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The Blockhouse School Project

A project of the South Shore Social Ventures Co-op Ltd.

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Category Archives: News Releases

The Project is Ending

The Blockhouse School Project Posted on September 24, 2015 by Heather HolmJune 2, 2022
SSSVC logo image

Dear Members and Supporters,

I am disappointed to announce that the Blockhouse School Project is coming to an end. The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg have given us until October 18th to vacate the property. The barriers to success overcame the vision. We are told MODL is planning to tear down the school soon. [EDIT: It was sold to a private individual.]

old school and busThe Blockhouse School was initially built by the municipality. The school was given to the province with the stipulation that it given back to the community when the Department of Education was finished with it so as not to lose the asset.

When the Department of Education no longer had need for the school, it was returned to the municipality, but due to its condition, it is now considered a liability. This building still has tremendous potential to become an economic and social hub for the community, but only if council can be persuaded to spend its funds on renovation, rather than demolition, which is expected to cost at least $150,000 of taxpayers’ dollars.

Art from used booksRegardless of what the future holds, much was learned from this experience. The project provided significant opportunities for individuals, small business and local organizations over the three short years of its existence. Some students of the Permaculture Design courses have already successfully gone into commercial food production. Mi’kmaw language renewal blossomed at the Blockhouse site. The collaborative Hinchinbrook Farm/Mahone Bay Farmers Market “We Dig Food” garden therapy bloomed and thrived here as well. Artists and craftspeople made and displayed new work, local young musicians jammed, and the famous recycled book-wall made the pages of a professional international library journal as well as a nationally distributed textbook for young people. We ate fabulous celebratory meals, danced, shared skills and wisdom, gardened, dribbled basketballs and built a Tiny Studio.

IncrEdible Picnic (Bea Schuler photo)It is challenging to fit a creative project within the restraints of government regulation. Success can only be achieved through effective communication and collaboration between the project managers and those on the government side. Unfortunately, sufficient collaboration was not developed in this instance.

We dreamed big, but bit off more than we could chew…it would have been a shame not to have tried.
South Shore Social Ventures Coop logoUltimately, we would like to say thank you to the many people who gave time, energy and resources to this project. The experiences that were created will never be torn down.
Ann Bromley for the Directors of SSSVC, past and present.

Posted in News Releases, Progress on site

The IncrEDIBLE Community PIcnic at the Blockhouse School Project Celebrates Local Seasonal Food

The Blockhouse School Project Posted on September 5, 2013 by Heather HolmSeptember 5, 2013

The Blockhouse School Project, with the support of the South Shore Social Ventures Coop and Select Nova Scotia, caps off a series of province-wide picnics with this community gathering Sunday, September 22nd from 1-4pm at the Blockhouse School, 63 School … Continue reading →

Posted in News Releases

Who Will Win the Tiny Studio?

The Blockhouse School Project Posted on August 14, 2013 by Heather HolmAugust 18, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Who will win the Tiny Studio? August 14, 2013 (Blockhouse, NS) – Excitement is mounting as the date of the draw for the Tiny Studio approaches. The 140 sq. ft. building is being built and raffled by … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 Tiny Studio Raffle, Fundraising, News Releases

Tiny Studio Raffle Raises Funds for Blockhouse School Project

The Blockhouse School Project Posted on July 18, 2013 by Heather HolmAugust 18, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2013 (Blockhouse, NS) – The Blockhouse School Project is building a “tiny studio” – a fully insulated and functional little building. The studio’s ultimate location depends on who wins it in a raffle to be … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 Tiny Studio Raffle, News Releases | Tagged raffle tickets, tiny house, Tiny Studio Raffle

What he said…

"What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet. We don't know what details of a truly sustainable future are going to be like, but we need options, we need people experimenting in all kinds of ways and permaculturists are one of the critical groups that are doing that."
            ~ David Suzuki
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