It is currently(Friday, August 16, 2024), I'm in Halifax pet sitting for my daughter. Part of my "pet sitting duties" is to walk the husky as far as possible in order for her to be pooped out and not to bug me for the rest of the day.
I can confirm once again that The Noon Gun fired at exactly noon and it was loud. My daughters house is very close to The Citadel in the downtown and we happened to be behind the fortress on our way back from our walk when the cannon went off. I love tradition like this!!
Yesterday afternoon, while in a bit of a "how I'm missing downtown Halifax" kind of weird funk, I thought of the daily firing of The Noon Gun.
The cannon's roar has been part of Halifax's daily rituals for more than 200 years. It's a constant reminder that the city, founded in 1749 by Col. Edward Cornwallis, has always been a die-hard military town, with its massive harbour that was a strategic gem for the Royal Navy. Today the harbour is home to the large and complex CFB Halifax, the home of the Atlantic Fleet of the Canadian Navy.
Way back when in the 1800s, the noon gun was among many signals used to alert soldiers to their daily routines. There was also an evening gun, not to mention a series of signals from bugle calls and bagpipes.
The firing of the Noon Gun in Halifax marks each day, except for Christmas Day, noon time in Halifax, a local tradition since 1857. Currently, the present noon gun is a reproduction 12-pounder, smooth-bore muzzle-loading gun used during the reign of King George III (1760-1820).
The Citadel overlooking Halifax
The existing stone fort(The Citadel) was completed in 1856 and never attacked. It is the fourth to be built on the hilltop site, the first three being wooden structures. The British army didn't leave until 1906, and the Canadian army stayed until 1951. Restored in the 1970s, the star-shaped fort now looks like it did in 1869, only two years after Confederation.
The question one might have is, "Is it loud?" Having heard it more times than I can count, I can confirm it with this short answer - yes!
For those working or visiting the downtown, the ear-splitting crack of cannon fire is something that takes a bit of getting used to. The sound bounces, reverberates, and rumbles off the buildings in the city core. And when the weather turns ugly and clouds are low, the sound of the blast is amplified, setting off more than the usual number of car alarms.
But it's unsuspecting visitors who tend to get the biggest fright.
An interesting story. According to local lore, U.S. President Bill Clinton's security detail crouched for cover and shielded the commander-in-chief when the cannon went off at the start of the G7 leaders summit in June 1995.
"The American contingent heard the gun ... and just dropped to the ground," says Thompson, a visitor experience officer. "Someone didn't brief them."
These days, the military custom is typically performed by a crew of two to five young people dressed in the blue uniforms of the 3rd Brigade, The Royal Regiment of Artillery.
And if there's a malfunction, usually during wet weather, people call the fort(Parks Canada) to ask what happened.
"It is part of the fabric of the city," says Thompson, who for years took part in the ceremonial firing. "We have to keep doing it ... It's expected." When it goes off, it wouldn't be hard to see someone standing at a street corner a block or two away from "The Citadel" waiting to cross the road, looking at their watch or phone to check the correct time.
It's just simply part of the daily routine of Halifax and being a Haligonian.
--as always with love--
--- get outdoors; find inspiration; discover yourself ---
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