Atlantica Hotel Halifax Blog

We’re just a tad excited at Atlantica Hotel that Halifax’s newest outdoor activity in the heart of the city, the Emera skating oval, is right next door. Ever since HRM approved to build a permanent oval in place of where the Canada Games skating oval was, we’ve been looking forward to a more active winter lifestyle, and a busier neighbourhood this season.

And guess what? It’s all happening. Haligonians are taking the oval just like we knew they would!

Where Did Skating Come From?

Some would call outdoor skating a Canadian tradition. I wanted to see exactly where and how it all began…

It is said that skating on ponds and lakes began in Canada out of necessity. People needed to get places, and skating across frozen surfaces was quicker than walking around. That makes sense.

According Outdoors.ca, British military officers in the mid-1800s began ice skating because they were bored, but the sport took off, and in 1854 the first official skating race took place from Montreal to Quebec city, again, by British officers.

The Amateur Skating Association of Canada was formed by 1887, and the country never looked  back.

Skating on the Rideau Canal (source: Slaysh.com)

The biggest place to skate…

There seems to be an on-going battle in Canada as to who has the largest and longest outdoor skating. While the Rideau Canal in Ottawa is a very famous outdoor skating space, they were pushed out as the longest track by Sylvan Lake in Alberta, which is 10 kilometres long. The Canal is 7.8 kilometres and have decided their claim to fame is being the largest groomed outdoor skating surface.

Aside from those, there is some seriously beautiful outdoor skating in the Rockies. Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise all have outdoor skating areas. Grouse Mountain, on the West Coast, has an 8,000 square foot ice skating pond!

It’s easy!

Outdoor skating is one of the most accessible winter sports. All you need is warm clothes and a pair of skates; bought, rented or borrowed! And of course the kids need safety helmets. Both skates and helmets are free to rent at the Emera skating oval. For full information on services and skate times, visit their website.

Share your photos with us and win!

Look for our skating oval Facebook contest! Share your photo of skating fun (on the Emera oval) to be entered to win a $75.00 dining credit at Seasons by Atlantica. A great place to warm up after a long skate, or to get some energy beforehand.

Sources:

http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/hist-canal.html

Outdoor.ca

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On the first weekend of November, I attended a Christmas craft fair in Halifax… it got me to thinking about just how early the “holidays” can really start. Although I enjoyed looking at the festive goodies at the fair, I just couldn’t bring myself to buy any gifts for this year, yet. It felt too early. But how early is too early? I know lots of people who begin Christmas gift shopping long before the first weekend of November.

Generally, as a rule, I’ve always thought you shouldn’t start decorating until after Remembrance Day. But, some people start immediately after Halloween. When I visited the grocery store on Halloween DAY, there was all the bright and shiny holiday wrapping paper and decorations; they had completely taken over the seasonal section already!

Photo Source: InfoMonkey

Halifax Holidays

Let’s look at a timeline of the festive activities in Halifax, to give us an idea of when, officially, the “holidays” begin in HRM.

Past:

• November 4-6: Christmas at the Forum
• November 11-13: Christmas Crafts Village (Exhibition Park)

Coming Up:

• November 18-20: NSDCC Designer Craft Show (Alderney Landing)
• November 19: The 16th Annual Chronicle Herald Holiday Parade of Lights
• November 25-27: Dalplex Christmas Craft Market
• November 25-26: Festival of Trees (Mental Health fundraiser)
• November 26: HRM Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec 7-18: Alderney Landing Dinner Theatre Christmas Shows

Of course there are tons more holiday activities going on in HRM this season. It looks to me like it really starts to pick up around November 19th, the same weekend as the Parade of Lights. I think this is a reasonable time. Notice the tree lighting isn’t until the 26th. About a month away from Christmas I usually start to feel the pressure to shop!

When Do YOU Get in the Holiday Spirit?

Let me know in the comments section when you think it’s acceptable to begin the holiday season! Or post it on our Facebook or Twitter!

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Art Imitating… Hotel?

The upcoming Nocturne: Art at Night festival in Halifax marks a first for our hotel. On October 15th, our restaurant Seasons by Atlantica will transform into a musical art installation. The piece is by local artist and musician Lisa Lipton. The hotel hasn’t become living art before, and we’re pretty excited about it.

