Welcome to

Sydney, NS

Second stop of the journey.

Runners, you have arrived to Sydney, Nova Scotia.

This Stop Badge

Click and download it and share on social media, use the hashtag #thebigcanadarun so we can feature you on our profile.

You have reached Nova Scotia, the second province in this fabulous run, what a remarkable step! Did you know that 90% of the people never run this long in their lifetime? And YOU, yes, YOU DID IT in such a short time. You rock!

Now that you are here, let’s enjoy the city, shall we?

First of all, you can not miss the largest fiddle in the world, I am sure you won’t because it is enormous.

In 2005 the city presented the world with a ten-ton tribute to folk music and the Celtic community in the province.

The 6-feet fiddle was designed and constructed by Cyril Hearn, and it was named FIDHEAL MHOR A’ CEILIDH or the “Big Fiddle of the Ceilidh.” Ceilidh is a Gaelic word that means “visit.” You are here virtually visiting in your incredible journey across Canada.

Sydney is the capital of Cape Breton Island, and one of its most enjoyable places is the waterfront, where you can have a walk with magnificent views.

One of the main attractions of the area is the Cabot Trail, which besides being beautiful, is challenging; it takes 5 days to hike. Up for the challenge? It would certainly help you add some kilometers for The Big Canada Run, 298 Kilometers, to be precise.

Sydney is known as the ocean gateway to scenic Cape Breton Island.

Speakers of Canadian Gaelic have their origins in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Scottish Gaels were settled in Nova Scotia, commencing in 1773 with the arrival of the Ship Hector and continuing until the 1850s. Gaelic has been spoken since then in Nova Scotia on Cape Breton Island and on the northeastern mainland of the province.

About a 30-minute drive to the southeast of Sydney is the town of Louisbourg and the world-renowned Fortress of Louisbourg. The French fortress was seized not once, but twice, which helped create today’s Canada.

And speaking of Canada, this stop’s badge is one of the most Canadian things: Sorry, meaning The Sorry Badge… sorry.

A very whimsical study conducted by Carrie Barr and Jackie Gillberry, at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, concluded that Canadians say sorry so much for 3 main reasons.

The first one is to raise attention, the second to alleviate an averted problem and the third to apologize, mainly to take accountability for your actions. What can be more empowering than that?

So, sorry this post is over, it’s time to go for a run and rack up the kilometers. Don’t forget to log yours.

Photo credits: portofsydney Instagram, The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion © 2020 NovaScotia.com, Cabot Trail © Destination Cape Breton Association Inc. 2020, Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

Next Stop - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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