06/05/2026
On Friday June 5, 2026, the Town of Mahone Bay will recognize German Settlers Day for the First time, with a flag raising at the Michael O’Connor Bandstand at 12:00 p.m. Mahone Bay Museum President, Anne Palfreyman, will raise the flag in acknowledgement and appreciation of museum staff and volunteers, past and present, who have researched and archived Mahone Bay’s rich history and genealogy.
German settlers were amongst the first foundational communities in Nova Scotia. Between 1750 and 1753, the British recruited over 2,000 "Foreign Protestants" primarily farmers and tradesmen from the Rhine region to balance the French-speaking Acadian population. Their legacy thrives today, particularly in and around the Mahone Bay and Lunenburg areas.
To honor this heritage, The German Settlers Day Act was passed by the Nova Scotia Legislature in 2001 and proclaimed June 7, 2003. It is celebrated annually across the province. Nova Scotia does not have an official, province-recognized historical flag specifically for its German settlers. During community events, people may use the Federal Republic of Germany flag. Many descendants also display the Lunenburg Town Flag (which features historic roots) or historically informed heraldry when celebrating their local immigrant history. As the Town of Mahone Bay Flag Policy only permits the flying of the Canada Flag, the Town of Lunenburg is kindly permitting the Town of Mahone Bay to fly their civic flag to acknowledge German Settlers Day.
Join us on Friday, June 5 at 12:00 p.m. as we raise this flag.
