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Authority record
MacNeil, Michael
Person · 1959 - 2021

Michael MacNeil was born on July 13, 1959 to Michael B. McNeil and Rose Hawrylak in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Michael studied Upper Air Meteorology in Ottawa, Ontario at the Transport Canada training facility. His work took him to the far north and he was employed by the High Arctic Weather Stations in Mould Bay, Nunavut and Resolute, Nunavut, before working as a restaurant manager in Toronto, Ontario and at home in Cape Breton, where he operated a take-out canteen in Shenacadie, Nova Scotia. To end his career, he worked for Marine Atlantic, retiring in 2020. He died on February 15, 2021 at the Northside General Hospital in North Sydney, Nova Scotia.

MacNeil, Maxie
Person · 1927-2015

Malcolm Stephen (Maxie) MacNeil was a well-known and well-respected Gaelic singer from Highland Hill, Iona. His parents were Dan Angus and Katie (MacCormick) MacNeil. Maxie worked for many years in Sudbury, Ontario before returning to Highland Hill where he operated a saw mill. He was a long-time ember of the Iona Gaelic singers and performed at concerts and milling frolics all over Cape Breton and beyond.

MacNeil, Malcolm F.
Person · 1896-1971

Malcolm F. MacNeil was born ca. 1896 at Grand Narrows, Nova Scotia. He was orphaned at an early age and in his teens he moved to Boston, Mass. He married Margaret Andrews and had three children: Helen, Mary Lou, and Norman. He became a businessman and eventually was named chairman of Ark-Les Switch Corp. He became a trustee of Lawrence Academy in Groton, CT and was named to the board of governors of St. Francis Xavier University. Throughout his life he was involved in numerous philanthropic projects. He received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from St. F. X. University and was knighted in 1956 as a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher for his fundraising and charitable works. MacNeil died 1 December 1971.

MacNeil, Malcolm
Person · 1872-1912

Malcolm MacNeil (Calum ‘ic Iain ‘ic Chaluim ‘ic Iain ‘ic Eachainn ‘ic Iain Ruairidh Phìobaire) was born in Ironville in 1872. He was the son of John MacNeil of Ironville and Elizabeth MacNeil of Beaver Cove. On his father’s side he is a descendant of Iain Mac Ruairidh Phìobaire who immigrated to Nova Scotia from Barra in 1802, eventually securing land in Piper’s Cove. Iain’s grandson Calum first operated a grist mill in Shenacadie before selling it to his brother-in-law and moving to Ironville. This is why Malcolm MacNeil is sometimes referred to as Calum mac Iain ‘ic Caluim Mhóir a’Mhuileir.

MacNeil, John V.
Person · c1860 - ?

John V. MacNeil was born in Benacadie Glen to parents Donald and Catherine (Eòin) MacNeil. His paternal grandfather, Edward had immigrated to Cape Breton from the island of Sandray, south of Barra. After teaching school in the area for a few years, he took up the trade of carpentry, moving to Boston and later, Los Angeles. While in California, John V. got involved in real estate. He is said to have been so successful that he became a millionaire. Some of John V's songs were published in The History of Christmas Island.

MacNeil, John Dan
Person · 1909-1988

John Dan MacNeill, also known by his patronymic, "John Dan Nìll Mac na Bantraich" was born in Barra Glen to parents Neil H. and Mary MacNeil (née MacKenzie). He was regarded as a traditon-bearer, having a great repertoire of stories, songs and general information pertaining to Gaelic culture. He was also a fine fiddler. John Dan married Katherine "Mutsie" MacNeil and moved to Sydney where he worked most of his life as a carpenter. He was one of the founding members of the Gaelic Society of Cape Breton and campaigned tirelessly for the cause of the Gaelic language.

MacNeil, Jim Hughie
Person · 1890-1956

Jim Hughie MacNeil was born in Iona to parents Stephen MacNeil and Margaret MacDonald. He moved to Sydney as a young man where he worked as an accountant. In 1917 he married Elizabeth MacLean of Irish Cove. Jim Hughie was a very active member of the Scottish Catholic Society of Canada and kept in regular contact with prominent Gaels of Cape Breton.

MacNeil, James Charles
Person

"Jim Charlie" MacNeil was a native of the Red Islands district, an active member of the Scottish Catholic Society and an ardent worker for the preservation of the Gaelic language and culture.