Nuit Blanche Paris 2008 - Click Image for Source

A Bit of Art History

I started looking into the idea of nighttime art festivals. It seems one of the originals is the Night of the Arts festival that started in Helsinki in 1989. They held their 23rd annual festival this past August in cities across Finland.

Now there are several “White Night” festivals all over the world, one of the more well-known is Nuit Blanche, in Paris, which celebrated their 10th year of the festival on October 1st. The translation from French is “Sleepless Night”, “White Night” or “All-Nighter”.

Nuit Blanche featured around thirty artists this year, coming from all over the world, including Canada. According to their website, their aim is and always has been to bring together artists and the audience.

In 2006, Toronto started their own nighttime art festival, the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche. While the concept was new to Toronto that year, 425 000 people participated, and the festival has continued to grow in both attendance and art installations.

Nighttime Art in Halifax - Click Photo for Source

A Sleepless Halifax Night

Here in Halifax, Nocturne is back for its fourth year. According to the show’s chair Rose Zack, the festival has been extremely well-received, and attendance has grown each year.

The festival is completely free, and will take place on the streets of Halifax from 6pm – midnight this Saturday night, October 15th. The show features live visual art at various venues across the city, some will be unlike anything you’ve seen before. Some pieces integrate music, lighting, and live performance.

Why a nighttime art festival in Halifax? Nocturne’s website outlines their mandate: “To execute an annual event that highlights the existing arts community in the Halifax area that serves both the residents of the HRM and tourists.” We think that Nocturne truly is a unique and important event in Halifax, and we’re happy that our hotel, our guests and our employees will get to have this experience.

Plan Your Night

Check out the website for information on the installations, the art zones, and how to plan your night. If you have a smartphone, be sure to download the Nocturne app! Just follow the “Available on the App Store” link.

We hope to see you at Seasons for Lisa Lipton’s musical lounge installation!

Photo Source: PedalandSeaAdventures.com

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year…

Sadly, the summer in Nova Scotia is drawing to an end. That’s not to say that we won’t have many more beautiful, sunny and warm days during the autumn, we usually do, but… let’s not be in denial here, summer will soon be officially over.

While that may make many people sad, and a part of me is sad too, the end of summer also means that one of my absolute favourite times of the year is upon us: the Nova Scotia harvest.

The Best Time to Visit

Talk about a great time to visit our province! Whenever I offer advice to people planning a trip to Nova Scotia I recommend the early autumn. Not only are there numerous beautiful driving routes, surrounded by vibrantly coloured trees, there is a whole other added element: taking advantage of our harvest time. Several summer fruits and vegetables are still available at the farm markets, and numerous new autumn vegetables are introduced. There’s more variety this time of the year than any other, in Nova Scotia.

Photo Source: AtlanticFarmFocus.ca - Berwick Farm Market

Explore

With the movement to support local farms going strong in Nova Scotia, it is a great time to visit us and see what our harvest time is all about. I would personally suggest the following itinerary: visit the Annapolis Valley and see the farms firsthand. Decide on some of your favourites; there’s everything from cheese houses, goat farms, blueberry fields, U-Pick apples to large farm market stores located right on site. Then head back into Halifax and inquire which restaurants are using these local suppliers. Obviously their food is going to have the most flavour – with a majority of ingredients in season, and coming from only 40 minutes outside the city. Our very own restaurant, Seasons by Atlantica, has an extensive list of local suppliers, a practice that Executive Chef Luis Clavel takes very seriously.

Tasty Technology

Of course there are many other farms and local food suppliers to check out, in other regions of the province. A great tool is actually the Taste of Nova Scotia smart phone app, while you’re out exploring our great province, you can login and search by your location as to what Taste members are nearby. You can search specifically by type, if say you’re looking for a winery, or a smokehouse.

Photo Source: TasteofNovaScotia.com - Ad for NS Fall Wine Festival

Celebrate With Us!

The fall harvest is such a glorious time in Nova Scotia, not only for tourists and foodies, but for wine lovers as well. It’s SO great that we hold a festival every year, just to celebrate this time and what it means for the wine industry, one that is growing in quality and reputation (and awards), I might add. If you’re visiting Nova Scotia during mid-September to mid-October I would highly recommend checking out the Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival. They make it easy for you, there are events going on all over the province at many different venues, so that everyone can be a part of it.

Check out the website for the full schedule and locations. If you can get to some of the actual winery events, it is so worth it, and the iron chef competition is also something worth getting to!

