Two N.S. churches among finalists in National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save Competition

Ancienne Église Sainte-Marie, in Church Point, N.S., is pictured. (Source: National Trust for Canada)

Two historic Nova Scotia churches are among the finalists in the National Trust for Canada’s Next Great Save.

The National Trust for Canada, a charity that works to restore historic sites, is holding a competition that will provide funds to help protect and renew heritage places. The Next Great Save has a grand prize of $50,000, along with two runner-up prizes of $10,000 and $5,000.

Among the 12 finalists are Ancienne Église Sainte-Marie in Church Point, N.S., and Trinity Anglican Church in Digby, N.S.

“Heritage places are critical for sustainable communities, central to responding to climate change, and vital to our collective wellbeing and sense of belonging. Yet every day more are lost,” reads a news release from the charity.

“The Next Great Save competition is our way of highlighting the impact of saving and renewing these places, and getting people from coast-to-coast-to-coast involved in the process.”

The other 10 finalists are:

• Fort Point Lighthouse Interpretation Centre — Trinity, N.L.
• Église Notre-Dame-des-Neiges — Trois-Pistoles, Que.
• Fort Ingall — Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Que.
• Missisquoi Museum – Cornell Mill — East Stanbridge, Que.
• Backhouse Grist Mill — Port Rowan, Ont.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum — Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
• St. John’s United Church — Brockville, Ont.
• The Spire — Kingston, Ont.
• Old Coleman High School — Coleman, Alta.
• 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site — South Cariboo Region, B.C.

The winner is decided by the public and voting opens at 2 p.m. on April 7 and will be open until April 24.

“Canadians are invited to vote for their favourite heritage site, with the opportunity to vote once per day at nextgreatsave.ca — because every vote matters,” reads the release.

The winner and two runners-up will be announced on April 24 at 6 p.m.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page