The Sable Island Institute’s mission is to support and promote the protection and conservation of the natural and cultural values of Sable Island through research, collaboration, and education. The Institute is a multidisciplinary not-for-profit organization based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Sable Island is an isolated and unique landform located far off the east coast of Canada—the nearest landfall is 156 km away. Surrounded by the waters of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, the Island is exposed to winds, storms, waves and swell coming from every direction. It is home to a population of wild horses, and supports colonies of breeding seals and nesting seabirds. Throughout the year there are four to five people working and living on the island. The human population increases periodically with the arrival of researchers, artists, and other visitors. In 2013, the island was designated as the Sable Island National Park Reserve.
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Our website has the benefit of an enthusiastic group of contributors who are sharing memoirs, personal perspectives, and images. As this site continues to develop, featured articles, reviews and posts will present resources and information on the island’s natural history, research and monitoring programs, arts and culture, management and operations, community, visitors, and general goings-on. In addition to new content, some items that were originally published in the Green Horse Society’s website are being updated and moved into the Institute’s site.
We thank the Halifax Regional Municipality for funding (through a Program Grant in the Cultural Communities Sector), and the Friends of the Green Horse Society for funding and expertise, in support of our website project. The Institute’s logo was designed by Rand Gaynor, Halifax.
A StoryMap experience presented by the Sable Island Institute and the Centre of Geographic Sciences.
Jean Boulva first accompanied Ian McLaren to Sable Island in May 1968. In 1970, under Ian’s guidance, Jean began Ph.D. research on the status of the Harbour Seal in Atlantic Canada. He established his quarters at East Light, and occasionally shared the old lightkeepers house with other researchers. They all contributed to Ian’s major research project on the Ipswich Sparrow led by his Ph.D. student Wayne Stobo.
Presented by the Sable Island Institute (SII). An evening at Saint Mary’s – speakers, Q & A, followed by a reception (refreshments and conversation). All are welcome. Admission is free.
Announcing the winners! Thanks to everyone who submitted stories and essays, and to the team and supporters who made it a success. Watch for the next contest in January 2024!
As we walked the network of horse trails… I was captivated by beetles, spiders, and the tiny sweat bee – newly recognizing the critical role that all of these creatures play in the island’s ecosystem.
The four items shown above are only the most recent posts. Many other articles and images, on a wide range of Sable Island topics, are available in the Stories, Connections, PhotoBlog, Memoir, and Facebook Post pages.
Stories. A collection of updates and reports on Sable-related events and activities, and short accounts about selected features of the island’s natural and human history, operations, and cultural life. (49 items)
Connections. A series of lasting impressions and perspectives shared by people who have experienced Sable Island first-hand or have a distant, but enduring, relationship with the island. (38 items)
PhotoBlogs. Images of Sable Island’s landscape features, flora and fauna, beachcast curiosities, and weather, collected as encountered and presented in chronological order, some with notes. (7 items)
Memoirs. Longer accounts of Sable Island experiences—including those of children who lived on the island while a parent worked for one of the government agencies, and of individuals working with the met service or in research programs. (7 items)
Facebook Posts. Images and notes posted on Facebook—observations about natural history and human activities on the island. This collection serves as an archive, but also makes these brief contributions available to people who do not use Facebook. (4 items)
