Have you met the ferryman?

Story and photos by DAVID SORCHER
Raised in Hebbville, Cory Lorman was well aware of what he was leaving behind when he relocated to the West Coast. A maritime engineer by family legacy, Cory applied to crew on the Bluenose and to join the Navy in 2007. When he received approval for both the Navy won out. “It was a full-time career while the Bluenose was just seasonal.”
The Navy bounced him back and forth between coasts, first to Victoria for training where he met his wife Cari, then back to Halifax. Cari followed, but Halifax didn’t really suit either of them, so they were happy when Cory was then stationed back in B.C. in the Submarine Corp. By then they had started a family. Daughter Ava was born in 2009 and son Rylan tw o years after. They began looking for places for their growing family to live, but everything out west was far too expensive.
“We looked at trailer homes on Vancouver Island that were practically sitting on top of each other for $350,000. And then you still pay monthly maintenance fees on top of that.”
In 2016 Cory transferred back to Halifax . They knew the city wasn’t for them, and since Cory would soon be leaving the Navy, he and Cari decided t o buy a house further afield in Middle LaHave.
“Cari wanted to stay in B.C., but she does now say that Lunenburg County is the next best thing to Vancouver Island,” Cory joked, “But for me it’s home.”
After leaving the Navy Cory landed a job a t the Lunenburg Foundry Shipyard. He quickly moved on to his current position as an engineer on the LaHave Ferry.
“I wanted to be on water. I could have gone into fishing or found a maritime job in Halifax, but I didn’t want the commute and we certainly didn’t want to live in the city. This is just the perfect job for me. On the water you get such great views and you talk to people all day. I’m my own boss and I get the run of the deck. When I landed this job it was like I won the lottery.”
“Sometimes I feel like a bartender. You know, people talk about their day and where they are going. If they are having a bad day, they might even share their troubles.”
So, next time you need some sage advice from a friendly face or you just want to save some travel time, enjoy the scenic LaHave River crossing and keep an eye out for Cory. Maybe he will be your ferryman