Gulf of Maine Day August 31 at Annapolis Royal/Digby, Nova Scotia!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Andi Rierden, (902) 532-0200, info@acountryside.ca, andi@rierden.ca, or the Gulf Of Maine Expedition team directly on the water at (207) 266-6912.

August 29, 2002, Annapolis Royal/Digby, Nova Scotia -- In the true spirit of exploration held by French Explorers almost 400 years ago, the Gulf Of Maine Expedition enters Annapolis Royal, Canada's birthplace, to a traditional welcome on Saturday, August 31. Joined by a flotilla of kayakers and canoeists, the team will take a short paddle down the Annapolis River to the Town Wharf. The Town Crier and Wharfmaster Adrian Nette will welcome them, to the sounds of Nick Lasch, a local bagpiper. Greeters will wear traditional costume, and the visit will occur during the Farmer's Market so that many people may enjoy the celebration. After an introduction and words by the team, the group will enjoy lunch with the community at the Pub. From 5:30 PM to 9:00, a potluck supper and the Gulf Of Maine Expedition presentation will take place at Granville Ferry Hall. Everyone is invited to join the festivities, meet and greet the team and experience the hospitality of the community of Annapolis Royal/Digby, Nova Scotia.

Steeped in history, Annapolis Royal will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2005. 1605 brought Samuel de Champlain and Sieur de Monts to Port Royal, which upon British capture in 1710 was named Annapolis Royal to honor Queen Anne. It is the site of Canada's first National Historic Park.

All of the Gulf Of Maine Expedition's events are fortuitously scheduled in this, the International Year of Ecotourism. Team leader and Maine Sea Grant Extension Agent Natalie Springuel, Science and Technology Coordinator Richard MacDonald, Tom Teller and Canadian team members Dan Earle and Sue Hutchins will all be available to discuss their journey, findings and mission. Partners for this event include Annapolis Field Naturalists Society, Local Volunteers, Tobeatic Wilderness Committee, Granville Ferry Hall.

The Gulf Of Maine Expedition was organized to raise awareness and caring about the ecology and culture of the Gulf of Maine. The team hopes to hear your concerns regarding the health of the Gulf and will be available personally for discussions. Their records will capture a snapshot of the Gulf as it is today, and provide a unique perspective for monitoring in the future. They are eager to share information, observations and scientific results they have gathered along the way. Their website, www.gomexpedition.org, is updated several times a week to provide an evolving virtual documentary with an active route map, images from the Gulf, observations, and journal entries.

The Gulf of Maine Expedition was made possible by the generous financial support of Maine Sea Grant, Maine Coastal Program, Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, and the New England Biolabs Foundation. Additional equipment and financial support has come from Necky Kayaks, Kokatat, U. Maine Cooperative Extension, and many other businesses and individuals.

Come join the celebration of the Gulf Of Maine Expedition and Annapolis Royal!

For more information, please visit www.gomexpedition.org. If you would like a copy of the Gulf Of Maine Expedition Newsletter which includes the Expedition itinerary, please email gomex@earthlink.net.