MacNeil, James A.
Person · 1869-1939

The author of the work (who remains anonymous on the text) James MacNeil (1869-1939) known in Gaelic as Seumas Beag Dhòmhnuill Mhurchaidh, originally hailed Irish Vale. MacNeil was the producer of Teachdaire nan Gàidheal a Gaelic newspaper that ran from 1925-1935. He campaigned tirelessly for the development of literary resources in Gaelic and the inclusion of Gaelic as a subject in the school system.

MacNeil, Hector
Person

Hector had been working in Glasgow, Scotland when he notified the Laird of Barra that he could not support his family financially. The Laird offered him a plot of land if he would return to his native Barra. Hector returned but later left following an incident in which a neighbor stole a number of his chickens. Unhappy about Hector's leaving, the Laird would not write the character reference and he was forced to approach the Church of Scotland minister, Edmund MacQueen.
Hector sailed into Pictou in 1802 and travelled to Grand Narrows the next year where he would stake out land and raise a family.

MacMullin, Donald John
Person · 1889-

Donald John MacMullin was born in Glenmorrison in 1889. He was the son of Joe MacMullin of Glenmorrison and Mary MacDougall of North SIde Grand Mira.

MacMillan, James
Person

James MacMillan was born in 1915 in Sydney. He was employed at the Sydney Post Office for many years and was in the military service during World War II. Following his retirement from the Post Office, he was Curator at St. Patrick's Museum, Sydney, until his death in 1981.

Person · 1903-1978

Dr. Carleton Lamont (Monty) MacMillan was born in Goldboro, Guysborough County in April 1903 to William H. and Constance E. MacMillan (née Griffin). He had two sisters Netta Dillion (née MacMillan) and Olive. Dr. MacMillan married Ethelean Parker and they had two children, a son and namesake, Dr. Monty MacMillan Jr. and a daughter named Connie. Dr. MacMillan lived in Guysborough County from 1903-1919 when he moved to Sydney. After graduating from Sydney Academy, he went on to attend Acadia University for one year before continuing his education at Dalhousie Medical School where he graduated in 1928. After graduating, Dr. MacMillan did a brief stint in Rose Bay, Luneburg County before moving to Baddeck in 1928. It was in Baddeck that Dr. MacMillan set up his medical practice and worked as a county doctor from 1928-1966 when he was forced to retire due to health problems. He also served as the MLA for Victoria County from 1949-1967 and went 18 years undefeated. Dr. MacMillan published his only book in 1975 titled, “Memoirs of a Cape Breton Doctor”, where he discloses his experiences as a country physician in Baddeck for 38 years. Through his influence in 1949, the Victoria County Memorial Hospital was built. In 1973, Dr. MacMillan was awarded the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to the community of Baddeck. In 1977, he was awarded the senior membership in the Canadian Medical Association. He was officially honoured twice by the community of Baddeck who declared Dr. MacMillan Day where an official celebration was held. For his service as an MLA, the ferry that travelled between Grand Narrows and Iona was named, “C. Monty MacMillan”. The ferry was in service from ca.1971–1993 when it was replaced by the Barra Strait Bridge. He has been featured in a leading Canadian magazine as an outstanding example of the ideal country doctor. He was a past master of St. Marks Lodge No.35, AF and AM, chairman and life member of the Baddeck Public Library, a Rotarian, and a member of the Board of Trade and the Bras d’Or Yacht Club. On February 10th, 1978, Dr. MacMillan passed away at the Victoria County Memorial Hospital in Baddeck.

MacMaster, Buddy
Person · October 18, 1924 – August 20, 2014

Hugh Alan "Buddy" MacMaster, CM ONS (October 18, 1924 – August 20, 2014) was a Canadian fiddler. He performed and recorded both locally and internationally, and was regarded as an expert on the tradition and lore of Cape Breton fiddle music.

MacMaster was born in 1924 into a Gaelic-speaking home in Timmins, Ontario to John Duncan MacMaster and Sarah Agnes MacDonald MacMaster. The family was originally from Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, and in 1928 they returned to Cape Breton to settle in the town of Judique. MacMaster's father played the fiddle, but his mother sang to him from birth, lilting with a Gaelic inflection peculiar to the area.At an early age, MacMaster began to play the fiddle. At age 12, he had his first public performance at an amateur hour in Port Hood, Nova Scotia, and at age 14 he played his first professional gig at a square dance in the nearby town of Troy.

