Cap-Rouge, Nova Scotia

Cap-Rouge
Former community
Site of Cap-Rouge today
Coordinates: 46°42′42″N 60°56′24″W
Country	Canada
Province	Nova Scotia
Inverness County, Nova Scotia	Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Time zone	UTC-4 (AST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (ADT)
NTS Map	011K10
GNBC Code	CBGMR

Cap-Rouge was an Acadian village of some 30 families situated on Cape Breton Island, north of Chéticamp, in Nova Scotia, named for the nearby cape of the same name. The Cap Rouge region followed the western coast of Cape Breton Island, extending about seven miles to the north of Chéticamp. It included La Bloque, Ruisseau des Maurice (Trout Brook), Rivière à Lazare (Corney Brook) and Ruisseau du Canadien. Today however, the name Cap-Rouge is used to refer to all Acadian communities expropriated for the creation of the National Park, including the Rigouèche, the Buttereau, the Presqu’île and the Source de la Montain.

History

Cap-Rouge, circa 1900

Some of the earliest grants of land in Cap-Rouge were made starting in 1826, with later grants following in 1864, 1867, 1868, and 1869. Other land concessions were awarded between 1873 and 1906. The first school was opened in La Presqu'île around 1877 before later being located higher on the mountain in 1904. A Post Office was established June 1, 1899 at the home of Vieux Maurice Aucoin who become the first Postmaster. Two lobster factories had already been established between 1900 and 1925. By 1936 the Cap-Rouge region included a sawmill located in La Rigoueche, a general store, a wharf, post office and school.

Expropriation

The village properties were expropriated and the residents evacuated between 1936 and 1939 during the foundation of Cape Breton Highlands National Park, this despite the fact that many Scottish and English villages such as Pleasant Bay, and Ingonish were preserved. In the summer of 1940, on July 7, the Cap-Rouge post office was officially closed.

Hiking Trail

The former village site is accessible today, by following a Parks Canada maintained trail, "Le vieux chemin du Cap-Rouge", located on the Cabot Trail across from the Trout Brook picnic area. Remains of an old school, foundations of the former residents' houses, and the old wharf at La Bloc visible at various points along the trail. An exhibit at the look-off at the south end of the trail provides further information on the families who used to live there.

Further reading

• A history of Cap-Rouge and area was published in November 2019, "Cap Rouge: Ancien hameau de Chéticamp – Former Hamlet of Chéticamp", researched and authored by Ginette Chiasson.
• Sandilands, Catriona (2011). "Cap Rouge Remembered? Whitness, Scenery, and Memory in Cape Breton Highlands National Park". In Baldwin, Andrew; Cameron, Laura; Kobayashi, Audrey (eds.). Rethinking the Great White North: Race, Nature, and the Historical Geographies of Whiteness in Canada. UBC Press. pp. 62–84. ISBN 9780774820165.