About

The Bluenose Ghosts Festival was created to share our local history through the works of Dr. Helen Creighton (one of Canada's most notable historians) by creating new works with professional artists. 

Helen Creighton (1899–1989) was born and lived most of her life in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Over the course of her career, Creighton collected over 4,000 songs and ballads. She authored thirteen books of traditional songs, stories, of which her Bluenose Ghosts is the most widely known. She received many awards, including Distinguished Folklorist of 1981 (Canada); six honorary doctorates; Fellow of the American Folklore Society, Honorary Life President of the Canadian Authors' Association; and The Order of Canada. In 2018, Parks Canada designated Helen Creighton a nationally significant person who helped define Canada's history. The unveiling and announcement were celebrated at Alderney Landing.

We work with artists, performers and historians creatively engaging youth in creating professional installations and community art projects (including film, theatre, visual arts, new media, literacy, and animation). We attract residents and visitors to participate and share their knowledge and interactive works. Our goal is to present programming in the spirit of Dr. Creighton’s collection and story-telling, ultimately resulting in generating prosperity for our community, deep rooted ownership and pride for all our residents.