McMaster continued to play nights at square dances across Nova Scotia, while taking on a career as a station agent and telegrapher for the Canadian National Railway to support himself and his family. In 1943, he made his first radio broadcast from the town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1948. In the 1970s, he played regularly on CBC Television's Ceilidh show. After his retirement from the railroad in 1988, he went on to play full-time as a professional musician, often accompanied by piano. He continued to play music of mainly Scottish origin, supplemented with traditional Cape Breton and Nova Scotia tunes, and gained an international reputation, touring in Europe and the United States. He was one of the first Cape Breton fiddlers to be asked to teach in Scotland.

In 2005 he recorded an album with his niece, fiddler Natalie McMaster.

MacMaster married Marie Beaton in 1968. They have two children, Mary Elizabeth MacMaster MacInnis (also a musician) and Allan Gerard MacMaster. MacMaster's youngest sister, Betty Lou Beaton, is one of Cape Breton's finest pianists and is married to well-known fiddler and composer Kinnon Beaton. He is also the uncle of Natalie MacMaster, another Cape Breton fiddler who has toured extensively and gained an international following. His son, Allan, was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in October 2009, representing the electoral district of Inverness as a Progressive Conservative.

MacMaster died at his home in Judique, Nova Scotia on August 20, 2014. He was 89.

MacLeod, Rev. Gregory
Person · 1935-2017

Dr. Gregory Jerome MacLeod was born in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton on November 24, 1935. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He studied for the priesthood at Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax and was ordained a priest in 1961. He spent just over a year in parish ministry, first in Pictou County and then in Glace Bay. He first taught at Xavier Junior College, Sydney from 1962-1964 and was a professor of Philosophy at the University College of Cape Breton (now Cape Breton University) throughout his academic life and a priest of the Diocese of Antigonish. He retired Professor Emeritus from CBU in 2002. MacLeod held the position of Director for the Tompkins Institute For Human Values and Technology at CBU and spearheaded a diverse range of community economic initiatives. Dr. MacLeod passed away in Sydney, Nova Scotia on May 3, 2017.

MacLeod, Malcolm R.
Person

Malcolm R. MacLeod was from Sterling, Cape Breton where the MacLeod family homestead lay near the site of the famous Sterling Mine. For a time, he made his living selling cream separators and tombstones. In later life, Malcolm R. moved to Sydney.

MacLeod, Malcolm R.
Person · 1877-?

Malcolm Roderick MacLeod was born and raised in Sterling, near Framboise. He was the son of Roderick MacLeod of Framboise and Christina MacLeod of Grand River. He worked for many years as a salesman, selling cream separators and tombstones. Later in life, he moved into Sydney and found great popularity as a Gaelic singer, recording songs for the Celtic label. MacLeod was also a regular on Cotter's Saturday Night and winner of many of the recently Gaelic College Mods. After moving to industrial Cape Breton, MacLeod quickly began to acquire music produced in Scotland and adopted much of the Scottish Mod's classicized, Victorian style of performance that was popular in some Gaelic circles in the early 1900, especially in urban areas of Cape Breton. Gaels in rural Cape Breton, still for the most part, adhered to community and cultural aesthetics.
The following is a link to a picture of the cast of Cotter's Saturday Night. MacLeod is secod from the left in the back row: https://beatoninstitute.com/g957n

MacLeod, Malcolm Angus
Person

Malcolm Angus MacLeod was born in Birch Plain to Norman and Annie (Morrison) MacLeod. He married Annie Mae MacDermid and worked as a fisherman, farmer, and labourer, and was well known for being a Gaelic singer. He passed away in 1978.

MacLeod, Major C.I.N.
Person · c1910-1977

Major C.I.N. MacLeod was born in Dornie, Scotland. His father was the local schoolmaster and MacLeod himself was a graduate of Celtic Studies programs in Glasgow and Edinburgh. He emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1959 to act as an educator in Gaelic at St. Ann's Gaelic College but left when he discovered that no program had been established. He then took up the recently established post of Gaelic Adviser to the Nova Scotia Department of Education. His role in this position was to train Gaelic teachers and establish a form of curriculum that could be used in adult Gaelic language classes. He was hired to establish the department of Celtic Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in 1958, a position which he held until his death in 1977. While at the university, he cooperated with Helen Creighton in producing the book, Gaelic Songs IN Nova Scotia.

