The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s is pleased to provide information about this initiative, and encourage participation not just for beaches in St. Mary’s but across the county!

The Tourism Guysborough County Association is launching an exciting initiative to position Guysborough County as a unique coastal destination. This project focuses on identifying and thoughtfully promoting select local beaches as tourism spots, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and responsible development. 

We understand that communities feel a deep connection to their beaches. That’s why this effort is rooted in the belief that by acting now, together, we can protect and preserve these natural spaces for the future.

Rather than allowing tourism to grow without direction, we’re taking a proactive approach. By managing how our beaches are promoted and cared for, we can set clear standards for environmental stewardship, respectful visitor behaviour, and community benefit. This is a chance to share what makes these places special—before increasing tourism risks overwhelming them.

Sustainable and regenerative tourism has real potential to benefit our region: supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and attracting investment in conservation. With careful planning and strong community involvement, this project can help keep our beaches clean, accessible, and thriving—not just for visitors, but for local residents and future generations.

We’re asking for your help in identifying beaches that could be considered for this initiative. Under the guidance of Dr. Camilo Botero—a Little Dover resident and international expert in integrated coastal management—we will assess each suggested site using a clear set of sustainability criteria. While not every beach can be part of the first wave of promotions, all community-nominated beaches will be included in our portfolio for consideration in future sustainable tourism efforts.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any member of our steering committee: Scott Beaver, Jack Leonard, Bill MacMillan, Brian Gary, and Ashley Cunningham Avery.

A special thanks to the Guysborough District Business Partnership for supporting this important project.

👉 Share your favourite hidden gem beach here: https://tinyurl.com/HiddenGemsGTCA
The link will remain open for ongoing submissions, but we’d greatly appreciate your input by October 31, 2025, for this phase of the project.