Glace Bay

The town of Glace Bay, located on Cape Breton Island’s east coast, was known as the biggest town in Canada in the 1940s. Glace Bay is a fishing and former mining community with a lot of history. Fisherman can be seen off the coast fishing for lobster, crab, scallops, and more each season. The Cape Breton Miners Museum commemorates a very important past life of the area—the coal mining industry. There’s quite a bit of history here that carries on to the present day.

Mining and Fishing

Mining and fishing have played an important role in the story of the community and you can see that even in the style of housing. We have areas of old-style company houses that have both a historic and cultural significance to the mining and steel industries. Some company houses have even been renovated in a more modern style, but that history is still there. The fisheries are located downtown and as you walk through Glace Bay you can see the fishermen hauling their traps—and the smell of the ocean and seafood cannot be missed. It’s still very much a part of the community. You can’t go into a restaurant without there being a seafood special or a traditional Cape Breton meal. It’s part of our community.

First Stop, the Miners Museum

If you’re visiting Glace Bay, I would recommend making the Miners Museum your first stop. As someone who lives here and knows the history that’s involved and its attachment to the community, this is the perfect place to start. There’s just so much information there. They also offer tours that take you down underground to check out the pit. Guided by a retired coal miner who tells stories of life as a miner and working underground, it’s a truly unique experience. The Museum is home to the Men of the Deeps, Cape Breton’s famous coal miners chorus, and they perform there regularly. There’s also a restaurant on site serving home-style, Cape Breton meals. And the views are something else. The Miners Museum at sunrise, I’m telling you, it’s the best! So, you can really get everything here—the views, the history, the experience and the food.

Eat Like a Local

Along with the Miners Museum, some of our locally-owned restaurants also have those authentic Cape Breton dishes—from seafood dishes to boiled dinner with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, riblets, and the roast—those nice hearty, home-cooked meals that you won’t find at a franchised chain restaurant. Try Colette’s Family Restaurant  or ABC Take Out. The pizza in Cape Breton in general is well-known, but some of our favourites here in Glace Bay are Caledonia Pizza and The Brixton. If you are looking for something a little sweet and tasty, make sure you get to Sweet Side of the Moon Bakery and Cafe.

The Savoy Theatre

The Savoy Theatre stands as a Cape Breton cultural icon. Originally built in 1927, it has served as a beloved venue for entertainment and community gatherings for decades. Known for productions like “Dear Rita,” which pays homage to the famed Cape Breton singer Rita MacNeil, the theatre continues to captivate audiences with its diverse array of performances, from theatre productions to concerts and comedy shows. With its rich history and commitment to preserving Cape Breton’s cultural heritage, the Savoy Theatre remains a cherished gem in the heart of Glace Bay.

Get out for a Walk

Besides that, we have wonderful walking parks like Renwick Brook, which is downtown, Big Glace Bay Beach, and the harbourfront. As a pet owner, I know they need quite a bit of exercise. Dogs are a big part of my life so they’re with me almost everywhere I go and Renwick Brook is great for walking. There are lots of ducks there and you’ll see people feeding them. Down by the Miners Museum there’s also a walking trail that goes all along the coastline. It’ll take you right down from the Miners Museum to Seaview Manor and you can loop right back around. Dogs are welcome at these parks as long as they are on a leash.

A Little Wildlife Around Town

One thing that a lot of people don’t know about is Big Glace Bay Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary, close to Big Glace Bay Beach, which has recently been designated as a National Wildlife Area. We have piping plovers in the area and they’re an endangered species so there are signs posted about proper care while at the beaches. There are also foxes in the area around town and we have a family of deer that comes down and eats the apples in my backyard. So even though we’re in a town, we still have a little bit of that wildlife setting.

Natural Beauty All Over

One of the best things I think Cape Breton in general is known for is that the people here are so kind and friendly. We hear that quite a bit. With the history and the views along this coast—in the Glace Bay, Reserve Mines, Dominion area—it doesn’t get the hype it deserves. A lot of people don’t think of the natural beauty of Cape Breton Island when they think about Glace Bay. They think more of the Cabot Trail. But there’s so much beauty right here in our small town.