Win Trips to Sable Island with Kattuk Expeditions, 2023

A Sable Island Institute fundraising raffle for seats on a helicopter day-trip to Sable Island in early October 2023.

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.

This raffle is a fundraiser to support the Institute’s activities including on-island research such as the Beach Monitoring Program and ecological research, and arts and educational programs such as a writing contest for youth. The Institute is a multidisciplinary not-for-profit, charitable corporation based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Four Prizes

Grand prize: a Trip for Two
2nd prize: a Trip for One
3rd prize: a Trip for One
4th prize: a Trip for One

Trip date: October 7th (rain date October 8) 2023

Ticket Sales

Tickets: $25 each (maximum of 1,500 tickets will be sold)

Tickets available online only at (and can only be purchased in Nova Scotia):
https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/sable

Ticket sales dates: March 12, 2023; end on August 29, 2023 @ 11:59 pm (ADT).

Draw Date & Location

Draw date: Thursday, August 31, 2023 @ 2:00 pm (ADT).

Draw location: Alderney Landing boardwalk, Dartmouth waterfront.

House Rules

1. Raffle tickets can only be sold in the province of Nova Scotia (as licensed under the Nova Scotia Gaming Control Act).

2. Tickets cost $25 each.

3. Tickets are available online through rafflebox.ca

4. Ticket sales will commence March 12, 2023, and will cease on August 29, 2023 @ 11:59 pm (ADT).

5. A maximum of 1,500 tickets will be sold.

6. All tickets sold will be printed, combined, and mixed in a raffle drum for the random physical draw.

7. The four (4) winning tickets will be drawn at random, without replacement, and the winners announced, as follows:

• Grand prize: a Trip for Two to Sable Island with Kattuk Expeditions
• 2nd prize: a Trip for One to Sable Island with Kattuk Expeditions
• 3rd prize: a Trip for One to Sable Island with Kattuk Expeditions
• 4th prize: a Trip for One to Sable Island with Kattuk Expeditions

8. The draw will take place on Thursday, August 31, 2023 @ 2:00 pm (ADT).

9. The draw will be held outdoors on the boardwalk at the Alderney Landing, on the Dartmouth waterfront in Nova Scotia.

10. All participants, volunteers, and attendees at the draw shall comply with Nova Scotia Public Health Guidelines and protocols related to COVID-19.

11. If the winners are present at the draw, they will confirm the matching ticket numbers to claim their prize.

12. If the winners are not present at the draw, they will be notified by telephone, text, or email.

13. Failure of any of the winners to claim their prize within 90 days after the draw date will result in a second draw for that prize. If a second draw is required for one of the prizes, it will be postponed until 2024.

14. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Trip to Sable Island cannot take place on October 7 (rain date October 8), the trip will be postponed until 2024.

15. The raffle draw winners will be announced on the Sable Island Institute’s website and through social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

16. Employees and Board members of the Sable Island Institute, and their household family members, are not eligible to enter the contest.

17. This raffle is sponsored by the Sable Island Institute, and is licensed by Service Nova Scotia, Permit # AGD- 323976-23

The Beginning of a Memorable Partnership – Bob Dykes, 2017

In 1971, Bob Dykes flew to Sable Island to meet Henry James and his research team conducting behavioural studies of the island’s Harbour Seal population. Bob worked with the crew as they collected data on seals who were crossing the wide and featureless Sandy Plain, and spent lively evenings in the Aframe (a field camp constructed by the James Gang) discussing data and theories of animal navigation.

David Millar, 1967-1969

In May 1967, David Millar, fresh out of training in Toronto and Ottawa, arrived at his first posting, Sable Island. Outside of work at the weather station, David took an interest in the island’s environment and spent a lot of time walking and exploring, and developed two hobbies which he still enjoys – bird watching and photography. During his two summers, David occasionally assisted Dalhousie University’s Ian McLaren and his students in their studies of the Ipswich Sparrow.

Full Circle

In December 1963, Gordon LeBlanc began a one-year posting on Sable Island as a meteorological technician with MSC’s aerology program. The work was largely routine, with twice-daily launches of the upper air balloon and making detailed observations and measurements around the clock. On work days, there was little time to explore the island, so on a day off, station personnel might pack a sandwich and go for a long walk, or in the spring and summer ride their dependable horses, Rawin and Trigger.

Merlin MacAulay 1955-1956

In May 1955, after completing the 16-week course at the Upper Air Training School in Toronto, and then serving a few months in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Merlin MacAulay travelled to Sable Island on the government ship Lady Laurier to work as an upper air technician for the MSC. During Merlin’s stay, Fred Davis and a National Film Board of Canada crew visited to made a short documentary about Sable Island.

Now, it is about so much more – Lauren Hughes, February 2023

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.

Sable in Words 2023 – Writing Contest for Nova Scotia Youth

5th Annual Writing Contest. Prizes for stories about Sable Island! If you live in Nova Scotia, are 10 – 13 or 14 – 17, and are interested in the island, you could be a winner! Entries due April 14, 2023.