Well, there it is, just another blog post about why this time of year is ideal for visiting Halifax! I know, I say that about every season (almost)… but this one really is my favourite.

Resources:

Pick Your Own – www.pickyourown.org

Taste of Nova Scotia – www.tasteofnovascotia.com

Winery Association of Nova Scotia – www.winesofnovascotia.ca

Nova Scotia Fall Wine Festival – www.nsfallwinefestival.ca

Beyond Outside the Box

Originally this blog post was going to be about “outside the box” vacation ideas in Nova Scotia, but every path seemed to lead to these particular four themes. Nova Scotia has some predominant features and history that pop up no matter where you go – and so I got to thinking – it would be pretty out of the ordinary to plan an entire themed vacation, so why don’t I explore some ideas for just that, in our beautiful province? These activities are great on their own or part of a completely themed getaway! A fun family vacation idea, I think. Enjoy!

Image Source: Bay of Fundy Tourism

Outdoor Adventures

There is such a vast array of outdoor activities available in Nova Scotia that I had to narrow this down to a few really cool, fun and original ideas.

Tidal Bore Rafting is gaining more and more popularity amongst Nova Scotians and tourists alike.  There are a few places to do it, including River Runners in Maitland, located at the mouth of the Shubenacadie River. Your thrilling tidal bore rafting adventure lasts for three and a half hours in a zodiac, where, as the website describes: “you board […] and anticipate the arrival of the Tidal Bore, which is the first wave of the incoming tidal surge. This bore may reach 1-10 feet in height depending on tidal and channel conditions. Our skilled guides ride the crest of this wave for approximately 1/2 mile up river”. River Runners’ basic package includes a delicious BBQ meal when you return from your excursion. Other tidal bore rafting companies include Tidal Bore Rafting Park & Cottages, and Shubenacadie River Adventure Tours .

Check out this tidal bore video posted by ridenovascotia.com: Tidal Bore Rafting in NS

A great outdoor activity and lesser known hobby amongst many Nova Scotians is rockhounding, that is, the collection of gems, minerals and stones along the coastline. According to rockhounding enthusiasts, and my source consists of an antique shop owner/rockhounder extraordinaire I once chatted with in Lunenburg, our province has unbelievable conditions for this activity because of volcanic activity during the Jurassic period and our constant tidal action. Check out this great Nova Scotia travel guide website for a list of areas and the equipment you need to rockhound. Wondering what you can do with these gems and how to identify them? You may want to read Rob the Rockhounder’s website or visit his shop while you’re here!

What better way to experience the great Nova Scotian outdoors than to jump in a sea kayak and get out on the ocean, as a family?  There are several great companies offering these services now, and many are only a short drive away from downtown Halifax. Give East Coast Outfitters a call for a tour-guided, fun-filled day at sea followed by a BBQ on the wharf. Any experience level can enjoy these tours, as the guides will give you a quick run down on the paddling technique. Traveling as a couple? Check out the sunset tours.

Celtic Getaway on Cape Breton Island

The Celtic heritage is one of the most interesting heritages that continues to live on in Nova Scotia, in particular the speaking of the Gaelic language, which has even died out in parts of its native lands Ireland and Scotland. The Celtic culture is still very much celebrated in our province, and if you’re traveling here with the intention to learn a bit more – you don’t want to miss Celtic Colours International Festival, a massive yearly event in Cape Breton doing just that.  This year the festival turns 15, and it’s a wonderful way to take in music, art, food and educational events, including Gaelic language workshops. While you’re in Cape Breton, make a point to stop at Highland Village Museum to learn about Scottish Gaelic and Celtic traditions, the museum itself is a beautiful property on a 43-acre piece of land in one of Nova Scotia’s most beautiful regions. Want to learn more? The Gaelic College offers full language courses, online programs and more.

Culinary Tour of Nova Scotia

A subject near and dear to my heart, the gastronomical adventures of Nova Scotia, is something that can be discovered year round and in so many different regions. However, we are talking about summer vacation, so I will run through what I consider the summer highlights. For a completely food and wine themed vacation in our beautiful province, let’s start in Cape Breton. Lobster is caught fresh daily through the summer here, and hitting up a traditional (fresh off the boat) lobster dinner is something that everyone, traveler or native Nova Scotian, should enjoy. While you’re checking out the scenery of the Cabot Trail, keep an eye out for community lobster dinner signs in church and fire halls – this is where you want to eat your freshly caught crustacean!

