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Friday, October 19, 2007

Planning Next Season's Canada Travel? Careful of Nova Scotia


“... For your safety, comfort and enjoyment we encourage you to use our fine assortment of campgrounds. We ask you not to camp or park your camping vehicle overnight in any area that is not designated as a campground (e.g. parking lots, shopping malls and beach areas). It is illegal to camp indiscriminately.” -- Official Nova Scotia Tourism Guide

Are you an 'indiscriminate camper?' In the eyes of provincial law you are, if you park anywhere but in a licensed campground. Boondock? 'Camp Walmart'? Stay in a "roadside rest area"? All these are no-nos and can get you a fine. It's a fine kettle of fish that not all RVers, particularly those from the 'lower 48' are aware of. In the eyes of many Canadian RVers, it's a "black eye" to their country and reputation for hospitality.

So if it's your intent to visit this maritime province, best to put aside a few extra dollars for staying on in one of the "fine assortment of campgrounds," that the tourism folks, and park owners, would love you to stay in.

To search for campgrounds, visit this official site.

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posted by Russ and Tiña De Maris at 2:40 PM

14 Comments:

  • Our understanding is that the law that you are referring to was Never Passed and therefore the information is incorrect.

    By Blogger Frank & Lucy Spence, at November 1, 2007 6:56 AM  

  • Please check your information with Mr. Matthews as indicated below. Your information is incorrect.

    Douglas M. Matthews
    Manager Quality Assurance
    Tourism Division
    Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage
    1800 Argyle St, Suite 603
    PO Box 456, Halifax, NS B3J 2R5
    Bus: (902) 424-3942
    Fax: (902) 424-0723
    E-mail: matthews@gov.ns.ca
    Visit Nova Scotia's official web site:
    www.novascotia.com and the
    Department of Tourism and Culture web site:
    www.gov.ns.ca/dtc

    By Blogger Frank & Lucy Spence, at November 10, 2007 7:52 AM  

  • Please check your information with the below official and you will find that the information you posted in not correct.

    Douglas M. Matthews
    Manager Quality Assurance
    Tourism Division
    Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage
    1800 Argyle St, Suite 603
    PO Box 456, Halifax, NS B3J 2R5
    Bus: (902) 424-3942
    Fax: (902) 424-0723
    E-mail: matthews@gov.ns.ca
    Visit Nova Scotia's official web site:
    www.novascotia.com and the
    Department of Tourism and Culture web site:
    www.gov.ns.ca/dtc

    By Blogger Frank & Lucy Spence, at November 10, 2007 7:54 AM  

  • Well for me it makes no difference if the law passed or not. Any town or province that would contemplate such a Law, is not very RV friendly in my book and should be avoided.
    MH

    By Blogger Mel, at November 10, 2007 8:59 AM  

  • I live on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and I often see RVs parked overnight (sometimes for 3 or 4 nights) in the parking lot at our wharf. Now, it is frowned upon by local camp site owners but I don't think it is illegal. And we ARE a very friendly place; I think you would find Nova Scotia worth the trip!

    By Blogger Donalda, at November 10, 2007 10:05 AM  

  • Hi Mel
    I am a Blue noser as it were, from Nova Scotia. I was as angry as a hornet when I went to one of our Wall-Marts and saw a motor home home from Montana parked and not 30ft away was one of these signs from the department of tourism telling him he couldn't park there. I wanted to take the people home with me and make sure for their safety. I was so mad about the signs I wrote the department of tourism a letter. I don't know if helped but I do know the signs are now gone from there. Here is a letter I drafted to the dept. Tourism and good sam.

    "To Whom It May Concern:

    Staying over night at Wall-Mart

    I have noticed the signs posted at the new Wall-Mart in Dartmouth Crossing, Nova Scotia,
    Canada. It referrers, to the section about no over night RV stops. This came to my attention
    because there was a motor home with Montana plates, and I thought, "I wonder where he will
    stay tonight" (April 5/07) I have just done a search on your Tourism web site, and guess what, in
    your own words “your search did not return any results” for camping, or RV over night stops.
    I feel this law was brought about by the different camping facilities for fear Wall-Mart may gain
    some revenue from the over night stays. Has any body given any thought as to what the tourist
    are going to do now for over night stays, because to my best of knowledge there isn’t any camp
    grounds open prior to May 24th , and as of now it is April 5th almost 1 1/2 months before the first camp ground opens, but I have not seen one Wall-Mart closed.

    I would like to bring to your attention even the provincial parks aren’t open. It seems to me
    the department of tourism should shape up and re-amend those sections and subsections on
    RV stopping over night in Wall-Mart parking lots. These RV’ers are not camping they are resting
    over night. The depart. of transportation made laws prohibiting truckers form driving more than 4
    hours straight with trip logs. Wall-Mart doesn’t collect any fee for the over night stay, just revenue
    on any goods sold from the store and that’s what they do for a business. I might add they sure dish
    out a lot of hospitality. More than any camp ground I’ve stayed at.

