One of the many joys of visiting the Maritime Provinces in eastern Canada is a leisurely stroll around one of the charming seaside villages. The historic villages of Chester, Nova Scotia; Victoria, Prince Edward Island; and Parrsboro, Nova Scotia are all picture postcard perfect. Each has its own personality and charm yet there are many similarities. All three seaside villages are surrounded by natural beauty. They honor their sea-faring roots and take care to preserve their heritage. They foster creative, artistic communities keeping them active, vibrant and viable.
Chester, Victoria and Parrsboro all have a history of ocean-based commerce including shipping, shipbuilding and fishing. These industries are no longer their primary focus but the sea continues to play a big part in these communities today. For instance, the waters around Chester are well-known for yachting, sailing and kayaking. Every August, the Chester Yacht Club hosts Chester Race Week which is Canada’s largest keelboat racing regatta.
This awe-inspiring view greets visitors at the Chester Yacht Club wharf.
Beautiful vistas and nautical scenes capture one’s attention all along Chester’s waterfront.
The ocean-based commerce in these coastal villages was in its heyday in the 1800s. It led to considerable prosperity which the citizens invested in their homes and communities. These picture postcard coastal villages are their legacy. The current homeowners in Victoria, or Victoria-by-the-Sea as they’ve branded the community, obviously take pride in their homes and surroundings. Here are a few photos from this picturesque village.
Current residents of these communities celebrate and nurture a creative spirit through art programs and events, theatres and playhouses, art galleries and studios. Parrsboro, for instance, encourages visitors to “Explore. Dream. Create in our inspiring community.”. Every year, Parrsboro hosts Canada’s largest outdoor painting festival—the Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival. As explained on the Parrsboro Creative website, “‘En plein air’ is a French expression meaning “in the open air”. It describes the art of outdoor painting, using specific skills to capture landscapes and views in natural light. Plein Air painting requires adaptability to a changing environment and speed in applying painting techniques.”
The 2021 Plein Air Festival was underway when we visited Parrsboro. In the below photo, well-known Nova Scotian artist Joy Laking puts the finishing touches on a street scene.
Locals might recognize this as the view from the Parrsboro Bandstand looking down Main Street. I love how painters can capture what they see in their mind’s eye versus what’s actually in front of them. For instance, notice how a scooter-rider has been inserted and the dominant Irving service station seen below…
… has been skillfully eliminated from Joy Laking’s street scene.
Nearby Partridge Island is a popular location for the plein air painters. It’s little wonder—there is natural beauty in every direction!
We spotted artist Adam Tragakis capturing these stunning cloudy skies over the Fundy cliffs.
Here’s how his painting had evolved a little over an hour later. Splendid!
Pictured below is the same view of the landscape. Notice how Adam Tragakis expertly captured a slightly different scene—at the exact moment the dark, moody clouds dropped sheets of rain over the cliffs.
Chester, Victoria and Parrsboro may not get as much attention as some of the area’s bigger cities and more popular attractions. But this, I believe, works in their favor. Author Stephen Kimber wrote “The Trans-Canada Highway bypassed Victoria. So did the shopping centres and tourist amusement parks. And that – along with its independent-minded citizens – is what makes Victoria the enchanting, picture post card place it is today.” The citizens of these villages have worked hard to build strong, creative communities and sponsor world-class events without compromising their character and uniqueness. Well done, citizens of Chester, Victoria and Parrsboro!
More Info
You can learn more about visiting Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island on their respective tourism websites or check out these FanningSparks’ posts:
. Solid as a Rock
. Watching Humpbacks on the Bay of Fundy
. We Dined on the Ocean Floor
. The Perfect Reminder of Green Gables
. Shutter Therapy in North Rustico
. Beacons of Light
. In Pursuit of Sea Glass
. Falling Leaves and Floating Boats
. First Light at Peggy’s Cove
Chester, Nova Scotia also provides information on its Village of Chester NS and Chester Race Week websites.
Check out the Victoria by the Sea website for more information about Victoria, Prince Edward Island.
More information about Parrsboro, Nova Scotia can be found on the Bay of Fundy website. The Parrsboro Creative organization spearheads arts and culture in Parrsboro and organizes the annual Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival.
To learn more about the talented artists mentioned in this post, visit the Joy Laking Gallery website and Adam Tragakis on Instagram. In fact, you can see the final result of the Parrsboro Plein Air painting we witnessed in this Instagram post.
Today’s Takeaways
1. Seek out lesser-known towns and villages when you travel.
2. Take time to explore with a leisurely stroll.
3. Consider and appreciate the efforts of the local citizens who keep these places picture postcard perfect.
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