Moving south, across the causeway, once you get on the mainland you want to head to the pinnacle of Nova Scotia’s locally sourced food scene – the Annapolis Valley. Farmers markets galore (try Noggins farm store), wineries such as Grand Pré, Muir Murray, Blomidon Estate, Sainte Famille, sample cheese at Fox Hill Cheese House, stop by Sea Level Brewing for some craft beer, Just Us Coffee roastery for a tour and a delicious fair trade latté and in the quaint university town of Wolfville visit some great restaurants.

This is of course all on your way to the city of Halifax, where the restaurant scene is serious and the passion for use of local ingredients (most from that same valley) is rampant among Halifax chefs. There are too many excellent eateries to name, aside from our fabulous Seasons by Atlantica, so check out the Taste of Nova Scotia members yourself.

Once you’re finished in HRM, get on the old number three (Trunk 3) highway to head down the coast at a leisurely pace, and really take in the beautiful South Shore region. Stop in for seafood at your choice of beautiful seaside town: Hubbards, Chester, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay (try Trattoria della Nonna or Magnolia’s Grill), Liverpool, Shelburne. This is of course on your way to the bottom tip of the province – stop in Yarmouth for a fish fry at Rudder’s, and make your way to the Acadian Shore for some traditional rappie pie!

No matter your interests, there’s a themed vacation in Nova Scotia that you’re sure to enjoy. Get out and start planning!

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Today is the first official day of summer, so what better time to talk about a few of Halifax’s great upcoming summer festivals? There are so many to choose from that I’m going to focus on my favourites and go from there. Presented in chronological order, here are the summer fests that you don’t want to miss:

RBC Multicultural Festival June 30-July 3

Rocking the Halifax Seaport for the entire long weekend, the RBC Multicultural Festival is the perfect opportunity to hit up the Halifax waterfront and eat and drink to your heart’s content at the largest festival of this kind in the Atlantic Provinces. Listen to music of the world, take in dance performances, and check out arts and crafts. Don’t miss the impressive array of delicious ethnic food and drink – definitely a highlight for me!

TD Halifax Jazz Festival July 8-16

Help the Jazz Festival settle into its new digs this summer and take in one of the many amazing performers that the festival organizers always manage to snag. This year the festival tent will be set up on Lower Water Street at the Salter Street extension. Other venues around the city will also be showcasing artists as part of the festival. Nova Scotia’s Jill Barber is one of the festival headliners and will be playing at the main festival tent on Monday July 11^th. Other great artists, among many, include Erin Costelo, Morgan Davis and our regular Seasons jazz man Mike Cowie! Check out the website for their extensive festive schedule.

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Manulife Dragon Boat Festival July 9^th

Support the Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund by either attending or participating in the Manulife Dragon Boat Festival. Always a great day in Dartmouth on Lake Banook, this day of Dragon Boat races is the perfect opportunity to bring the kids and soak up the sun while watching the competition, or, pull together a team at the office and become a corporate sponsor! There’s tons of food onsite and other activities for kids.

Halifax Pride July 17 – 24

Check out the largest LGBTQ Cultural Festival in the Atlantic Provinces during Halifax Pride week. The city comes alive with an array of events and activities, including the famous Dykes versus Divas softball game to kick off the week! You will not want to miss the lively festival parade, and for a complete list of venues that are participating, check out the website.

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Seaport Beer Festival – Beer on the Pier! August 5-6

You don’t have to be a beer drinker to enjoy Beer on the Pier this August. The historic Halifax Seaport will host once again an impressive collection of breweries – some from Ontario, Quebec and Maine - to offer over 200 beers and ciders. Several Taste of Nova Scotia partners will be onsite to offer delicious food, so there really is something for everyone!

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alFresco filmFesto July 22-August 26

Park yourself at the end of the Halifax boardwalk to take in the “Summer of Murray” at this year’s alFresco filmFesto. Running for its 11^th year, this favourite among Haligonians shows an outdoor movie every Friday night starting the end of July through to the end of August. Props to the festival programmers this year for choosing a theme – the “Summer of Murray” will delight and surprise you with a fantastic Bill Murray flick to cap off your week, all summer long!

Get Out and Participate!

It’s going to be a good summer! Especially with all of that Bill Murray action. Make plans to check out one or many of Halifax’s summer festivals - and there are lots more than I just covered. For a complete list of all the major Nova Scotia festivals visit the Destination Halifax website.

