Nova Scotia’s Highway 103, which runs between Halifax and Yarmouth, has been renamed the Fishermen’s Memorial Highway in tribute to those who have lost their lives fishing the waters off the coast.
“Since the golden age of sail, we have many fishermen, many women, who have travelled the ocean and there has been a number of lives lost,” says Nova Scotia Minister of Environment Sterling Belliveau. “This is a recognition of that.”
Dozens gathered in Shelburne to mark the renaming on Thursday.
“Those mixed emotions, you’re so excited for the fishermen and you know they’re going to bring in their catch, but you’re also very aware of the dangers and the perils,” says Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood.
Family and friends of the Miss Ally, a fishing crew that was lost at sea in February, were invited to attend, but chose not to.
In a statement to CTV News, Mary Hopkins, the mother of one of the Miss Ally crew members said:
“It’s hard to attend these ceremonies, because every time I cry, but it’s nice to see the new highway designation, it’s really emotionally touching.”
The loss of the Miss Ally crew brought back haunting memories for Brian Fralic, who lost his father at sea 50 years ago.
“We could really relate to the Miss Ally and understand the struggle they’re going to have for many years,” says Fralic.
It’s a struggle the government would like to avoid.
“We are working with the industry to develop better personal floatation devices and encouraging the safety message,” says Belliveau.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Suzette Belliveau
