Mabou, Nova Scotia

Mabou (Mi'kmaq: Mȧbu; Scottish Gaelic: An Drochaid "The Bridge") is a small Canadian rural community located in Inverness County on the west coast of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island. The population in 2011 was 1,207 residents.[1]

Mabou in Nova Scotia

History
View of Mabou from the shore of the Mabou River
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Mabou

The name Mabou is thought to derive from Mi'kmaq name Malabo, shortened from Malabokek, meaning "place where two rivers meet" (the Mabou and Southwest Mabou rivers). It is also thought to mean "Shining Waters" or "Sparkling Waters".

During the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century Mabou's primary economic activity was underground coal mining with several collieries located in the surrounding area. The Inverness and Richmond Railway opened in 1901 to connect the mines in Mabou and Inverness to wharves in Mabou and Port Hastings.

Mining activity ceased following World War II and the railway was abandoned during the late 1980s. Today Mabou is primarily a fishing port for a small fleet of lobster boats. It also hosts a high school serving central Inverness County. It is also a very strong community with many farms.

Notable residents

The Rankin Family (Jimmy, Raylene, Heather, Cookie and John Morris), a renowned group of singers-songwriters and proprietors of the local establishment The Red Shoe Pub,[2] hail from Mabou, as do Rodney MacDonald, a former Premier of Nova Scotia, and cartoonist Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant). Robert Frank had a summer home in this area with his wife June Leaf.[3] American sculptor Richard Serra and composer Philip Glass also reside part-time in the area. William Ayre ran a school in the town in the 19th century.

Present day

Mabou is the home of the An Drochaid Museum, which houses Mabou's history, cultural artifacts and records for public viewing. Glenora Distillers, one of only four single malt Scottish-style whisky distilleries in Canada,[4] is located in Mabou.

Geography

The community is located at the head of an inlet off the Gulf of St. Lawrence named "Mabou Harbour" and is surrounded by low mountains which are part of the Creignish Hills.

Climate
Climate data for Mabou (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7)		 15.0
(59.0)		 18.0
(64.4)		 23.0
(73.4)		 31.5
(88.7)		 33.0
(91.4)		 33.5
(92.3)		 35.5
(95.9)		 29.0
(84.2)		 24.5
(76.1)		 19.5
(67.1)		 16.5
(61.7)		 35.5
(95.9)
Average high °C (°F) −1.5
(29.3)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 2.1
(35.8)		 7.3
(45.1)		 14.3
(57.7)		 19.6
(67.3)		 23.3
(73.9)		 23.4
(74.1)		 18.8
(65.8)		 13.0
(55.4)		 7.3
(45.1)		 1.5
(34.7)		 10.6
(51.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.6
(21.9)		 −7
(19)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 3.1
(37.6)		 8.8
(47.8)		 13.9
(57.0)		 18.0
(64.4)		 18.1
(64.6)		 14.1
(57.4)		 9.0
(48.2)		 4.1
(39.4)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 6.0
(42.8)
Average low °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7)		 −11.6
(11.1)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 3.3
(37.9)		 8.1
(46.6)		 12.6
(54.7)		 12.9
(55.2)		 9.3
(48.7)		 5.0
(41.0)		 0.8
(33.4)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 1.5
(34.7)
Record low °C (°F) −25.5
(−13.9)		 −34.5
(−30.1)		 −26.0
(−14.8)		 −13.0
(8.6)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 1.5
(34.7)		 1.0
(33.8)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 −6.0
(21.2)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −24.0
(−11.2)		 −34.5
(−30.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 82.7
(3.26)		 82.1
(3.23)		 77.0
(3.03)		 82.0
(3.23)		 77.0
(3.03)		 81.9
(3.22)		 85.9
(3.38)		 90.7
(3.57)		 124.3
(4.89)		 136.1
(5.36)		 137.2
(5.40)		 115.2
(4.54)		 1,171.9
(46.14)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 34.9
(1.37)		 38.0
(1.50)		 51.3
(2.02)		 72.1
(2.84)		 76.0
(2.99)		 81.9
(3.22)		 85.9
(3.38)		 90.7
(3.57)		 124.3
(4.89)		 135.9
(5.35)		 127.8
(5.03)		 70.2
(2.76)		 989.1
(38.94)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 47.9
(18.9)		 44.1
(17.4)		 25.7
(10.1)		 9.9
(3.9)		 1.0
(0.4)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.1
(0.0)		 9.3
(3.7)		 45.0
(17.7)		 182.9
(72.0)
Source: Environment Canada[5]

References
  1. NS Community counts
  2. http://redshoepub.com/
  3. https://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/world-renowned-photographer-robert-frank-dies-in-cape-breton-350756/
  4. List of Canadian Whisky Distilleries at canadianwhisky.org Archived 2016-06-20 at the Wayback Machine website (which shows four single malt distilleries in Canada when conducting a search for "single malt").
  5. "Mabou, Nova Scotia". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
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