Where Will the Swallows Go?

As a kid, I spent my summers watching Bank Swallows flit and dive along the cliffs near our family’s cottage on the Northumberland Strait. Their burrows dotted the sandy banks, and they returned every year—just like us. But over time, the swallows started disappearing.

Climate-driven coastal erosion is changing the shoreline, and like many others, we worry about losing this place that holds so many memories. But, in trying to protect it, we risk hurting the environment and spoiling the aesthetic beauty of Nova Scotia's coast.

Seawalls and riprap stop erosion, but they also destroy the habitats that these birds and other coastal animals need to nest. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know there are better ways—solutions that protect both our land and the wildlife that belongs here, too.

Conservation groups are working to promote nature-based alternatives like living shorelines, which help slow erosion without erasing the places Bank Swallows call home. Maybe, just like the swallows, we can learn to adapt—finding ways to share this coast instead of choosing who gets to stay. If we do it right, future generations will still be able to enjoy this land and watch these birds return, just like we always did.

Reflections on Loss, Grief, and Renewal in a Changing Environment

In the mid-1960s, my grandmother worked as a pharmacy clerk and saved enough to purchase a small summer cottage in Sandy Cove, near Port Howe, Nova Scotia. It was a humble place, but to our family, it has become so much more—a sanctuary where summers are spent basking in the beauty of the Northumberland Strait, sharing stories, laughing, and celebrating everything I love about Nova Scotia’s culture and landscape.

My grandmother passed away in 2020, and the cottage was inherited by my mother. One day it will belong to my brother and me. It is a piece of family history woven into the shoreline itself. This stretch of coast holds so many memories for all those who share in the joy of these summer places.

Challenges from Climate Change

When my grandmother bought the cottage, climate change and coastal erosion weren’t concerns. Many cottages sat just steps from the water, close enough to dip your toes. But as storms intensified and the sea began to rise, property owners—including my family—found themselves making tough decisions. To protect these beloved places, we built seawalls, added riprap, and tried whatever we could to hold back the inevitable. But, as these measures piled up over the years, so did the unintended consequences.

I often feel torn. How do I balance my deep love for this place with the realization that our attempts to save it harm the land and the creatures that call it home? I love this place with all my heart, but I also want it to endure for future generations in a way that respects the environment. This exhibition explores these conflicting emotions.

About the Artwork

The paintings present my ‘idealized’ view of life along the shore, capturing the beauty and joy these places bring. They are a love letter to the coast, inspired by Atlantic Canadian realist painters like Christopher and Mary Pratt, and especially Alex Colville, who also owned a cottage just a few kilometres from ours.

In contrast, the photographs illustrate how coastal hardening efforts have reshaped the landscape. The images, influenced by Edward Burtynsky’s industrial landscape photography, aim to show not just the physical changes but the deeper impact on the environment.

The Photographs

The Paintings

These works are available for sale through The Ice House Gallery in Tatamagouche.

Spark Conversation; Inspire Empathy

My hope is that this work will spark conversation—helping us find a balance between preserving our cherished places and protecting the natural world for future generations. Moreover, I want to inspire empathy—for both the people and the wildlife who share this shore—and to generate ideas for how we can move forward together. If we do it right, this place will remain a haven for all who find solace here.