By David MacDonald I wonder what kind of song Stan Rogers would write about the $148 million rocket spaceport set to break ground next year near Hazel Hill and Canso, Nova Scotia, the home of the annual Stan Rogers Folk Festival. Born in Woodburn, Ontario, the Canadian folk legend spent long summers with family in Guysborough County before later making its rugged coastline and proud people famous in songs like Fogarty’s Cove and Guysborough Train. Stan was inarguably protective of Guysborough, but as the lyrics of Guysborough Train suggest, he was also very realistic when it came to the county’s future:
No train to Guysborough Now ain’t that a shame Though I know there will be one in time And the house that’s alone It soon will be gone Razed for the Guysborough line
As we now know, Stan was wrong. The train never came to Guysborough, but his concern that his beloved North County couldn’t forever escape the advances of the modern worl was spot-on. In this case however, that house that’s alone won’t be razed. In fact, it’s the area’s isolation that attracted Maritime Launch Services in the first place. According to CBC, the combination of access to transportation, a virtually risk-free southern trajectory, a low population density, and community interest made this pocket of Guysborough County the perfect place to launch what is known to be one of the safest rockets today, the Ukrainian Cyclone 4M medium- class. The first launch is expected to take place summer 2020 and by 2022, the Halifax-based space transport service company, along with its three US-based partners, plans to start an annual eight launch cycle of commercial satellites, each carrying payloads upwards of 3,350 kgs.
This ambitious schedule shouldn’t be a problem. The list of clients is growing as assessments continue to give positive returns.
Positive returns are also going to be out of this world for Guysborough County. The launch site 2.5 km from Canso will employ upwards of 150 people, including 30 to 50 science, engineering, and technical specialists – as well as general labour, security, and fire and safety positions.
And then there’s the tourism boost. Nova Scotia’s Marine Drive is already a favourite of families, cyclists, golfers, concert-go- ers, and sport fishermen. Add space enthusiasts to that hand and tourist-driven shops wand services in Guysborough County will have a full house.
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MAY 2017 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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