Dominion, Nova Scotia, is a charming unincorporated community nestled in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Located just west of the bustling center of Glace Bay, Dominion is a testament to the region's rich coal mining history. Founded in 1906, the community owes its name and existence to the Dominion Coal Company. Today, remnants of old mine workings still run under the town, a silent reminder of the time when coal was king.
In the 18th century, Dominion was part of a larger area known as L’Indienne, or "Lingan" in English. This area was home to fishermen and farmers from Acadia and the Basque Country of France and Spain. During the New England and British occupation of Louisbourg in the late 1740s, the area played a crucial role in the coal supply chain for the garrison at Louisbourg.
In 1748, the community at L’Indienne was destroyed when several inhabitants took the British Oath of Allegiance against their neighbors' wishes. By the 19th century, the community on the south side of Indian Bay became known as "Bridgeport," named after a descendant of one of the owners of Rundell, Bridge and Rundell, the English jewelry firm that formed the General Mining Association (G.M.A.) in 1827.
In 1906, the Town of Dominion was incorporated, and the area became known officially as Dominion and unofficially as Old Bridgeport. The General Mining Association opened a colliery at Dominion in 1830, which began as a drift mine in the cliff below the present St. Eugene's Parish Cemetery in Dominion. The mine was closed in 1849, but it was reopened by Henry Mitchell, an experienced miner and mine manager, in 1884. The mine was eventually sold to the Dominion Coal Company and operated as the Old Bridgeport Mine until it was closed in 1894.
By 1883, there was daily stage coach service between the Inter-Colonial Railway station at Sydney and the communities of Bridgeport (now Dominion), Little Glace Bay, Cow Bay, Lingan, and Louisburg. In 1886, two years after Henry Mitchell reopened the old GMA mine, his son and later first mayor of the Town of Dominion, became the first postmaster at Bridgeport Mines.
One of the highlights of Dominion, Nova Scotia, is the Dominion Beach Provincial Park. This beautiful park offers visitors a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the area and provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Whether you're a history buff or a nature lover, Dominion, Nova Scotia, has something to offer everyone.
