister responsible for the Year of the Veteran, said it is essential that none of us forget the sacrifices veterans made. "This is the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. We need to remember Canada's veterans, who helped to re-establish peace throughout Europe, and our peacekeepers' profound contributions in places like Cyprus, the Congo, Egypt, and the former Yugoslavia."

There are about 400,000 veterans of the Second World War and the Korean War and 500,000 Canadian Forces' veterans in Canada, with as many as 100,000 living in Nova Scotia. The province has 35,000 members of 119 legions within 15 zones.

The devastation caused by Hurricane Juan provided the Department of Natural Resources with the opportunity to redevelop the popular campground at Porters Lake Provincial Park. The upgraded park now has larger, more modern, campsites, new road and water systems, and 10 campsites offering water and electrical hook-ups. More than $1 million in improvements, jointly funded by the province of Nova Scotia and the federal disaster relief program, have been completed by local contractors.

Everyone is welcome to attend the official reopening ceremony, which begins, rain or shine, at 10 a.m.