About

The Canton of Distant Shores is part of the Barony of Ruantallan, East Kingdom. We stretch from Amherst, Nova Scotia west to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and South through Truro, Nova Scotia; Cumberland, Colchester, and Pictou Counties inclusive.

More About Who We Are, by HL Wynfrið æt Huntandune

WHO WE ARE

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a nonprofit, educational organization devoted to the study of life in the Middle Ages between 500 and 1600 A.D. This is accomplished through the re-creation of various aspects of Medieval life with emphasis on the nobility and upper class societies throughout Europe and the British Isles, as well as travellers from the Middle and Far East.

The organization was established in 1966 and has grown to include thousands of members throughout the United States and Canada as well as in Europe and other countries around the world. The SCA, along with other enactment groups, has exhibited spectacular growth in recent years as people discover the excitement and fun of learning about their cultural heritage by re-creating life in the past.

WHAT WE DO

The SCA is dedicated to the study and re-creation of the arts, sciences and customs of the Middle Ages. Members of the organization attempt to recreate the more pleasant aspects of Medieval life – the days of knights in armour, splendid feasts, chivalry, courtesy and honour. Some of the many activities involved with the SCA include archery, costuming, leatherwork, embroidery, calligraphy, cooking, fencing, armoured combat, music, dancing, and heraldry.

Two of the more visible activities in the SCA include combat and archery. Fighting involves trained opponents, clad in medieval armour, using blunt weapons made of rattan and dense foam, or with steel weapons in a form called Rapier. Combat is very carefully controlled to ensure the safety of all participants and each individual must complete training in one or more type of weapons. Fighters engage in 1 on 1 tournament bouts, team melees and ‘friendly’ battles which almost always form part of the activities at any organized events.

Archery also forms an important part of many society events and is also strictly controlled to ensure safety. SCA archery uses traditional style equipment that is very similar to that used during the Middle Ages. Arrows have wooden shafts and feather fletching, and the bows are standard recurves or longbows without counterweights or sights.

The majority of activities in the SCA are focused around events where members gather in period ‘garb’. Members will assume a ‘persona’ of a lord or lady who could have existed at some period during the Middle Ages and will come to events wearing representative clothing they made themselves. A typical event might include a fighting tourney, fencing, archery, an Arts and Sciences competition, bardic performances, early period dancing, and the reenactment of a Medieval ‘court’. In addition, one of the highlights of almost all events is sitting down to a medieval style feast of several courses that is prepared by skilled cooks.

This is only a brief overview of the activities that are a part of the SCA. Follow the links for a more detailed description of the various aspects of the Society – or feel free to contact any of the officers for additional information.