    I have lived in N.B., P.E.I., and now N.S. and I like to stay at different camp grounds through
    out the summer for Variety, but as I come to find out they all want reservations made in
    advance and a deposit, and you lose your deposit if you don’t stay there or don’t show up.
    Isn’t that funny Wall-Mart don’t mind if you don’t show up this weekend, the hospitality
    welcome is still there.

    Has anybody said anything to Irving Oil Big Stops about the Motor homes staying at the 24 hr.
    truck stops, may be all the gas bars in Halifax and Dartmouth have a valid complaint that these
    motor homes are buying gas and being allowed to stay over the night to rest. Oh hell lets go all
    the way and tell Irving that after those trucks fill up on fuel they have to go to the nearest motel
    or hotel to sleep the night, because Irving is robbing the camp ground owners, the motel and
    hotel owners of revenue. What’s the difference the truckers and the RV’ers both have beds
    on wheels.

    I have toured the southern and eastern United States and have stayed at Wall-Mart and the
    Flying –J truck stops on route to New Mexico, and Brownsville Texas, where I stayed in
    a camp ground for 2 months and 3 months at a time. If I was to stay in one area two nights, it was
    at a camp ground, but while on route where I’m gone the next morning, I definitely stay at the
    Wall-Mart or Flying-J. The Flying-J truck stops have a section set aside for RV’ers and they all have
    a free dump station. They also issue discount gas cards to their frequent users. Something for
    Canadians to think about.
    So Department of tourism I think you should re-think your laws on RV’ers staying over night
    at Wall-Mart. I have to state that neither Wall-Mart chain and Irving Oil chain have no knowledge
    of this letter.

    Joe Lewin
    Retired RV camper.
    Cc to Highways, Good Sam"
    I hope you enjoyed my comment.
    Joseph Lewin Nova Scotia.

    By Blogger lewinjml, at November 10, 2007 2:33 PM  

  • Kudos to Joe

    By Blogger dieseldog, at November 11, 2007 7:41 AM  

  • Hi Everyone.
    If you don't go to Nova Scotia because of something that might have happened the real big loser is you.
    Nova Scotia is a beautiful place full of wonderfull people. Don't miss it, and don't spend all of your time in a Walmarts parking lot. Very few have a wharf or a beach.
    Pete Brubaker
    Motorhome
    Ontario.

    By Blogger Peter, at November 11, 2007 10:01 AM  

  • Hi Everyone.
    If you don't go to Nova Scotia because of something that might have happened you will be the big loser.
    Nova Scotia is a beautiful province full of wonderful people. Go and enjoy it and don't spend all your time in a Walmart parking lot. Very few have a wharf or an ocean veiw or a place to boil your lobsters over an open fire.
    Peter
    Motorhome (C)
    Waterloo On.
    Canada.

    By Blogger Peter, at November 11, 2007 10:10 AM  

  • We will not be staying in Canada anytime.
    We do not like their restrictive laws. There is enough of the USA to see and visit.
    Spending our dollars in the USA!!

    By Blogger Dusty, at November 11, 2007 2:09 PM  

  • Mid Summer 2005 First Nations Keith Ranville set out from his Vancouver home to investigate a at the time a Oak Island's diminishing place of interest. But a new Oak Island beginning emerged through Keith's traveling research studies a simple unencrypted solution was generated to resolve this elaborate now 213 year-old treasure mystery. The close examination of Oak Island clues proclaimed a interesting triangle theory' in-which was instrumental in locating the core to understanding and reviving the Oak Island treasure mystery.

    By Blogger Researcher Keith Ranville, at March 3, 2008 10:12 PM  

  • Don't get me wrong,I love nova scotia and Cape Breton.It has some of the best scenery in the world.But its Dept. of Tourisum has a lot to learn.They apparently do not read any RV magazine and comments.People love the scenery.But most camping facilities are not anywhere up to any standards.If you stop at a campsite,especialy on a week end.Plan on staying up most of the night listining to local beer parties.And hardly no regulations.Now when the price of Fuel is so high.A lot of people are restricting there travels.I am not trying to tell Nova Scotia to be Touristy looking.Just think about better camping facilities,put a little more into better roads on the scenic roads.And people do have to stop at a bathroom now and then.So tell me would these requests,harm Nova scotia's Heritage.I hope I didn't offend anyone,but isn't these few things a fair request?And maybe bring some revenue to Nova Scotia.And it's people.Thank You for your time.

    By Blogger Kodiak, at May 1, 2008 5:01 PM  

  • Hey Dusty :) no worries, as we won't be visiting the States any time either. We don't like your frightening gun laws and your "homeland security" laws. We will be spending our Canadian dollars in Canada...and BTW, there are thousands upon thousand of places to camp for free here, we are just pciky about whom we tel..sort of like secret fishing holes ;)

    By Blogger Dave, at July 21, 2008 8:52 AM  

  • Adendum to my last comment, I hope all have a fantastic and safe summer/fall on both sides of the border.

    By Blogger Dave, at July 21, 2008 8:57 AM  

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