MacLeod, Allan
Person · 1928-2016

Allan MacLeod was born in New Boston, Catalone to parents Roderick and Louise (Wilberham) MacLeod. His father was considered a local tradition bearer from whom Allan would learn his songs and Gaelic language. His mother , a good step dancer, was a war bride from England. His paternal ancestors came from the isle of Lewis.
Allan was known for his spirited, driving style of singing and his willingness to share his skills with Gaelic learners.

MacLennan, Hugh
Person · 1850-1915

Hugh MacLennan was born in 1850 at River Denys, Nova Scotia. He moved to Port Hastings where he established a general store ca. 1882. He died in 1915.

MacLennan, Dan
Person

Dan MacLennan was a lawyer who practiced out of Port Hood, NS, between 1889-1940.

Maclellan, Lauchie
Person · Nov. 19, 1910 -

Lauchie MacLellan or "Lauchie Dan N." was a well known Gaelic tradition bearer and singer born and raised in the Dunvegan area of Inverness County, Cape Breton. A number of his songs and stories were collected by John Shaw, among others, and appear in the book 'Brigh an Orain; A Story in Every Song: The Stories and Songs of Lauchie MacLellan.' Aside from working his farm, MacLellan worked as a carpenter, as did his father and brothers. He was a skilled singer, learning his songs 'from knee to knee' from local singers and composers in his area.

MacLellan, Angus Y.
Person · 1878-1960

Angus Y. MacLellan was a Gaelic scholar and bard, born at Southwest Margaree in 1878. Most of his poetry was written during the period 1912-1946 when he operated the Margaree Island (Sea Wolf Island) lighthouse. MacLellan lived on the island for 50 years and had a large family The family raised a large number of sheep to supplement their income. MacLellan retired as light keeper on 10 July 1946. He was patronymically known as Aonghas Iain 'ic Iain 'ic Chaluim. His grandfather came from Morar, Scotland.

MacLellan, Angus
Person · 1882-1968

Angus MacLellan, Grand Mira, N.S, was the grandson of famed bard Dòmhnall Gobha and nephew to Vincent Maclellan, publisher of Failte Ceap Breatainn. Angus was a well respected tradition bearer and singer in the Grand Mira area and greater Cape Breton Gaelic communities.

MacLean, Peter
Person · 1921 - 2013

Born in Rear Christmas Island he was the son of the late John P. and Annie (Anna Mhìcheal Nìll Mhìcheil) MacInnis MacLean. Their home was one of the most notable cèilidh houses in that area of the country. Peter grew up in a household where Gaelic was the language of everyday life and in which Gaelic cultural expression in its many forms wove the fabric of social community interaction.
Peter worked as a carpenter starting in his teen years, learning the trade from craftsmen in the local community and going on to spend some 20 years working in the Boston area. During his stay in Boston, he was invited to join members of the North Shore Gaelic Singers to perform at the Newport Rhode Island Folk Festival, and at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

In addition to being a performer of rare ability, Peter was a mentor, a cultural icon, a friend and an inspiration to the many, many people who came to learn from him, novices and seasoned performers alike.

MacLean, Joseph Allan
Person · 1888-1982

Joe Allan was born to parents Rory MacLean and Flora Bryden, both of Rear Christmas Island. He and his brother remained on the family property until the early 1980s. Joe Allan worked as a blacksmith and amateur carpenter in Benacadie and Rear Christmas Island. Many Canadian and international folklorists have listed Joe Allan as one of the finest known Gaelic storytellers of his generation.

MacLean, John "Bàrd"
Person · 1787-1848

John "The Bard" MacLean was born in Caolas, Tiree to parents Allan MacLean and Margaret MacFadyn. As a young man he joined the army but did not enjoy service and returned to Tiree where he apprenticed and worked as a cobbler. He worked in Glasgow for a number of years before returning to Tiree, where he fell under the patronage of the Laird of Coll composing panegyric songs and publishing his along with other bards' compositions. Against the wishes of his Laird, MacLean was tempted to emigrate to by Immigration agents and advertisements. He came to Nova Scotia in the year 1819 and spent the first winter with friends in Merigomish. In the spring he began clearing land near James River in Antigonish County but eventually moved to Glen Bard in Pictou County where he died in 1848.

