Port Hood is a seaside community on the west coast of Cape Breton
Island and the shire town of Inverness County. Local
residents are predominantly English-speaking Roman Catholics, the
population core having Highland Scottish ancestry;
MacDonalds/MacDonnells mostly.
The village is located on Trunk 19
(the "Ceilidh Trail"), approximately 30-minutes drive north from the
Canso Causeway which links mainland Nova Scotia to Cape Breton
Island. The economy of Port Hood revolves around farming (especially
dairy cattle) and fishing; lobster and northern bluefin tuna
particularly. However, most residents of Port Hood commute to work
in communities like Port Hawkesbury. Port Hood experienced an
economic boom from 1880 to 1910, with the coal mining, fishing and
marine trade. A fire in July 1942 destroyed much of the town's
business district.
Construction of
Highway 105 (the Trans-Canada Highway) between North Sydney and the
Canso Causeway in the 1960s resulted in the re-routing of most Cabot
Trail tourism traffic.
The Cabot Trail is now advertised with its
start and end-point in Baddeck, bypassing the traditional western
approach to the Cabot Trail through Judique, Port Hood, Inverness
and Margaree Harbour, and thus decreasing tourism traffic on the Ceilidh Trail.
Port Hood is known to have some of the warmest waters in Eastern
Canada. Its miles of golden sandy beaches draw in tourists from
across the globe during the summer season. It is also home to the
Chestico Museum.
Port Hood is the birthplace of all-star (ice) hockey, Olympic gold
medal winner Al MacInnis, as well as that of Grey Cup Canadian
Football League Champion Bruce Beaton. Harness racing is a popular
activity of many locals. Port Hood Island is located just off-shore
from the village of Port Hood.