Nestled on the shores of Pictou Harbour, the Town of Pictou has stood as a historic coastal town with deep connections to the water. Pictou’s waterfront has always been the heart of downtown—but it’s much more than a scenic backdrop. The waterfront area is an anchor in the commercial district, a tourist destination, and home to multiple historic and cultural sites that tell Pictou’s rich story.
Like any town, streets crisscross and connect, making it easy for people to access downtown Pictou and enjoy everything the town has to offer. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you’ll probably end up on Caladh Avenue which runs along the waterfront. But in recent years, this street, and other nearby spots like the Market Wharf, have been experiencing the impacts of climate change. In a town where the water is a part of their identity, water is now putting that identity at risk.
Global climate change is causing higher tides, rising sea levels, more storm surge and heavier rains—which means more flooding.
The effects of a major flood could be devastating—for example, flooding can damage infrastructure, homes, the economy and more. Based in knowledge of the impacts of flooding, the Town took climate-informed action. Municipal officials set out to protect their coastal community by reconstructing Caladh Avenue with armour stone along the water and elevating the road by two to four feet to provide protection against storm surges.
With $1.1 million in funding from the Province and $1.1 million from the Municipality of Pictou, the project is expected to reduce the risk associated with future sea level rise and storm surges, and it will reduce the number of people who are left without access to essential services during storm surge events.
As part of the plan, Caladh Avenue is getting a lift—raising its height by two to four feet to ensure the heavily-used street is above the reach of potential storm surges. The project also involves the replacement of water pipes and a combined sewer systems separation to prevent it from overwhelming the town’s sewage system. As well, a new 400 metre boardwalk and a 0.5-kilometer sidewalk will be included.
Thanks to an additional shared investment of $3.6 provincial and municipal governments, Pictou’s Market Wharf, which services visiting boaters and serves as a community hub, will also get upgrades to protect it from extreme weather. A new fixed breakwater and a sturdier wharf extension will be built. Both structures will be higher than the current ones,
Pictou Mayor, Jim Ryan, highlighted the benefits of the Town’s proactive approach. “The Town of Pictou is always pleased to partner with the Province on projects that improve the sustainability of our infrastructure while furthering our long-term plans for community growth. The separation of stormwater from our wastewater system will reduce sewage treatment costs while increasing our capacity to service commercial and housing growth. The re-engineering of Caladh Avenue will move us forward on our extensive waterfront plan while defending our downtown district from the coastal impacts of climate change.”
Pictou Mayor, Jim Ryan, highlighted the benefits of the Town’s proactive approach. “‘The Town of Pictou is always pleased to partner with the Province on projects that improve the sustainability of our infrastructure while furthering our long-term plans for community growth. The separation of stormwater from our wastewater system will reduce sewage treatment costs while increasing our capacity to service commercial and housing growth. The re-engineering of Caladh Avenue will move us forward on our extensive waterfront plan while defending our downtown district from the coastal impacts of climate change.”
Nova Scotians are problem solvers. Pictou’s approach of acting now to make their downtown climate-resilient is an example for other coastal communities facing similar climate change impacts. As the infrastructure work moves forward in Pictou, there is optimism in the downtown and beyond. Pictou is ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy living by the coast, without having to live with uncertainty.
Pictou Site Plan
Render of the Caladh Avenue in Pictou
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