Mayor Laurence Mawhinney told council last week that fact was confirmed during recent discussions he had with Nova Scotia Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Percy Paris and his deputy, Kelliann Dean.
"Minister Paris confirmed that the restoration project for Bluenose II would be carried out in Lunenburg, and my understanding is that they are currently taking a look at prospective sites along the waterfront and that they have engaged a firm to assist them as they move through this process," he said. "They have not indicated to me any preference for any particular area. They've asked that all possible sites be reviewed as I understand it and that process is probably ongoing."
Michael Noonan, director of communications for the department had originally said in September that while Lunenburg was the favoured site for the restoration, the final venue for the work would not be decided until a tender for the construction was awarded in the new year.
That raised the possibility that the work could be carried out elsewhere, something which has apparently now changed.
"I don't think it's any great secret that the intention would be for this to happen in Lunenburg," Mr. Noonan said last week. "In terms of where, like a site location … we're not at that stage yet. More will be announced as we move through the process."
Mr. Noonan said plans are still in place to have the restoration begin sometime this spring, with tenders being called over the next several months soliciting companies to bid on the actual work, something "that will help to advance the process of site selection."
With regard to the fate of the ship's full-time crew members, he said funding that the province provides each year to the Lunenburg Marine Museum Society for operation of the ship will continue even though she will not be sailing next summer.
"It's important to have crew around as they have a fairly detailed knowledge of the ship. They can play a very important consultation process as we go through the construction phase," he said, adding the continuation of operational funding during the restoration period "will ensure the crew are taken care of as well, during the process."