Nova ScotiaThe Nova Scotia government has given its approval to granting a lease for more than 80 hectares of land and water on the province’s Eastern Shore to a group that wants to create North America’s first whale sanctuary.Project still has to raise money, get federal permits and adopt whalesTaryn Grant · CBC News · Posted: Oct 22, 2025 9:15 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThe site for a proposed whale sanctuary is seen in an area near Wine Harbour, N.S., in an undated handout photo. (Whale Sanctuary Project/The Canadian Press)The Nova Scotia government has given its approval to issue a lease for more than 80 hectares of land and water on the province’s Eastern Shore to a group that wants to create North America’s first whale sanctuary.The American non-profit Whale Sanctuary Project said the approval, which has been pending for more than three years, clears the path to begin construction and raise the remaining capital required to complete the project.“We are grateful to the Nova Scotia government and the Minister of Natural Resources,” the group said in a statement late Tuesday.“This is a great day for the Whale Sanctuary and for the whales. We look forward to pressing ahead in every way to establish the Whale Sanctuary.”Such a lease had previously seemed impossible, as some property owners in the Port Hilford, N.S., area who stand to be affected were refusing consent, which the province had said was required. It has now seemingly done away with that requirement.”Full consensus across any group of people on any issue is pretty difficult,” Premier Tim Houston told reporters Wednesday.”We need to get to a realistic place and there’s an incredible amount of community support for that project.… We thought there was enough to move forward.”The order-in-council that gives approval to the department to grant the Crown land lease was based on a recommendation by then natural resources minister Tory Rushton, who was shuffled out of cabinet on Tuesday.In a statement issued Wednesday evening, a department spokesperson said some details still need to be finalized before the lease can be granted, including the price and the exact boundaries of the property.News of the order-in-council garnered praise from supporters, including the Canadian advocacy group Animal Justice, which said the sanctuary offers a “real path to freedom” for captive whales. The St. Mary’s River Association, which stewards a watershed near the proposed sanctuary site, said the approval is a win for whales, and “all of us who believe in a more compassionate and sustainable relationship with nature.”‘A lot of work ahead’The Whale Sanctuary Project announced its plan for a sanctuary in Guysborough County, N.S., five years ago. The group is looking to care for eight to 10 marine mammals being retired from parks and aquariums, although it does not have any animals committed yet.Charles Vinick, the CEO of the Whale Sanctuary Project, says the Crown land lease will allow his team to secure pledges from private donors. (CBC)Charles Vinick, CEO of the Whale Sanctuary Project, said the step towards lease approval from the province is a significant step, but there remains “a lot of work ahead.”He said the group is now looking to finalize the purchase of 12 hectares of private land adjacent to the secured Crown land. Other next steps include refurbishing a pier, fabricating nets and constructing buildings.Vinick said the group has enough money to buy the land, but completing the project will require more fundraising. He said it will take another $15 million US to finish the project, which will be privately funded by donors.”We have quite a bit of pledges in seven-figure numbers from a number of sources.… We can look to confirm those now that we have the lease.”Vinick said the project’s timeline is contingent on funding.A solution for Marineland’s belugas?Marineland, the shuttered Ontario theme park that’s looking to rehome its remaining 30 belugas, has said the site is not appropriate for its whales because of contamination from historical gold mining. The Whale Sanctuary Project has disputed the claim, and Vinick said he is still hopeful some of those whales might end up in Nova Scotia.”This solution will take action by the province [of Ontario] … and perhaps by the federal government, as well as by zoos and aquariums, organizations that support the welfare of the animals and the public, to all come together.”But this is an opportunity.”Vinick said he also still has his sights set on two whales at Marineland Antibes. He anticipates no shortage of whales needing to be rehomed in the years ahead.”Other facilities around the world are facing similar situations to what we see with Marineland Canada, and that is that there are laws being passed that really do require a change in their business model and the public is demanding that change,” he said.Raising money and finding whales aside, the Whale Sanctuary Project must also secure approval from the federal Fisheries and Transport departments.Some locals have said they don’t want their water access limited by nets that the group intends to install to create a pen for the whales. Some also say they’re worried about an increase in traffic should the site become a tourist destination. Vinick said his team has “listened very carefully” to those complaints. He said they shifted plans for an interpretive centre to the eastern side of the bay to avoid a community road and agreed to limit public access.”This is not a tourist attraction,” he said.He said there is a plan to designate a portage route for people who want to access the ocean for paddling.MORE TOP STORIESCorrectionsThis is a corrected story. The story previously reported that the provincial government had approved a Crown land lease for the whale sanctuary. In fact, the government has given approval to the Department of Natural Resources to issue the lease.Oct 22, 2025 7:27 PM EDTABOUT THE AUTHORTaryn Grant covers daily news for CBC Nova Scotia, with a particular interest in housing and homelessness, education, and health care. You can email her with tips and feedback at taryn.grant@cbc.ca
Nova Scotia’s would-be whale sanctuary is one step closer to reality
