About Us
About Us
Paradise is an idyllic rural community running east and west along both sides of the Annapolis River, nestled between the North and South mountains in the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. The area is rich in culture and heritage. The Mi’kmaq camped along the river bank years ago. The Acadians, Planters and Loyalists established homes in the area with a number of current residents tracing their families back to these early settlers.
For over 100 years the Paradise Women’s Institute was the custodian of the history of Paradise which has provided a rich record of earlier days. Prior to disbanding in August of 2020, the Paradise Women’s Institute gifted a historic property built c. 1894 known originally as the Paradise Academy to the recently founded Paradise Historical Society. This gorgeous 2-story 2nd Empire building is being refurbished to create a museum to preserve and promote the history of the area, develop indoor and outdoor workshops with a variety of topics such as heritage construction and conservation, preserving and promoting heritage crafts and providing educational outreach programs for both adults and youth.
Our Vision
The Paradise Historical Society has been working for several years to restore and improve the building and property we own.
Our vision is a busy and active Paradise Heritage Centre where we will:
- Restore and rehabilitate the Second Empire Building (Paradise School/Academy, 1894-1979) as both an Annapolis County and Province of Nova Scotia Heritage site.
- Make the Paradise Heritage Centre fully accessible – washrooms, ramps, and access to the second floor.
- Create a cozy drop-in area for coffee and conversation, or small group meetings, with access to free WiFi and a mini-library of local history books for research reference.
- House interactive displays of artifacts and community stories from the past, and preserve these for the future.
- Create indoor and outdoor activities and workshops of a heritage nature for families and all ages.
- Host an annual Community BBQ to welcome newcomers and enjoy time with neighbours.
- Maintain our Heritage Garden in front of the building and Cindy’s Pollinator Garden in the back.
- Support new and traditional arts and crafts.
Our Mandate
Create and maintain a museum to preserve and promote the history of Paradise.
Offer indoor and outdoor workshops on a variety of topics such as heritage construction and conservation.
Maintain the Heritage Garden which honours the memory of students and teachers of the school.
Run periodic workshops for children to educate and inspire them. Topics such as native varieties of plants and trees, dealing with invasive plants, learning about toys and games of the past, and participating in them.