Happy Summer!

source: pointpleasantpark.ca

Today kicks off the Scotiabank Bluenose Marathon in Halifax, which invades our streets yearly during the May long weekend and injects the city full of runners and fans. The marathon started only in 2004, met with much success, and has continued on each year since with seemingly matched and surpassed enthusiasm.  According to the official website, Bluenose is the largest marathon weekend this side of Ottawa, boasting 8,000 participants in 2010.

Aside from the obvious promotion of healthy, active lifestyles, each year the marathon brings to Halifax the spirit of giving and support. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised in the months leading up to the marathon, for various worthy charities. Perhaps one of the most touching aspects of the Bluenose Marathon are the stories of motivation you read about surrounding the race: cancer survivors, teams raising money for an individual’s treatment, family members running in someone’s memory, and many, many more.  An article in today’s Chronicle Herald told the story of Newfoundland woman who ran the half-marathon with pancreatic cancer last year, and since, has become healthy and completely cancer-free. She is back to run again, with her family in tow.

This year, there is an emotional story of motivation close to home for us at Atlantica.  Our sales gal Laura Dole has been training with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada’s Team in Training, with a personal fundraising goal of $1500. Laura and her family received the devastating news earlier this year that her Mom’s cancer was back. Laura will be completing the full marathon, for her Mom, as well for others who are bravely fighting blood cancers. Her physical and fundraising goals are admirable; she has worked hard both in her training and her efforts to raise the $1500, which she actually more than doubled!

Laura seems to put 110% into everything she does; whether it is working with our clients here at the hotel, making the time to fundraise and train for a full marathon, or being a great Mom to her six year-old son Connor.

We are extremely proud of Laura and want her to know everyone at Atlantica is behind her all the way. You are a remarkable woman, Laura! We know you will do amazing on race day and continue to be a source of support and pride for your Mom!

Good luck to all runners participating!

The Atlantica Team

Laura with Anni & Sammi

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It seems this blog has had a green theme lately, and I’m going to keep it going for now by talking about some great homemade ideas to celebrate Mother’s Day. I think we can all agree that the best gifts come from the heart. You can’t get much more personal or genuine than a handmade gift for Mom on her special day!

Celebrate with Nature

There are so many creative and beautiful resources at our fingertips if we just take the time to look around, and take advantage. Why not plant a mini herb garden and hand paint the pots fun spring colours to present to Mom on Mother’s Day? Or maybe give her outdoor garden a surprise overhaul, for the gift that will keep on giving all summer long. Hand-picked wild flowers or a fruit basket you’ve created from a local u-pick could be a fantastic way to show your Mom how special she is. 

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Fun with Photos

If you’re not into scrap booking in the traditional sense (it can be a lot of work) make Mom a smaller version by adding photos to every day objects. Purchase a blank coffee tumbler in which to insert special photos of you and your Mom together, make photo coasters, or design a custom-made printed photo album on the computer that captures fun family moments. 

www.cathiefilian.com

Fashion Forward

Perhaps Mom is more of a fashionista and prefers the type of gifts that she can proudly wear. How touching would it be for her to open up that little box on Mother’s Day and find a pair of handmade beaded earrings you designed at the local bead shop? Maybe pick up a vintage handbag or scarf at the second hand shop and add a personal touch with the sewing machine. For those Moms with a very unique style – you could try jazzing up a pair of vintage heels with an antique brooch, oversized buttons or beads on top. (For more great ideas like this, check out Cathie Filian’s Domestic in the City blog).

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Just Like Mom Used to Make

For the more culinary inclined, you might want to consider whipping up Mom’s favourites in a home-cooked meal. Dress up the dining room and treat her like a real VIP, or, pack a picnic basket and head off to somewhere in the great outdoors to treat Mom to a home made lunch. Maybe head to a park that was a childhood favourite, for some added nostalgia! Don’t forget to finish the meal with something sweet… you might be able to cheat on this one by picking something up at the local pastry shop – hey, you’ve done a lot of work, after all!

Of course, the real pleasure for Mom on Mother’s Day is getting to spend time with her family and create new memories. The fact that you’ve put in the effort to create something extra special for her will be icing on the cake. Happy Mother’s Day!

