The St. Ann's-Baddeck/Waipu Twinning Society was formed in 1990 "to foster cultural, industrial and friendly cooperation between St. Ann's-Baddeck, Nova Scotia and Waipu, New Zealand and to co-operate in any cultural, educational or other exchanges that exists between St. Ann's-Baddeck, Nova Scotia and Waipu, New Zealand".

Location:

The Twinning Society has a permanent home located at the Gaelic College in St. Ann's, Nova Scotia where some of the family histories are gathered and maintained and where there is an ever-increasing amount of historical information being on display.

Historical Background:

During the 1850's there was an migration of settlers from Nova Scotia to New Zealand. Along with the Rev. Norman McLeod, six ships left Nova Scotia between 1851 and 1859 carrying almost 900 persons to their new homeland.

The story of the migration of Rev. Norman McLeod is truly remarkable in the fact that he left Scotland for the new world, arrived at Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1817, left there and presumably bound for Ohio, arrived at St. Ann's on May 20, 1820. Then on October 28, 1851 he left St. Ann's on the "Margaret" bound for Adelaide, Australia. The second ship "Highland Lass" left Big Bras d'Or on May 17, 1852, also bound for Adelaide. Those people left Adelaide and arrived at New Zealand in 1853. The other ships "Gertrude", "Spray", "Breadalbane", and "Ellen Lewis" sailed directly to New Zealand.

Today, exchanges are now taking place involving many visitors from New Zealand, who are tracing their individual family origins, walking on their ancestors' land, and making and maintaining family relationships.

The local society although small in numbers are very active in the local history community.

The St. Ann's-Baddeck/Waipu Twinning Society is staffed by volunteer members.