CKDU Fort Needham Park Picnic: August 8, 2010

This is Kathryn. Actually, I never did ask how to spell her name correctly. Since she's one of those Alternapendent type of University people she probably spells it CkA7hyrnne, or something like that. I suppose this picture could even have been part of my Interesting People series, since "Kathryn" is definitely one of those too, but I put it in the random picture series since it was the event I came to see, not the person.

This picture was taken at Fort Needham Park, in the "scary" North End of Halifax, during a free outdoor concert and picnic put on by CKDU 88.1 FM (as you can see on the banner). CKDU is an independent radio station at Dalhousie University, and "Kathryn", who works at the station, organized the entire concert event.

I had relatively little interest in the concert, since living in Halifax means there's a free concert or three every weekend, but I never grow tired of free food.

HRM Monument #19: Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower

On December 6, 1917, the French munitions ship, S.S. Mont Blanc, collided with the S.S. Imo, a Norwegian ship carrying war supplies, near Pier 6 in Halifax Harbour. The resulting explosion killed 2 000 people, as well as leaving many more injured and/or homeless. The Halifax Relief Commission supplied funds to create Fort Needham Memorial Park, overlooking Richmond Street which leads to Pier 6.

Today the park is still a popular recreation area, and contains this memorial bell tower, designed and dedicated in 1985 to look like the jagged ruins left after the explosion. The tower includes a distinctive upward thrust which represents hope for the future, and contains a set of church bells that formerly hung in the United Memorial Church - once shared by both Methodists and Presbyterian congregations after both of their churches were destroyed in the Explosion. The Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower stands as memorial to all those who lost their lives or suffered injuries in the Halifax Explosion, and to the survivors who helped rebuild the city.