Written by Ann Hart, published in The Participaper, summer 2006 Pleasant Bay Fire of 1947 Pleasant Bay "During the first week of August 1947 in Cape Breton, eggs were fried on the Sydney sidewalks as an experiment. It was so hot that week that the eggs cooked. That same week, in the Cape Breton Highlands, a fire started up the MacKenzie River valley between Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay. It was 120 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was strong. August 6, 1947: T.C, Fe

I often tell guests that Cape Breton’s culture isn’t something we perform—it’s something we live, and invite you to step into. It’s in our community halls, our kitchens, and our conversations. And the best part? You’ll find it happening every day of the week. For generations, Cape Breton’s music has been passed from hand to hand and ear to ear. It’s a cultural tradition, rooted in Scottish, Irish, and Acadian origins, that once combined, took on a life of it's own. Our tune

As the Cape Breton Highlands transform under a blanket of snow, the serene winter landscape becomes a bustling hub for an array of bird species that either call this place home year-round or visit during the colder months. Winter birdwatching here offers unique opportunities to observe some of the most captivating avian species, including the mystical Snowy Owl, the cheerful Snow Buntings, the friendly Black-capped Chickadee, the elusive Barred Owl, and the majestic Red-taile