Evans Island

Nine years ago Torus Country Lands purchased Evans Island –a four hundred and forty-two acre property located in Bras D’Or Lake, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Although mainly undeveloped, the island at that time could be explored, on foot, using a very deteriorated bridge from the mainland and an overgrown roadway leading to a deserted shelter near the island’s centre.

It is a very attractive parcel, not only because of its size and eight miles of lakefrontage but also its many other attributes.

Firstly, its location – just ten miles northeast of the popular town of St. Peter's, where ocean going craft can enter the salt water of Bras D’Or Lake through a long established lock system. Secondly, the lake - one of the largest inland seas in the world, offers over six hundred miles of shoreline and has a tide of only one to two feet. Some of the finest sailing in the world takes place in these waters.

Thirdly, it offers deep-water anchorage, sheltered bays, fresh-water brooks and a number of sand beaches. Well forested with spruce, white birch, fir and pine, its rolling hills offer scenic views in all directions. It is populated with white tailed deer, ruffled grouse, rabbits and numerous bald eagles. There are plenty of ducks – including blue wing teals, golden-eye whistlers, mergansers, etc. All sorts of fishing, both winter and summer (it’s a known haven for brown trout) wild mussels and oysters all along its shores. Excellent kayaking and driftwood galore. Truly, the “Jewel of Bras D’Or!”

Immediately after purchase of the island, Torus bought all rights to the old bridge and island roadway from the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Communications. Once this had been completed, a “Quieting of Title” action was initiated through the Nova Scotia Supreme Court to make sure that there were no outstanding claims against the property. To do this, a full survey of the island’s perimeter had to be obtained and submitted. This was done and a few months later, the Company received an “Absolute Title” document from the Court.

The following year, we asked our surveyors to prepare a plan of subdivision of the property into “estate lots”. They were instructed “not to make as many lots as possible but taking all facets of the island’s character into account, lay out sensible acreages – using your thirty years of survey experience”. This resulted in Plan #95012 which shows 126 lots (an average of 3.5 acres per lot) of which 110 are waterfront. This was submitted to the County Planning Commission and “Tentative Approval” or approval in principal was subsequently received. This does not mean that the island must be broken up in this fashion nor does it mean Torus or any new owner of the island is committed in any way. It was only entered into to show what could be done with the property and we, or the new owner, can still submit any new plan for approval – whether it be commercial or residential development – a mixture of both or just leave it as a private holding.

Meanwhile, Torus filed application with both the Federal and Provincial governments for permission to remove the old bridge totally and build a new one to the island. This turned into a very lengthy procedure – especially since all ecological concerns had to be fully addressed. Eventually in mid-2000, we received all the necessary approvals and the new bridge was completed on November 30, 2001.

$4,900,000.00 Canadian (including one time government H.S.T. tax)

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