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The Aberdeen group represents four businesses within the tourism and hospitality sector ~ Aberdeen Tours, Into The Wilderness... Expeditions, A Break from Convention and Black Cab London Taxis. Affiliated with the group is Aberdeen Charters Ltd.
Our offices are conveniently located on the fifth floor of the Pickford and Black Building of Privateers' Wharf in the prestigious Historic Properties district of downtown Halifax. The Department of Canadian Heritage and Parks Canada share the building with us, and a prime retail development occupies ground level within the "Market Mall".
A visit to Halifax would not be complete without a relaxing stroll through the cobblestone courtyard of Privateers' Wharf, where the spoils of the war of 1812 were brought in and ultimately auctioned off ~ the proceeds being divvied up between the King and the private ship owners (Privateers ~ see sidebar) commissioned to roam the seas in search of enemy vessels. And while you're visiting, feel free to come up and say hello, meet some of our great staff, and check out our unique space!
And if you have any questions whatsoever concerning aspects of Nova Scotia's natural or cultural heritage, please ask! ~ we are the experts in the field, and have a resource library and specialists on hand (of course, our staff are often "in the field" in the summer).
Our normal office hours are from 9 am to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, although there is often someone in at the weekend ~ just call ahead.
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PRIVATEERS
Privateers were private ship owners who were granted "letters of marque" by the king, entitling them to roam the seas in search of enemy vessels which they were allowed to capture by force. Enemy vessels were brought back to Halifax and the goods were stored in Privateer's Warehouse, prior to auction.
Proceeds from the sale of captured enemy vessels were divided up between the King and the private ship owners. The advantage of privateering is that it offset the costs of war ~ the British Navy did not have to incur the costs of building the ships!
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THE WATERFRONT:
THEN & NOW
As the gateway between the old world and the new world, Halifax emerged as a major economic centre in the 1800s, with as many as 86 piers & wharves extending between what is now the Sheraton and Westin hotels. Associated with these was a complex of wooden & stone warehouses, all of which became redundant with the advent of containerized shipping. In danger of falling under the wrecking ball, a group of stone warehouses were declared significant to Canada's national heritage, and were spared, ultimately to become today's Privateers' Wharf & Historic Properties complex ~ celebrated as one of the finest examples of urban
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