Organizer: Paul Bottomley (Event Director)

This will be Barebones style event, meaning the approach will be casual in order to minimize the amount of volunteer capacity required, while still providing an enjoyable event for orienteers.

The Schedule:

10:00 Registration Opens

10:15 Beginner Clinic (if required)

10:45 Safety Brief

11:00 (Mass Start)

TBD Course Time Limit

Start will be nearby the registration table.

The Venue:

Named for the Shubenacadie Canal, Shubie Park is a 40-acre (160,000 m²) urban park in Dartmouth maintained by Halifax Regional Municipality. The park is nestled between Lake Micmac and Lake Charles, with beaches at both lakes.

Shubie Park Trails - Tourism Nova Scotia

The Courses:

Score O

This event will have a Mass Start and Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner classes.

• Participants will be given their maps at registration. Any time between when you register and the start is available to review the map and plan strategy.
• Competitors enter the course with a Mass Start at 11:00am.
• For a Score O event a series of control points are scattered across a map. Each control point on the map will have a value ranging from 10 to 30 points. Point value varies with difficulty. Most points in the fastest time wins.
• All controls will be open to Advanced competitors. The Beginner and Intermediate maps will be limited only in that a smaller series of the same controls will be presented.
• There will be a time limit to complete the course.
• Distances given below are an estimate only and will vary due to the nature of the event.
• Beginner participants will typically follow marked and easy to follow trails to controls on or near trail for the easiest navigation and shortest distance to cover. Basic map following required. The beginner map will be limited in that controls further from trail or in more difficult terrain will be omitted. 2km.
• Intermediate participants, will exercise route choice along trails while also using map features and basic compass skills to, typically, find controls located on or just off trails with typically clear features nearby that ease navigation. 3km.
• Advanced participants will tackle the entire map on trail and off, following longer route choices through more difficult terrain, streams forests and all; good navigation skills required. 6km.
• A beginner’s clinic may be offered. Let us know via a message to the email address below if you are interested, and we can provide some form of instruction, if not a formal clinic. Please check-in at 10am if you require instruction.

Registration:

Prior to participating in an event, all participants must have completed the one time Orienteering NS registration form and the Orienteering Canada waiver as part of registration process.

Registering for courses, and completion of waivers are all completed at a separate registration site accessed through the registration button on this page.

Please ensure you register via the link on this page by midnight THURSDAY, Jul 2 to ensure a map is printed for you. On-site check-in will take place on site from 10:00 to 10:45 am.

Last minute registration: This can be done on site, but we typically only have a few extra maps; because we didn’t know you were coming. Also, pre-registration allows the on-site details to move more quickly.

Questions:

(some may be answered below)

To Paul at nsorienteering@gmail.com

Directions:

Event is in Shubie Park along the Shubenacadie Canal in Dartmouth. Registration and Start Finish will be at the pinned location shown in the map below.

VOLUNTEERS would be appreciated for a few tasks associated with the event (e.g. Beginner clinic, registration, control pickup). Please see here to sign up.

Snacks:

A small post race treat will be available, but participants should bring their own water if needed. A small canteen is often open (and busy) adjacent to the registration area.

Parking:

Parking will be at the lot next to the Fairbanks Center, see pinned location below.

Washrooms:

There is a public washroom facility at the parking lot.

Weather:

We run rain, snow or shine. Local thunder will typically be accommodated by a short delay. That said any weather involving a Hurricane or Tropical Storm coming straight over will result in a reschedule.

Entry Fees:

The following are the fees for this event* (pre-registered), add $5 for day-of registrations:

$15 per adult (21+) participating as an individual or as a team member

$8 per youth (7-20) participating as an individual or as a team member

Children under 7 participate free

*If you are registering four or more family/household members at the same time (including at least one adult), please use the discount code FAMILY_2026 at checkout to receive a discount.

How to Pay:

In advance (preferred):

• By credit card as part of the registration process
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to the following email: nsorienteering@gmail.com
  • If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_EFT_2026 so that you appear on our registration list.

In person:

• In cash; a payment container will be available. Please bring correct change.
  • If you choose this method, complete the online registration process. At checkout, please enter the following coupon code: PAY_CASH_2026 so that you appear on our registration list.

Note: all of the above is restated in the registration process.

Need Orienteering Kit before the event?

Visit the O-Store!

Location