Image Provided by Dept of Agriculture

Easy Being Green

Doing your part to act environmentally conscious on Earth Day isn’t as hard as it seems – actually, it’s a great way to kick off a regular habit of eating green for the rest of the year. Finding local and seasonal food in Nova Scotia is easy. It’s just a matter of making the commitment to change your regular grocery shopping routine. 

A number of resources already exist for you to use on your journey to eating green. Organizations such as Select Nova Scotia, the Department of Agriculture, and Taste of Nova Scotia have been creating guides, websites, and the like, for years to try and promote our local foods. If you’re not quite sure where to start, try the Where to Buy Local tool on Select Nova Scotia’s website; this will give you an idea of local suppliers in your area.  Also, try this list of links on the Agri-Food website which is organized by industry.  These websites also offer great information on why eating local is beneficial to both your health and the environment. The Taste of Nova Scotia website offers up pure motivation by way of fantastic articles, photos and blog posts featuring our fantastic Nova Scotia cuisine, wine and beer. 

Developing New Attitudes

The major challenge most people face, when trying to eat local, is simply breaking old habits. As we all know too well, old habits die hard, especially when it comes to food. The fact of the matter is, if you’re already enjoying a healthy and delicious lifestyle, the transition to eating local with a green focus is easy. Break the grocery store cycle and get into a routine of hitting up your weekly Farmers’ Market for all the fresh produce, meats and other goods that you can. Your grocery list doesn’t have to change – just where you buy, and the time of year, does. If your market doesn’t have all the regular items you are looking for, research local suppliers and ask about ordering directly, or if a local store can begin to order in for you.  Buying as much as you can locally will make a huge difference. There will probably be a couple things you still need at the grocery store, but we’re not asking you to give up your Heinz ketchup – every little bit counts. 

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Seasonal Eats = Seasonal Treats

It’s not exactly pulling teeth to entice most people into eating our regional specialties, especially in restaurants.  I got in touch with Amanda Langley at the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, to talk about the local food movement, and she confirmed that local is one of the biggest trends right now in the culinary world. “Canadian restaurants named Locally Produced Food & Locally Inspired Dishes as the #1 hot trend in their 2011 chef survey,” says Langley. Sustainability came in second, with nutrition and health following at third and fourth, respectively. This goes to show the recent shift in not only what the best chefs in the country want to work with, but also what consumers are demanding. Amanda adds that “consumers are looking for local foods to minimize the food miles their meals have traveled and thus minimize their carbon footprint. But, buying locally also supports family farmers and contributes to healthy local economies.” 

Not only do these local ingredients reduce your carbon footprint, they also allow the cuisine to shine during its brightest moment. Seasonal items in Nova Scotia taste best during their natural harvest time; pair that with our talented chefs and you’ve got some seriously mouth-watering menus. “I think the most obvious benefit to buying locally is eating seasonally and getting to enjoy local foods harvested at the peak of perfection,” confirms Amanda. “Local products are the freshest choice and they deliver amazing flavour and quality. And, you can look forward to each season bringing familiar and memorable flavours to our table,” she adds. Agreed. There’s something so comforting, natural and delicious about consuming our province’s specialties in the season they’re meant to be enjoyed.

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The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The spring and summer seasons in Nova Scotia are my favourites, with not only fresh vegetables, meat, and seafood – but also an array of fruit available. Cooking seasonally in the spring and summer is so much fun, with so many possibilities. I couldn’t resist asking Amanda what kind of foods her ideal Earth Day meal would have. Her answer: “After a long, cold winter, spring in Nova Scotia means we all get to indulge in colourful foods again! It might be that first taste of fresh peas, mint, asparagus, rhubarb and spinach.” This is so true; I have picked out a few recipes perfect for spring from the Select Nova Scotia website to help you get planning a sensational spring meal: 

• Roasted Rhubarb with Ginger
• Spicy Maple Broiled Salmon
• Asparagus with Dill and Cream

“Asparagus is actually considered the first harvest of spring in Nova Scotia,” Langley informed me. She believes in celebrating Earth Day by “celebrating what is grown in your own backyard. Nova Scotia’s wide range of climate conditions and soil types means that we are blessed with one of the most diverse agricultural regions in Canada.” I couldn’t agree more! Find local ingredients that work for you, your cooking style, and make sure you have fun with it. 

Amanda was nice enough to leave me a great Earth Day tip to share with our readers! “The seasons don’t last forever so you might want to learn the art of making jams, pickles, and preserves so that you get to enjoy your favourite seasonal tastes all year long!” Great advice! 

