Largest Show of Ship and Boat Models Coming This Weekend

Already home to one of the finest collections of ship models in Canada, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax will be inundated with even more on Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15.

For the 17th year, model makers from across Nova Scotia and beyond will gather in Halifax to present a showcase of craftsmanship. The Model Makers Showcase is an opportunity for the model makers to exchange ideas and to share their passion with the public.

Over 80 model builders at 100 tables will show more than 200 works.

"There are a surprisingly large number of people throughout Nova Scotia who practise the craft of model building as a hobby or, in a few cases, a profession," said Gerry Lunn, the museum’s curator of visitor services.

"It is also a craft which has a long history in Nova Scotia. The model builders whom the public have a chance to meet this weekend are carrying on a rich tradition which we feel is important to share with our visitors."

The museum has worked with members of the Maritime Ship Model Guild to present the Model Makers Showcase for many years.

John Green, a member of the Guild, has been a part of the Showcase every year since 1996. "The opportunity to participate in this very special event is the highlight of my model-making career," he said. "We are achieving our dreams of keeping this particular heritage of Nova Scotia alive, and we’re thrilled."

The public is invited between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday or between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday. Although the showcase ends on Sunday, the museum is open Easter Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St. on the Halifax waterfront. Admission to the showcase is included in the regular cost of a museum day pass: $7.50 per family, $6 per adult and $1 per child.