Canso Islands National Historic Site

Canso is beautiful

I have been looking to make the most of our Discovery Pass this year and planned a three hour detour to this site. I checked the Parks Canada site for information which recommended contacting them before going to make sure the boat was running. The only contact information provided was national and no local contact information was made readily available. I contacted Parks Canada who were never able to provide any information on the boat or when it operated. After researching it online I found information which gave dates and a timeframe of when the boat operated. With nothing more we decided to take the detour. When we arrived at the welcome centre we were greeted and told to look around. I asked about the boat and the kid working there seemed caught off guard. He first told me that the last boat of the day already left. I found it strange that we missed the last boat since we arrived just two hours after the site opened and the boat only took 7 minutes. The kid then told me the crew of the boat were on lunch but should be back in 25 minutes. I said we would wait and was then told that the radio on the boat was broken so they probably wouldn't go out again. I told him we would still wait the 25 minutes since the site was so far off our route for the day that a few extra minutes wouldn't hurt. After more than an hour and a half the boat never showed and the kid hid in the back to avoid talking to us. We ended up leaving. The 3 hour detour was a complete waste as there is absolutely nothing to do in the community. I am very disappointed with the lack of service and information provided both before our trip and upon arriving. I certainly would not recommend going so far out of your way to see nothing.

It’s far to go and bare to visit but with imagination we can make up how it was then! It was a beautiful area then and still is! if there would be a nice boat ride on the ocean offered it would be worth the drive. The people attending this site are very nice.

Clean environment with beautiful views is a great spot to relax and recharge

Accueil ouverte. Petit vidéo expliquant l'histoire. Mais le bateau pour se rendre sur l'île est en panne. Il est parqué sur la terre ferme. Pas moyen de se rendre sur l'île.

The Canso visitor center is open, small and showing a good documentary film but there are no ferries going to the island. So no National Historic Site to go to.

Nice enough museum but still unable to get to the island (boat is not operational)

The little museum (with an informative video) was interesting, but ultimately our trip was disappointing since their boat is out of commission and they’re not sure when they’ll get a new one. The visitors’ centre is worth it if you’re in the area, but don’t make a special trip until the boat situation is fixed!