Happy Earth Day! 

References: 

2011 Chef Survey  

Amanda Langley – Planning and Development Officer, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture @NSChefBuyLocal 

Taste of Nova Scotia 

Select Nova Scotia 

Department of Agriculture

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RSVP Green

There are so many stylish looking wedding invitations to chose from, and quite a few of them are already made from recyclable materials by awesome, eco-conscious designers. Check out this example from the website Something Green Weddings, showcasing fabulous looking handmade, sustainable invitations.  Another trend for green weddings is to go completely paperless! There are several websites and programs specializing in e-invitations for your big day. Check out Wedding Tracker, Wedding Window and EWedding.

Table Décor

Flowers are still the centrepiece of choice for many brides, and you can go this way while remaining eco-friendly. Choose your flowers from a local, sustainable grower, and be sure to ask a lot of questions about their growing practices. Another great way to eliminate waste is to have take-home centrepieces that are either useful or edible for your guests. Live plants that will continue to grow, or a small tower of cupcakes that one lucky guest at the table will win during the night, can be fun, while staying green. 

Margaret MacLeod Eco Gown

Eco-Wear

If you’re willing to get over the desire to buy a brand-new, super expensive wedding gown that you’ll probably never wear again – there are a couple stellar options for staying green while deciding on your dress. Creating a re-designed gown is fun and unique, and you can work with a seamstress to re-vamp a previously owned or vintage gown to change it into something beautiful for your special day. Be sure to sell or donate your dress after the wedding, if you can’t alter it into something you might wear again, to repeat the cycle of reusing.

Gowns made from sustainable material such as hemp and silk, and suits from bamboo, are also available if you have the resources to purchase from a designer working with these materials. Toronto designer Margaret MacLeod has an entire Eco Collection – and they are absolutely beautiful.

Sustainable Sparkles

When designing your wedding rings look for fair trade metals and Canadian diamonds.

Green Glamour

Look for salons and spas that feature eco-friendly, organic cosmetics and have made a commitment to promoting these products to their customers. All-natural beauty products are not only easier on the environment, but easier on your skin and body. If possible in your area, book the entire wedding party at an eco-spa, like the Eco Chic Spa in Whistler, BC.

Register Smart

We all know that most couples have been living together long before their wedding – so let’s be honest – how many major household items do you really need? If you can admit that you already have most of the important items for your home covered, opt for giving your guests the option of donating to a charity in lieu of purchasing you a gift.  If there are actually items that you need, keep it to a minimum and don’t just register gifts for the sake of registering. According to website savourycity.com one green wedding trend is to register gifts in kind. Create a list of specialized jobs, duties or skills that you may need in the near future from your guests and have those as your wedding gifts! (Example, your interior designer friend may lend her services for your new living room in lieu of a physical gift). 

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Eat Local

This one is easy. Work with a venue or caterer who can source locally and (if you have the resources) mainly organic. By featuring local items your menu will not only be seasonal and delicious, but will have a smaller carbon footprint. Feature local and/or organic wines and beer, if you can.

Stay in the Dark

Be sure to work with a venue where candles are permitted, and dimmers are available in the ceremony and reception rooms. This will not only save energy but create a romantic and dreamy atmosphere for your special day. 

Cake Topper from The Natural Wedding Company

Top This!

When choosing your cake topper, there are actually quite a few eco friendly options to consider. Locally sourced flowers can come in handy once again for a colourful and natural look, figurines made of sugar paste, which is both edible and biodegradable, or, find artisan-made toppers that double as adorable keepsakes like designer Heather at Star House is doing, using recycled wood. I found these on an awesome online sustainable wedding directory and blog called The Natural Wedding Company.

Honeymooners

Simply by doing some extra research about your hotel or resort, you can ensure that you are being a responsible honeymooner! Also, consider offsetting your carbon emissions from the trip. Or for the more adventurous, head out on a low-impact camping trip or eco-adventure as newly weds.

Happily Ever After

Even if you choose to implement a only couple of these tips on your wedding day, it will have a positive impact on the environment and your memory of the big day. Hopefully your efforts will be shared with the wedding guests and they will also take away new information and tips for their own practices. Showing your guests your commitment to the environment on the most special of days adds a personable and passionate touch to your wedding. Good luck and congratulations!