Earth and Environmental Science

Originally the 99 acre property was an active farm and the forest was heavily logged, particularly between the 1940s to the 1960s.

Dr. Harry and Rachel Morton purchased the property in 1960 and in 1965 they began construction on a new home further out on the Monk Point Peninsula.

The farm remained active for many more years. Pigs, sheep, geese, ducks, and cows were kept on the farm and various crops were harvested including hay and cabbage for sauerkraut. Selective logging was practiced in the forest.

On September 8, 1995 the property was officially donated to Acadia University to be used for environmental research and education.

The property was named the Morton Centre in honour of Maie Stafford Morton who attended Acadia University at the turn of the century.

Local farmers continue to pasture a small herd of cattle on the point and hay the fields although no cash crops are cultivated.

For several years summer students from Acadia University lived on the property, conducting base-line research and working towards developing a sustainable environmental research and education centre. The field station acted as a base from which students examined the geological, chemical, and biological diversity around them and monitored changes over time. Several honours theses and projects arose from this research.

Through generous sponsorship by Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. for foundational funding, other funding partners, the Mountain Equipment Co-op and Sage Environmental Program, and Michelin Bridgewater for providing equipment and supplies, Acadia has now partnered with the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation to provide environmental learning programs each summer at the Morton Centre. The Halifax Regional Municipality Adventure Earth Centre shares their curriculum and program resources for adaptation at the Morton Centre, and have provided staff to aid with our leader training.

We at the Morton Centre look forward to bringing together people of all ages to share knowledge, monitor and understand the environment we live in, and conduct our lives in a socially and ecologically responsible manner.