Nine-year-old Aza Williard gets some tips from Deidre Kavanagh on her form on the “Try It” archery event at the Cranton Cross Road Community Centre in Margaree on Saturday.
January 21, 2026
-by Beverley Phillips
If you’re looking for an activity for the winter, but don’t like the cold, archery in Margaree may be just the thing.
The Bras d’Or Archers Association has returned to the Cranton Cross Road Community Centre for the winter, and on Saturday, they held a “Try It for a Toonie” event.
The archery program will run most Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. until April 11th. Due to events previously booked, they will not be there on January 24th, February 14th, or March 21st.
From May to October, they operate out of the Baddeck Curling Club with shoots three nights a week. As they use the curling club, they need to leave once the ice goes in. Three years ago, Lydia Babin of the community centre called and asked if they wanted to try it in their gym for the winter months. That first winter, over 100 people came out to try the sport.
Club president Adam Pemberton said they are grateful for facilities like these that help keep the club going.
Stephen Kerr is the secretary, treasurer, and founding member of the club. When he retired in 2013, he was looking for something to do and tried archery in Sydney. He enjoyed it, but there always seemed to be a storm on the night of their shoot, and he decided a club was needed on this side of the island. “I called a meeting about starting one,” he said, “and 14 people showed up with the equipment.”
And it’s been going ever since.
Archery has become part of the high-school physical education program, and Kerr says that there is a long list of proven benefits that go with it. Young people who engage in the sport gain not just strength, but are also more focused, have better attendance, and get better grades.
It’s also builds self-confidence. Kerr described a 13-year-old girl who came out to try the sport a few years ago. She was shy and had low self-esteem. As she participated in the program, her self-confidence grew and she earned a silver medal at the Mi’kmaw Summer Games. “Community sports can have such a positive influence on young people,” he said.
“It’s a great sport you can do for your whole life, from 7 to 107,” said Pemberton. “It’s a very safe sport that’s fun for the whole family, and fundamentals can be learned in a day.”
And while you can do it just for fun, you can also do it for competition. The club is proud of its Canadian champion, Sam Mehaan, who won three gold medals at the 2025 Canadian Outdoor Archery Championships in Lac la Biche, Alberta, this past summer.
The club had over 2,500, mostly tourists, through their doors last year, and it is looking to grow its membership. “It’s very satisfying. People think it’s hard, but with a little bit of instruction, they quickly pick it up. People are always excited for the first time they pop a balloon,” said Pemberton.
Local resident Wanda LeFort would agree with that assessment. She showed up with her own bow and arrows. She joined the club that first winter three years ago and fell in love with the sport. “It’s addicting,” she said.
For anyone wanting to try, the club provides all of the equipment, and they have a wide range of bow sizes. Due to insurance reasons, people are asked to join Archery Nova Scotia when they come out more than three times. Shoot fees are $7 for members and $12 for non-members. There is a discount for families of three or more. Cash or tap will be available for payment.
They are also looking to start a CanBow program which teaches young archers to become proficient in the sport. This will be dependent on expressed interest.
For more information, check out their Facebook page: Bras d’Or Archers Association | Baddeck.