MacLean, Charles J.
Person · 1886-1947

Charles J. MacLean was born in Baddeck on October 15, 1886, to parents Michael C. and Effie (Nicholson). During World War 1, he served with the 25th Battalion CEF in England and France and earned the title of Sergeant. Upon return, he married and had five children. MacLean died on November 25, 1947.

MacLean, Annie
Person

Anna or Annie MacLean, née MacInnis, was born in Castle Bay, N.S. She married John P. Maclean of Rear Christmas Island, where they established a homestead. Their household became one of the best-known ceilidh houses of the area, hosting many visits with Gaelic song , stories and lore being shared and enjoyed. She conducted her life and raised her children in a thoroughly Gaelic environment, passing on songs and traditions to future generations. MacLean was conscious in her effort to maintain Gaelic song tradition. She collected song clippings from newspapers and pamphlets which she kept in a large cardboard box and eventually passed on to her son, Peter Jack MacLean.

MacKinnon, Stephen J.
Person

Stephen Joseph MacKinnon was a native of Beaver Cove and the son of author and teacher, Prof. Joseph D. MacKinnon. He worked as an Agricultural Representative in Antigonish and was deeply involved in the Antigonish Movement.

MacKinnon, Richard
Person

Dr. Richard MacKinnon has been researching, writing and teaching in the field of heritage and culture for over 25 years. A native Cape Bretoner, Dr. MacKinnon holds both a MA and Phd in Folklore from Memorial University, and his research focuses on Atlantic Canadian folklore, culture and heritage with a specialization in Cape Breton Studies. In 2006 Dr. MacKinnon was awarded the prestigious Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Intangible Cultural Heritage recognizing his influential work in folklore and long career. (http://culture.cbu.ca/ccbs/rmk/introduction.html)

Person · 1856-1941

Author of "Cumh' an t-Saighdeir Oig" and "The Gaelic Key" was Professor Joseph D. MacKinnon of Beaver Cove. Joseph was a school teacher and attended the School of Agriculture in Truro. His composition concerns the death of his son, Malcolm John in France during WWI. Joseph's other son, Stephen Joseph went on to teach agriculture at St. Francis Xavier University. He was deeply involved in the Antigonish Movement.

Mackinnon, Michael J.
Person · 1905-1959

Monsignor Michael Mackinnon was born in Sydney Mines in 1905 and ordained in 1930. Following service in a number of parishes in Cape Breton, he was appointed Director of the St. F.X. University Extension Department in 1952. He was Executive Vice-President of the University at the time of his death in 1959.

MacKinnon, Mary Jane
Person

A music teacher out of her home, Mary Jane played violin, piano, and mandolin.

MacKinnon, Kathleen Lamont
Person

Kathleen Lamont MacKinnon was a native of Oban, Scotland. After earning a Masters of Arts in Celtic Studies form the University of Aberdeen she moved to Antigonish to study the Gaelic tradition in Nova Scotia under the tutelage of C. I. N. MacLeod. She toured Cape Breton extensively, recording Gaelic songs and stories. She also worked in collaboration with Sr. Margaret Beaton with the Cape-bretoniana collection, drawing up a sort of inventory of holdings. She returned to Scotland but no further information about her seems to be available. The songs and stories she collected were used by future collectors such as John Shaw and Sr. Margaret MacDonnell.

MacKinnon, Jonathan Gillis
Person · 1869-1944

Jonathan Gillis MacKinnon was born at Dunakin, near the village of Whycocomagh in 1869. He was a pioneer in the translation into Gaelic of such English works as Robinson Crusoe and Arabian Nights. He founded the Gaelic newspaper, MacTalla, in Sydney in 1892. MacTalla carried local and world news, as well as Sgeulachdan, history, proverbs, Greek mythology and a wide range of interesting correspondence. The paper ran for 12 years. In 1928 he launched a monthly magazine, Fear Na Ceilidh which he continued for two years. In his early school days, he edited the Sydney Academy Record; his later career was as Registrar of Voters and Clerk of the Sydney Civil Court. The book Old Sydney, a history of the early days in Sydney, was published in 1918. Mr. MacKinnon died in 1944.

