Autumn is an important time of year for Cape Breton, which is known as the fall colours capital of the Maritimes. Destination Cape Breton CEO Terry Smith says this year’s colours should be a beautiful display as there haven’t been any significant wind events to bring the leaves down. “We’re really excited to see the array of colours that we have this year,” said Smith. “I was just on the western side, sort of south, sort of like Inverness on down, and the colours are just starting to come in.” During the peak of the fall season, the Island hosts the Celtic Colours International Festival, which is scheduled to run from Oct. 9 to 17. “If anyone hasn’t checked it out, I encourage you to do so. And you know, right through the end of October, we’re going to have beautiful fall colours,” said Smith. Other events on the fall schedule include this weekend’s Cabot Trail Writers Festival and the Cabot Trail Food Truck Rally. “We have, I believe it’s 19 food trucks that will be paced out all around the Cabot Trail,” said Smith. “It’s a wonderful event and it gets people to, you know, get that last bit of fall colors before they disappear.” After a busy tourism season this summer, Smith says there are still some rooms available for the fall. “(There was) a bit of a slow start in July, but when it clicked in, it really got busy and August was fantastic,” he said. “I think part of what made July a little bit slower was Americans were staying home. They had their 250th anniversary. So, they were a bit late in coming. But we were getting people from all across Canada. You know, you could see license plates from all over the United States and we’re hearing that more Europeans were coming as well.” A visitor was bitten by a coyote in the MacIntosh Brook area of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park Thursday. A coyote has since been killed, however it’s not clear if it was the same animal. Parks Canada says the animal was killed “after it repeatedly approached patrolling staff, indicating a loss of natural fear toward humans and behaviour consistent with food conditioning.” “It was an isolated incident and Parks Canada is just encouraging people to be safe when they’re walking on trails and carry a hiking stick. Don’t go alone, if you can avoid it. And, if you do encounter a coyote, you make yourself really big. You can throw rocks in their direction, that sort of thing,” said Smith. “And don’t feed the animals.” For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
