Right Of Way

No Trespassing. Private Road. No Parking.

These are the signs that are more and more frequently seen along Nova Scotia’s coastline. As Canadians access the shore for recreation, science, or even just to take in the natural beauty of the coast, they are being increasingly met with physical barriers to the beach, few options to park or use public transportation to get to the coast, and problems with litter and marine debris in the areas they can access.

Private property ownership dominates Nova Scotia’s coastline, and while the public wants access, property owners also want to enjoy privacy and avoid the degradation of their land. In other words, in a province known as Canada’s Ocean Playground, people are increasingly asking – a playground for who?

In Nova Scotia, we have a right to be on the coastline below the high water mark, but no protected right to get there. But should we? Right of Way is a podcast that explores the issue of coastal access in Nova Scotia (and Canada more broadly) through the stories of property owners, communities, scientists, policy makers, environmental activists, surfers, hikers, and more. Join us weekly for new episodes.

Right of Way is recorded, produced, and hosted by Nicolas Winkler (www.nicolaswinkler.com) and Hannah Harrison (www.hannahharrison.ca). Funding for this podcast is generously provided by the Royal Canadian Geographic Society (www.rcgs.org) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca). Podcast artwork by Laura Bonga (@bongas.art). Sound editing by Podstarter (www.podstarter.io). Learn more by visiting www.coastalaccessproject.com.