Scot's Bay, Nova Scotia

Scott's Bay, also spelled "Scots Bay", is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Kings County.

The debate on how to spell the name of this little seaside village is as old as the community. Settled in 1764, two stories have circulated in regards to the name, neither confirmed by first-hand records. Both stories agree that a ship ran aground in the area in 1763 and that the passengers wintered in the area with the aid of the local Mi'Kmaq people. One story has it that the area was named after a Captain Scott, which has some evidence including that there were records of a Captain Scott in the area at the time, that the original postmaster records indicate the area was named after Captain Scott, and the majority of deep-rooted residents support this spelling. Maps vary, with the oldest known maps recording the name variously as Scotchman's Bay, Scotsman Bay and Scotch Bay. The Church Map of 1872 has the water body labelled "Scots Bay" and the community as "Scott's Bay". The History of Kings County, attributes the name to a story of an ill-fated ship having been carrying Scottish settlers to the Advocate and Cape D'Or region. There were Scottish settlers in Advocate and Cape D'Or at the time. For this reason, the provincial government of Nova Scotia has supported "Scots Bay" as the official spelling. Recent research has suggested that the Scottish "settlers" were James Yuill and his son, natives of Glasgow, who were stranded in a winter storm while ferrying supplies to the struggling new settlement of Onslow in 1762-3.

Areas, such as Clam Cove and Davison Cove have been explored by archaeologists due to evidence of ancient Mi'Kmaq arrow head manufacturing sites. Many residents report finding arrowheads in their gardens.

The first European settlers worked mainly in the fishing, farming, logging and shipbuilding industries. An archaeological survey in 2004 documented 14 mills and three shipyards that operated at Scots Bay. At least 26 sailing vessels were produced at Scots Bay including 15 large square rigged ocean-going merchant ships. The last schooner to be built in the community was the three masted schooner Huntley in 1918. Farming, fishing, and logging are still active industries in Scott's/Scots Bay, with the addition of tourism.

Scott's/Scots Bay has become the center of local controversy in late 2013, when it was announced that an American company called Halcyon proposed to build a large-scale tidal power barrage from Cape Split to Baxter's Harbour. As early as 1916, companies have been documenting interest in harnessing the powerful forces of the tides at Scott's/Scots Bay.

The bestselling historical novel The Birth House by Ami McKay is set in this community, where McKay and her family currently reside.

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