“We really take pride in it”: N.S. couple keeps family tradition alive selling fresh seafood in Lunenburg
In the heart of Old Town Lunenburg, you’ll find Kelly and Jason Conrad’s shop filled with fresh seafood and family tradition.
“I’m a fourth generation Lunenburger,” shop co-owner Kelly Conrad explains. “My grandfather and great-grandfather were both sea captains.”
The husband and wife duo opened up Dory Mates’ Seafood Shop three years ago after they noticed something was missing in the town – a place to buy fresh seafood.
A tradition which Kelly says has whittled away over the years.
“Before you knew it, you couldn’t buy fresh seafood in Lunenburg,” she explains. “I saw that for years working in the restaurant industry, so we decided to open a fish market cause (sic) you couldn’t buy fresh fish. I sent all of our restaurant customers to buy fresh fish at the super market and it made no sense.”
Dory Mates’ Seafood Shop serves a variety of local products, some of which are caught off the coast of Lunenburg by Jason and, once in a while, Kelly goes fishing too.
“I do lobster, mackerel and herring,” Jason explains. “The herring we use to make our Solomon Gundy, which is quite popular. But it’s cod fish, cusk, swordfish, tuna, halibut, snow grab, Jonah crab, and if you have a special request, we can even try to get that.”
The Conrad’s say they look forward to having customers in the shop again. Right now they’re only doing curbside pickup.
Before the pandemic began, the pair also catered events. However, next week they’ll start their harbour-side lobster boils again, in partnership with Lightship Brewing Co. in Lunenburg, all while following public health protocols.
“We really take pride in it,” Kelly says. “With our ancestors, and keeping it alive here in Lunenburg, offering fresh local product that’s mostly sustainably sourced.”
The company offers a new take on an old tradition, built on love and a passion for the local fishing industry.
This story is part of CTV News at Five's Tides and Tables series. To see more visit tidesandtables.ca
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.