International Media, Crowds Attend Titanic Commemorative Events

Published by the Department of Community, Culture and Heritage

Sunday, April 15, 2012

About 9,000 Nova Scotians and visitors turned out for the weekend's Titanic commemorative events and another 4,500 people watched the events online at www.titanic.gov.ns.ca.

Quotes

“ Overall, I would say that the tone of the events was reflective. It was a moving experience on Saturday night to see thousands of people in the procession file into the Grand Parade holding their candles. Our crowds had a kind of closeness, an attentiveness, I think. ” David Wilson, Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage

“ My sense of this gathering is that people are here for the right reasons. This sort of thing can be oddly comforting, gathering together in memory of those lost. ” Gordon Pinsent, narrator

“ I'm glad to be here for my elderly relatives in England who couldn't make it for the anniversary. My distant cousin, Edward Rogers, was a crew member on the Titanic but didn't survive. ” Marilyn Ewer, ceremony attendee, whose cousin is buried with other Titanic victims at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery.

Quick Facts

• About 3,000 people participated in The Gathering, a walking procession from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to the Grand Parade. Once there, the Titanic Eve Night of the Bells event began.
• Gordon Pinsent, a Canadian icon, narrated the story of Titanic, its passengers and crew, and the Halifax connection to the tragedy.
• There were more than 20 performances complemented by three large LED screens and a replica bow of the Titanic.
• At the end of the evening, after a lone piper played Amazing Grace, the stage lights darkened and bells rang out from the churches that held the memorial services for Titanic victims in 1912.
• A fly past by a Canadian Forces Sea King helicopter started the Titanic Spiritual Ceremony today, April 15, at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery.
• About 1,000 people attended the memorial service including Lt.-Gov. John James Grant, Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, and clergy from the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim faiths.
• Flowers were placed on the grave sites of the Titanic victims and a maple tree was planted in honour of Nova Scotia and Canada's assistance in the recovery efforts of the victims.
• The Titanic on Twitter project, which issued original wireless messages from the sinking of the Titanic in tweets, reached about 610,000 people around the world. The project was among the most tweeted and retweeted, achieved trending status in Canada early Sunday morning.
• The commemorative events were broadcast live by local and national media and international media from the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, Japan and the United States also covered the events.

Learn More

• Titanic in Nova Scotia
• Communities, Culture and Hertiage
• Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
• Titanic 100

Media Contacts

Communities, Culture and Heritage

Cell: 902-471-4128

E-mail: frielkv@gov.ns.ca

Steve Warburton

Warburton Communications

Cell: 902-221-3196

E-mail: stevewarburton@gov.ns.ca