History of Canard, Nova Scotia, Canada

The village was established in 1670 by the name of Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rivière-aux-Canards, later, it became Rivière-aux-Canards in short form.
Acadians settled along the Canard River in the late 1600s and called it Rivière-aux-Canards after the French word for duck. They first built small dykes to claim salt water marshes for farmland at the upper reaches of the river near the communities now known as Steam Mill Village and Upper Dyke. A large cross dyke was built further down river at Middle Dyke. About 1750 an even larger cross dyke, over a mile long, was built near Port Williams. Known as the Grand Dyke it located where the current highway Route 358 crosses the river. By this date, the Acadian village on both sides of the river totaled 750 people and included the extensive dykeland farms along the river as well as several mills.
Wikipedia - Timeline of Montreal History

Rivière-aux-Canards (now Canard) is located at the eastern end of the Annapolis Valley. Founded around 1675 by Pierre Terriot and his companions from Port-Royal, Claude Landry, Antoine Landry and René LeBlanc.
It was one of the first Acadian settlements in the Minas Basin
acadie.cheminsdelafrancophonie.org

1701 - Census - In 1701, the following families were counted at Riviere aux Canards.
Pierre TERRIOT, his wife, 9 girls, 9 arpents, 20 cattle, 6 sheep, 12 hogs, 1 gun.
Germain TERRIOT. his wife, 5 boys, 1 girl, 20 arpents, 16 cattle, 18 sheep, 14 hogs, 1 gun.
Jean COMEAU, his wife, 6 girls, 4 arpents, 10 cattle, 8 sheep, 8 hogs, 1 gun.
Jean TERRIOT, his wife, 2 boys, 3 girls, 8 arpents, 12 cattle, 4 sheep, 10 hogs, 1 gun.
Martin AUCOIN (father), his wife, 1 boy, 10 arpents, 15 cattle, 12 sheep, 8 hogs, 1 gun.
Martin AUCOIN (son), his wife, 1 girl, 6 arpents, 8 cattle, 3 sheep, 4 hogs, 1 gun.
Rene LANDRY, his wife, 1 boy, 2 girls, 13 arpents, 12 cattle, 13 sheep, 6 hogs. 1 gun.

1714 - Census - The following were listed as residents of Riviere aux Canards in 1714.
Widow of Etienne HEBERT, 3 sons, 1 daughter.
Jean COMMEAU and wife, 4 sons, 6 daughters.
Claude TERRIOT and wife, 3 sons, 2 daughters.
Antoine AUCOIN and wife.
Rene AUCOIN and wife, 1 son.
Pierre BREAU and wife, 3 sons, 5 daughters.
Francois BREAU and wife, 3 sons, 3 daughters.
Jean TERRIOT, widower, 3 sons, 5 daughters.
Widow AUCOIN, 2 sons.
Pierre THIBODEAU and wife, 2 sons, 3 daughters.
Rene LANDRY and wife, 6 sons, 3 daughters.

1740 - Jean Baptiste Desenclaves becomes priest of St. Joseph Parish (Riviere Aux Canards)

1755 - Acadian Expulsion
The Acadian settlement was destroyed in the 1755 Bay of Fundy Campaign of the Expulsion of the Acadians. On October 27, 1755 fourteen transport ships embarked 1,600 Acadians from the region of Grand-Pré and Rivière-aux-Canards, as well as 1,300 from Pisiguit and Cobequid. Acadian families from Rivière-aux-Canards brought personal possessions to Boudreau's Bank in ox carts where they were loaded on exile ships, leaving 60 ox carts to be found at the landing by later settlers. The deportation vessels joined up with ten other ships in the Bay of Fundy with 1,900 Acadiens from the region of Beaubassin. Some of the ships were over crowded with standing room only. Governor Charles Lawrence had given the order to prevent the Acadians from returning. It was for this reason that the villages of Cobequid, Pisiguit, and Rivière-aux-Canards were burnt to the ground.
wikipedia.org

A severe storm in November 1759 broke the Acadian dykes and flooded the unoccupied farmlands.

wikipedia.org

New England Planters took up the Acadian lands in 1760. They gradually repaired and expanded the old Acadian dykes.
Today Canard consists mostly of large farms and several agricultural processing plants located between the village of Canning to the north and Starr's Point, Nova Scotia to the south.
wikipedia.org

Here's a list of places to visit and things to do in and around Canard:
Grand-Pré National Historic Site: This UNESCO World Heritage Site commemorates the Acadian people and their expulsion from the area in the mid-18th century. Explore the beautiful gardens, the museum, and learn about this significant period in Canadian history.

Blomidon Provincial Park: Just a short drive from Canard, this park offers stunning views of the Bay of Fundy. Hiking trails, a campground, and a beach make it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts.

Wolfville: This charming town is nearby and offers a range of activities. Explore its quaint streets, visit local boutiques, and enjoy the vibrant arts and culture scene. Don't forget to check out the Wolfville Farmers' Market for fresh produce and artisanal goods.

Gaspereau Vineyards: Nova Scotia is known for its wine, and this vineyard is a great place to sample some local vintages. They offer wine tastings and tours of their picturesque vineyards.

Cape Split Hiking Trail: If you're up for a hike, Cape Split is a must.... Read MORE...