MacKinnon, John Alexander
Person · 1886-1941

John Alexander MacKinnon, born 1886, of Beaver Cove, Cape Breton was a farmer who showed a strong interest in his family, in the church and in the surrounding communities. A member of the 94th Argyle Highlanders militia group, MacKinnon enlisted with the 185th Battalion, Cape Breton Highlanders, on May 9, 1916. He died March 21, 1941.

MacKinnon, John A.
Person

John A. MacKinnon was a resident of Sydney, Nova Scotia. On 23 November 1920 he married Christine MacDonald. MacKinnon had a personal interest in mining, especially in the Maple Brook area of Inverness County, where he owned land. He also held a permit allowing him to excavate for coal on his property. MacKinnon was a member of the St. Patrick's Branch League of the Cross and the Sydney Terminal Safety Committee.

MacKinnon, J. J.
Person · 1890-1973

John James, better known as "J.J." MacKinnon was born in Lewis Bay West, a small community west of Grand Mira. His parents were Sarah/Catherine Gillis and Captain Angus MacKinnon. J.J. had many talents. He was a Gaelic playwright, singer, fiddler and traditional self-taught bagpiper. His younger sister Margaret was married to the famed French Road piper Joe Hughie MacIntyre and their son, Danny would himself go on to become a well-respected piper. J.J himself married Mary Ann MacInnis of Catlebay
Greatly involved with the St. Kentigern Branch of the Scottish Catholic Society of Canada, J.J. joined the Society after moving to Sydney and was employed as auditor of with the Co-operative. He quickly took up the position of secretary within the society, a role which he held for many years. He authored a play "Mar a Fhuair Seumas Eachainn Bean" (GPLAY45), signing the work with his patronymic, "Iain mac Aonghuis 'ic Iain 'ic Sheumais 'ic Lachlainn 'ic Aonghuis Ruaidh".
MacKinnon taught piping at the Gaelic College during the 1940s and remained active in Gaelic societies until his death in the 70s. He can be heard singing at T-0354.

MacKinnon, Hugh Allen
Person · TBD

Hugh Allan MacKinnon was a medic who was present at Dieppe, after the raid carried out on August 19th 1942. He was a resident of Sydney and lived on 25 Styles Lane.

MacKinnon, Ewen
Person · 1882-1949

Ewen MacKinnon, otherwise known as "Bodach a'Bhidse" was a native of Dunvegan in Skye. Early in the 20th century, he and his daughter sailed in his own boat across the Atlantic and up the Bras d'Or, eventually pulling ashore on Jimmy Gillis Beach in Jamesville. His daughter soon went her own way and Ewen built a small hut on the beach in which he would live the rest of his days. Many stories abound in the community to this day, mostly surrounding his eccentricity but MacKinnon was also well respected as a bard and a singer. He would sell his songs for a small price and visit local residences to sing. One of his songs was sent to the Casket for publication in the Gaelic column. Unfortunately, his life was ended abruptly in 1949 when he was struck by the train. Being a lifelong Presbyterian, he was buried in the cemetery at Little Narrows where the congregants banded together to give him a grave stone. A photo of the grave stone can be found here: http://www.cbgen.org/sites/default/files/Inverness/LittleNarrows124.JPG

MacKinnon, Annabelle
Person · 1878 - 1980

Annabelle MacKinnon (née Gillis) was born and raised in Gillis Lake, Cape Breton County, N.S. She married Archibald MacKinnon of Boulardrie and they settled in Frenchvale. She eventually moved into the Prime Brook (Alexandra St.) area of Sydney, N.S. Annabelle was extremely knowledgeable of the genealogy and history of the Gillis Lake, and surrounding areas. She was a native speaker and maintained that she was much more proficient in her native tongue than her learned English. She had a formidable memory stretching back to the Old Country through stories told be her Grandmother, an emigrant from Uist, Scotland.

MacKinnon, Alexander Hugh
Person · 1905-1973

Alexander Hugh MacKinnon was born at Inverness, N.S. in 1905. He was admitted to the bar in 1929. In 1940 he was elected to the Nova Scotia Legislature and held his seat until 1953. During that time he held the positions of Minister of Health, Mines and Labour. Throughout his career he had a particular interest in labour law and produced a significant report on labour in the early 1960s. In 1968 he was appointed Chief Justice of Nova Scotia and held the position until his death in 1973.

