On the Order:

Resuming debate on the inquiry of the Honourable Senator Sorensen, calling the attention of the Senate to the nation-building value of tourism in Canada.

Hon. Mary Coyle: Honourable senators, I rise today on the unceded lands of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation to speak to Senator Sorensen’s inquiry on the nation-building value of tourism.

The focus of my contribution to this inquiry will be — you guessed it — my province of Nova Scotia, also known as Canada’s ocean playground and Mi’kma’ki. Because Senator Sorensen challenged us in her launch of this inquiry to look into the whole tourism ecosystem, I have decided to focus on Nova Scotia’s very important arts and culture sector. The many rich and diverse arts and culture offerings of Nova Scotia are a significant draw for local, national and international tourists and important contributors to our local, provincial and national economy.

Colleagues, Nova Scotia is well known for its natural beauty and iconic historical sites: the warmest waters north of the Carolinas along the Northumberland Strait; Kejimkujik National Park, where I love backcountry canoeing; Cape Breton Highlands National Park, where the views of the ocean from the cliff edge Skyline Trail are breathtaking, as is the occasional encounter with a moose; the majestic Peggy’s Cove lighthouse perched on a uniquely beautiful and equally dangerous rock formation on Nova Scotia’s storied South Shore; the world heritage site at Joggins Fossil Cliffs; the exhilaration of tidal bore rafting on the Shubenacadie River, experiencing the Bay of Fundy’s highest tides in the world.

Or just come to Antigonish, and I will take you on my three‑weddings tour to the sites of my three daughters’ weddings: first, Mount Cameron with the view out to the estuary leading into Antigonish Harbour; second, StFX’s Crystal Cliffs seaside property and beach on St. George’s Bay, where Hollywood movie stars honeymooned; and third, Cape George Lighthouse, situated with a stunning view across St. George’s Bay, with lobster, crab and tuna fishing boats and the occasional dolphin or whale, and across to the highlands of Cape Breton.

(1820)

I’ve been fortunate to have visits from Senator Anderson, Senator Sorensen, Senator Marty Deacon, Senator Greenwood, Senator Kutcher and, of course, my neighbour from across the bay, Senator Prosper.

For iconic historical sites, we have many, including Fortress of Louisbourg; the Halifax Citadel; Port-Royal; the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown; Grand-Pré, the famous Acadian national historical site; and many others. Nova Scotia is a province of natural and historic splendour.

Connected to and often inspired by the majesty of our natural environment and the richness and diversity of our histories, Nova Scotia has an abundance of outstanding artists, arts and culture institutions and attractions in our cities and scattered throughout our rural landscapes.

Mi’kmaw Nations in Nova Scotia share their culture and arts at mawiomis — traditional gatherings and powwows.

With such magnificent natural beauty and rich histories, our visual artists create and share their art with the world. While Nova Scotia visual artists like Maud Lewis, Alex Colville and Mi’kmaw artist Alan Syliboy may be household names to many of you, I can assure you that visitors to our province will be impressed with the abundance of diverse artistic talent they encounter in Nova Scotia and the many opportunities available to view, learn about, be inspired by and purchase art in its many forms. In a recent article about Nova Scotia entitled “The Small Province With a Surprisingly Big Creative Soul,” the author wrote, “This tiny province is PACKED with artists.”

In my small town of Antigonish, we have more artists than I could count. Some are graduates of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. For decades, we had Lyghtesome Gallery and the Red Sky Gallery. We are fortunate to still have the Down to Earth Art Gallery in our town. The StFX Art Gallery, located in the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government building, is a remarkable resource for the campus, community and visitors alike. The beautiful and poignant work of Senator Prosper’s partner, the visual artist Antoinette Karuna, was featured in a recent show at the StFX gallery.

Even everyone’s favourite local hangout, The Tall and Small Café on Main Street, hosts regular art shows. My granddaughter Maia, the artist featured on my annual holiday cards to you, had a show there when she was still in high school. She made $800 at that show.

Pete Norman’s famous graffiti art can be found under bridges and other interesting locations throughout town and county. Our local library, the People’s Place, is resplendent with its permanent art collection and regular temporary exhibitions. The Sisters of St. Martha’s new home at Parkland features a beautiful painting honouring the sisters entitled Journey, by Antigonish artist Anna Syperek. That masterpiece is also a draw for visitors.

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax and many other private galleries throughout the province are wonderful places for visitors to view and purchase art. The Halifax airport features the art of Mi’kmaw artist Loretta Gould on all exterior windows in the check-in area of departures. Her work can also be seen, along with that of many other Indigenous artists, at the Friends United gallery in Cape Breton. The airport’s international arrivals area is dazzling with the works of Mi’kmaw artist Alan Syliboy. Inspired by Mi’kmaw rock drawing, he has his own studio gallery in Millbrook.

Nova Scotia is also known for its gifted writers, public readings and writers’ festivals. Most people will associate Nova Scotia with writers such as Kate Beaton, Alistair MacLeod, Sheree Fitch, Daniel MacIvor, Linden MacIntyre, Lesley Choyce, Sheldon Currie, Leo McKay Jr., Sue Goyette, Elliot Page, Newfoundland transplant Donna Morrissey — yes, we claim her now — and The New York Times bestselling author of books that inspired “Heated Rivalry,” Rachel Reid. Nova Scotia is also rich in poets, from our native son George Elliott Clarke to Griffin Poetry Prize winner Anne Simpson of Antigonish, to spoken word poet El Jones.

