This is part of a year-long ‘Love for Local’ series called NB365: portraits of New Brunswick entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations. Huddle is a media partner with Love for Local. Today, we hear from Heather Wilson of the Charlotte County Archives in Saint Andrews.

WE ARE A REGISTERED CHARITY, HOUSED IN THE HISTORIC JAIL IN ST. ANDREWS. WE ARE A HYBRID OF SORTS — IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WE PROVIDE TOURS OF THE JAIL AND THE NEIGHBORING COURT HOUSE.
We also house Charlotte County’s documentary heritage, and year-round researchers and curious visitors alike can come to explore photographic images dating from the 1850s, manuscripts and theses, Charlotte County newspapers, maps and architectural drawings, letters, diaries and ships-logs.

We are the guardians of Charlotte County’s memories, past and present, and provide glimpses into the day-to-day lives of the individuals who have lived, worked, and played here.

Our tours of the jail and Court House provide a place for people to come together as they explore, and discover connections they never knew existed. We host events and activities to connect with people of all ages.

We recently launched our pilot educational modules, which are freely available on our website for use in the classrooms or for any curious minds to explore at home! Dust off your detective skills and investigate historical photographs. Get to know some busy bee workers. Or explore the tides of time in Blacks Harbour. Everything you need is here! https://ccarchives.ca/photo-detectives/

This year in place of our regular Heritage Homes tours we launched a new fundraiser, the St. Andrews Heritage Hunt, encouraging people to get out and explore our historic town. We partnered with local vendors to offer exciting prizes and promote local businesses. We hope to soon bring back our roadshow and get back to traveling to communities around our County, ensuring our records of the past and present from all corners of our County are preserved for the future.

Local organizations make a difference because they support and enrich the lives of those who call this place home, bring people together, provide opportunities for individuals and the community as a whole to grow, and offer a sense of identity and belonging.