MacKenzie, May (Mary) Ann
Person · 1902-1956

Mary Ann (or May Ann as she was known) was born in Barra Glen in 1902 to parents Roderick S. MacNeil and Sarah Campbell. She was a frequent participant in milling frolics and met her future husband at a competition in which he acted as judge. May Ann married Hugh Francis MacKenzie of Rear Christmas Island in 1939. They spent the first years of their marriage in Sydney while Hugh raised money to move back to his home parish. They built a home in Grand Narrows and had a son, Archie Sheumais. Unfortunately, their son passed away from tuberculosis at the age of six. May Ann herself died of a sudden illness in 1956.

MacKenzie, Joseph F.
Person · c1910 - ?

Joseph MacKenzie was born in Rear Christmas Island to parents Alex Joseph and Maggie Catherine MacNeil. He moved to Boston as a young man where he met and married Mary MacKenzie MacLean, originally of Washabuck. Joseph served many years as president of the Cape Breton Gaelic club. He and his wife later retired to Waltham, Massachusetts.

MacKenzie, Joe
Person

Joe MacKenzie was born Rear Christmas Island, the son of Alex Joseph and Maggie Catherine (MacNeil) MacKenzie. He married Margaret MacLean of Washabuck and settled in Waltham, Massachusetts. He was president of the Gaelic Society of Boston for a number of years.

MacKenzie, Hugh Francis
Person · 1895-1971

"Hughie" MacKenzie was born in 1895 in Rear Christmas Island, Cape Breton. The "seanachaidh" of the Gaelic Society of Cape Breton, he taught classes in the Gaelic language and had a weekly Gaelic radio program at the time of his death in Sydney in 1971. In addition to his fluency in Gaelic, he played the bagpipes and violin, as well as composing many Gaelic songs. He was the son of the bard Archie Sheumais MacKenzie and brother to Archie Alex MacKenzie.

MacKenzie, Harold W.
Person · 1895-

Harold W. MacKenzie (known usually as Harry) was born at Beaverton, Ontario in 1895. Between 1902 and 1913 he attended public schools at Beaverton. In 1913 he joined a survey crew in Cornwall. In 1916 MacKenzie joined the army and served with the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Royal Troops in France during World War I. Following the war he was employed working on the Welland Canal until 1925 when he removed to the Maritimes where he supervised the dredging of numerous harbours, building of the Dartmouth Ferry Docks, and other construction projects. In 1951 he was appointed Resident Engineer for the Canso Causeway project. He held this position until 1957, when the navigation lock and swing bridge portion of the project was completed.

MacKenzie, Donald J.
Person · 1895-?

Donald J. MacKenzie was born at Milton, N.S. in 1895. He received his early education in Glace Bay and later at Sydney Academy. He studied medicine at Dalhousie University and graduated in 1918. From 1918 to 1920 he served with the R.C.A.M.C. In 1920 he established a general practice at Louisbourg. In 1921 he received the Rockerfeller International Scholarship and studied at John Hopkins and McGill Universities from 1921-1922. From 1922 to 1926 he taught bacteriology and pathology at Dalhousie University. He was appointed director of the Public Health Laborotory, a position he held from 1926-1962. Throughout his career in was involved in numerous professional organizations, including the Halifax Medical Society and the Royal College of Physicians. He retired to Mira Gut in 1962.

MacKenzie, Daniel Duncan
Person · 1859-1927

Daniel Duncan MacKenzie was born in 1859 at Lake Ainslie, N.S., the son of Duncan and Jessie (MacMillan) MacKenzie. MacKenzie made his home at 104 Queen Street, North Sydney. He married Florence MacDonald of Sydney Mines for whom the village of Florence, Cape Breton was named. He was admitted to the Nova Scotia Bar, and, in 1908 was made King’s Counsel. He was a member of the legal firm of Murray and MacKenzie, and, later, of MacKenzie and MacMillan. He entered politics as a Liberal and was MLA for Cape Breton North, 1900-1904, and an M.P. for Cape Breton North-Victoria, 1904-1906 and 1908-1922. In 1919, at the death of Sir Wilfred Laurier, he was chosen House Leader for the Liberal opposition. He was Solicitor-General in the King administration from 1921 to 1923 until he was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. While still a Judge, he died in Halifax on June 9, 1927 and is buried at Lakeside Cemetery in North Sydney.