Visitors and locals alike are drawn to book-reading events and literary festivals, such as the Cabot Trail Writers Festival, Booktoberfest in Halifax and Read by the Sea in River John.

Speaking of festivals, summer is the time when Nova Scotia’s communities come alive with our professional theatre offerings. I join my fellow Nova Scotians and our visitors each summer, hitting the theatre trail. From the Ross Creek’s Two Planks and a Passion outdoor theatre near Wolfville to Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsboro, to Theatre Baddeck, to Shakespeare by the Sea in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, to the Chester Playhouse, to the Fringe Festival, to Festival Antigonish at the Bauer Theatre. That’s a stone’s throw from my home. High-calibre summer theatre is in full bloom and a major attraction for tourists to our province.

Of course, we are fortunate to have many other theatre groups and venues that operate throughout the year. I look forward to taking my granddaughter Violetta to Halifax’s top-in-class Neptune Theatre to see Come From Away in June.

Visitors and those enjoying “staycations” will find Nova Scotia’s dance offerings to be very enjoyable, whether it is Halifax Dance’s performance of The Nutcracker with Mermaid Theatre and Symphony Nova Scotia at the Rebecca Cohn theatre, the many highland dancing performances and competitions throughout the province or spending an evening dancing square sets at the West Mabou Hall or down the road at the Red Shoe Pub or at Pipers Pub when it reopens in Antigonish. There is sure to be something to please dance enthusiasts in Nova Scotia.

When we dance, there must be music, and visitors to Nova Scotia who love music are in for a feast for their ears and their spirits. When our family moved to Nova Scotia 29 years ago, I was thrilled to attend the Antigonish Highland Games and take in the power and beauty of the Scottish bagpipes and drums. I’m a huge jazz fan, so I was thrilled to know that StFX had a world‑class jazz studies department with top musicians on faculty who would play and perform locally. I volunteered for the newly created Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso. Senator Manning’s son Mark is a regular there and also at the highly successful Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton.

Sarah McLachlan hails from Nova Scotia, as does the rock band The Trews from Antigonish. Of course, all Canadians know Springhill’s songbird, Grammy and JUNO Award winner Anne Murray. Joel Plaskett; Classified; Sloan; Four the Moment; Holly Cole; Neon Dreams; Natalie MacMaster; Anna Ludlow; Mary Beth Carty; Ashley MacIsaac; Ian Sherwood; Emma Stevens, who sings Paul McCartney’s “Blackbird” in the Mi’kmaw language; and JUNO-Award-winning fiddler Morgan Toney of Wagmatcook First Nation all bring musical acclaim to Nova Scotia.

Everyone is welcome to Nova Scotia to catch an evening concert with Symphony Nova Scotia; attend Michael Steinitz’s Antigonish Performing Arts series; go down to the Halifax waterfront to take in the Jazz Festival; catch Heather Rankin, Ian McKinnon and Rawlins Cross, or the recent JUNO Award nominee Heather MacIssac in concert. Or you can head up to Cheticamp to listen to some live tunes at the Doryman with Senator Aucoin.

Colleagues, music can transport us in beautiful and profound ways.

I was very fortunate to have joined Senate colleagues, ambassadors and invited guests yesterday for The Lyre’s Dream musical event here in this chamber, which had been planned, executed and hosted by our colleague Senator Housakos and his team. It was absolutely magical, and the music was transcendent.

Our Speaker pro tempore, Senator Cormier, said in his opening remarks:

[Translation]

Since ancient times, music has accompanied humanity like a light in the darkness. In ancient Greece, the lyre was not merely an instrument. It symbolized harmony among people, between words and the heart, and between peoples and peace. Its melodious strings served as a reminder that beauty can unite what discord seeks to divide.

[English]

And as the cords vibrate, they remembered that beauty can unite that which discord sought to divide. For the ancient Greeks, we are told, music was not merely entertainment; it was philosophy, identity and a companion to the soul.

(1830)

Andrea Boyd, Artistic Director of Festival Antigonish, our local professional summer theatre, said in a recent speech:

The arts are not a luxury — they are a powerful force for health, connection and resilience across our communities. Research shows that engaging in music, theatre, dance and visual arts strengthens social bonds and fosters empathy and inclusion across diverse populations.

She goes on to say:

Arts, culture and heritage are not merely feel-good experiences: They are core economic drivers. . . .

She continues, saying:

Nationally, Canada’s arts and culture sector contributed $131 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2024.

National data compiled by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce shows that every dollar invested in the arts generates approximately $29 in economic activity. People who purchase tickets to the theatre go to restaurants, stay in hotels and shop in local stores.

The arts are how we tell our stories to each other and to the world. Nova Scotia is renowned on the world stage for its unique culture and vibrant communities.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2023, the Nova Scotia arts sector brought over $2 billion in GDP and was responsible for the gross economic output of $3.5 billion. The arts sector accounts for more than 16,000 jobs, employing more people in Nova Scotia than farming, fishing and forestry combined.

Honourable senators, arts and culture tourism has nation-building power and impact. Arts and culture are significant contributors to our household, local, provincial and national economies. They build and sustain communities. Arts and culture unite us and, most importantly, they feed our souls and remind us of our humanity.

Honourable senators, what could be more important than that? Thank you.