Port Halifax (Nova Scotia Canada) hosted a shoreside ceremony on Monday, August 28th, to mark its enduring partnership with HAL-Holland America Line.
This event celebrated the company's 150th Anniversary and three decades of HAL ships visiting the Port. The welcome ceremony featured ceremonial drumming by the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre, along with a farewell performance by the 78th Highlanders.
Following a blessing led by Mi’kmaw Elder Charlotte Bernard, a formal ceremony took place in front of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. During the ceremony, Captain Allan Gray (Halifax Port Authority's President and CEO) presented HAL's ship Zuiderdam's master (Captain Bart Vaartjes) with a commemorative plaque.
Other participants included Sam Austin (Deputy Mayor of Halifax), Marie Chapman (CEO of the Canadian Museum of Immigration), as well as representatives from Discover Halifax, Tourism Nova Scotia, Parks Canada, and the Halifax Citadel Society.