The Canso Historical Society tells us the story of the very first Regatta in their book “Portrait of a Century: a Pictorial History of the Town of Canso“. The first fisherman’s regatta was held in 1885 as a way to encourage fishermen and boat owners to take pride in their craft, while also providing entertainment for spectators!
In the Beginning
In the earlier years, the main attraction of the regatta was the sailboat races, which spanned across the Chedabucto Bay with a stunning display of white sails catching the wind, giving its competitors an opportunity to really showcase their skills, and exciting crowds from near and far as their cheers echoed through the town of Canso.
More Than Just Boat Races
As the years went on, the regatta evolved into so much more than just boat races and incorporated other seaside competitions like rowing and swimming, and other events, games, and contests and continued to grow into the Canso Regatta we know and love today. Almost 140 years later, it serves as a homecoming for those who hold the town close to their hearts and is time spent getting back to their roots while playing on the water, and never forgetting where we came from.
The content above was provided by The Canso Historical Society. For more information on obtaining a copy of their book, contact the Canso Library.