Showing 1765 results

Authority record
Abbass Studios Ltd.
Abbass · Corporate body · 1946-Present

The Abbass family emigrated from Lebanon to Cape Breton at the turn of the 20th century. With his wife, Lilly Khattar, Jobe Abbass built a home on Townsend Street in Sydney, N.S. and together raised twelve children. It is in this building that three of those children, George, John and Anthony started Abbass Studios in the summer of 1946.

While still in high school at Sydney Academy, George took a job as an apprentice at Meyer’s Photography, a national chain. In 1941, after graduating from high school, his brother John also secured a job with Meyers where they both learned the craft of photography. Eventually they began private work contracting jobs with the Post Record and Chronicle Herald newspapers. In January of 1943 four of the Abbass boys, George, John, Joe and Ferris, enlisted to serve during World War II. They left their younger brother Anthony (Tony), who was too young to enlist, in charge of their Post and Herald contracts. When the brothers returned from war, they received a stipend from the government to open their own business.

Abbass Studios opened its doors July 18, 1946 in the family home on Townsend Street in Sydney, N.S. . The studio offered photo finishing, portraits and commercial photography. By the mid-1960s Abbass Studio served all of the Maritime Provinces. The company built a photo finishing plant in Moncton, New Brunswick and purchased stores in New Castle, New Brunswick. The brothers eventually brought the Econo-Color Camera Stores and Studios franchise from Sherman Hines.

Abbass Studios captured and continues to document the diverse economic, political and cultural heritage of the area. The business is still in family hands and run by John’s sons Blaise and John. The Townsend Street building was demolished in 2014 and Blaise Abbass now operates Abbass Studios, Sydney from his home. John Abbass runs the store at Scotia Square Mall in Halifax.

Rev. Ronald MacGillivray
Antigonish · Person · 1947

Father MacGillivray (1835-1892) had been a parish priest at St. Joseph’s and Principal of the Grammar School at St. Andrew’s (both in Antigonish County) before he was appointed Parish Priest at Arisaig in 1885. In 1890, Rev. Dr. Neil MacNeil, Editor of the Casket, asked Father MacGillivray to write a history of Antigonish County. Printed as a series of articles under the pen name “S.A.” [Sargart Arisaig], it ran from 1890 until Father MacGillivray drowned in 1892.

Parker, Lewis
Canada · Person · 1984-1986

Lewis Parker of Toronto taught at Humber College. He is past President of the Canadian Society of Book Illustrators. Lastly, he was commissioned by Parks Canada to do murals for the Fortress of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia and Fort Beausejour, New Brunswick.

Centre Bras d'Or
Cape Breton · Corporate body · 1985-1993

Centre Bras d'Or Association was formed to develop in Cape Breton an environment in which artists, craftspeople, performers, critics, scholars and others could exchange all aspects of their work with one another, with the community at large and with visitors so as to reveal and enhance the natural strengths and the diversity of environment landscape, cultural heritage and creativity for the Island to the cultural and economic benefit of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Centre Bras d'Or was inspired by the example of the Banff Centre which brings artists of various disciplines together in a physically beautiful setting. Initially, they set out to seize public attention by mounting an ambitious summer festival of the Arts: 14 days of music, literary readings, weaving, exhibits, dance & theater. The first Festival attracted 4200 people. The vigor and vision of the founding group has brought the Centre a remarkable range of support ranging from Gov't of Canada (Canada Council), Dept. of Employment & Communications, DEVCO, Gov't of Nova Scotia (Dept. of Culture & Development) as well as major national firms and local organizations.

A. D. MacNeill
Cape Breton · Person · 1880 – 1891

Alexander Donald MacNeil, (1867-1892) was born in Orangedale, Cape Breton. He was the son of the late James & Julia (MaxQuarrie) MacNeill. He received his early education in a one-room Orangedale school, attended Sydney Academy where he received a medal for excellence in literature and began writing poetry. He attended Queens University in Kingston, Ont. His education was interrupted when his mother died (1884) and while returning home he and his brother were caught in a snowstorm. He subsequently got a cold and later contracted Tuberculosis and died at age 25.

Cape Breton · Corporate body · 1993

At a conference held in Prince Edward Island entitled "An Island Living" where the exchange of many "Island" experiences took place, it was discussed that Cape Breton had no political autonomy and the only Island not to have its own flag. Finding this a challenge, the editors of the Cape Bretoner magazine joined forces with ATV Cape Breton, CJCB/K94, City Printers and the Lyceum Heritage Society to launch a "Great Cape Breton Flag" contest on Heritage Day, February 15. The contest turned out to be an overwhelming success with over 2,000 entries submitted. These have been compiled in binders along with the winning entry by Kelly Gooding of Sydney Mines.

Fitzgerald, Winston "Scotty"
Cape Breton Fiddler · Person · 1914-1987

Winston "Scotty" Fitzgerald was a well-known Cape Breton fiddler. He began playing the violin at square dances and community socials. He later joined the Maritime Merrymakers and the Cape Breton Serenaders who performed regularly on CHNS, Halifax. Fitzgerald toured the Maritimes for three years with Hank Snow and during WW2, he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army. Following the war, his band, Winston Fitzgerald and his Radio Entertainers, were heard on CJCB Radio for years. His career spanned a 60-year period and his music influenced many local artists. Fitzgerald recorded several albums and performed on many television shows, as well as making public appearances throughout the Maritimes and New England States.

Jack Silburt
Cape Breton Post · Person · 1940 - 1950

Jack Silburt was a Cartoonist who worked for the Sydney Post Record (now Cape Breton Post) during the late 1940s and early 1950s. His son Alan Silburt submitted these photocopies of his sketches in 1995.

Carter, Thomas Dr.
MG 21.39 · Person · 1957-

Thomas Carter was born in 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Carter studied History at Brown University in Rhode Island, and continued his education at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill and Indiana University where he completed graduate work in Folklore. Dr. Carter's interest in folk music and ethnomusicology led to completing fieldwork in Nova Scotia. In 1970, Carter and his friend Hal Cannon, traveled to Inverness County, Cape Breton and connected with the Beaton family through Isabelle Kennedy, a nurse from the area. Dr. Carter later shifted his area of study and teaching to vernacular architecture, focusing on building traditions of Utah’s Mormon population, and filled the role of Building Historian for the State of Utah. Professor Carter retired in 2010 from full-time teaching, but continues to research and publish.

Kerner, Sid
New York · Person · 1976

Sid Kerner was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1920. As a young man of 17 joined a Photo League where, with other photographers, attempted to reflect the times they lived in and to document what was wrong as well as what was good about our society. He also studied Modern Dance and was associated with a Theater/Dance group appearing on TV in 1939. During World War II, he served with the 28th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in the Pacific winding up on Okinawa. After the war, he became a documentary film camera operator. In 1953, he worked at NBC-TV as a lighting director and with the advent of videotape, left and joined ABC-TV again as a lighting director. He retired in 1991 though after retirement was an active worker on a photographic series entitled "Chelsea Document." He also taught two classes of photography in the local community centre in Chelsea, New York.

Harry A. Archibald
Nova Scotia · Person · 1940-1950

Harry A. Archibald was a local businessperson who operated a Taxi stand in North Sydney during the 1950's. Archibald also wrote and collected poetry. Local Poems & Old Come-All-Ye Songs - the Shores of Pottles Lake and others was a published book which sold for 50 cents. Mr. Archibald also advertised his business in prose form in various media articles.

RJW · Corporate body · 1765-2006

Robin, Jones and Whitman Ltd., originally known as The Robin, Pipon Company,was established in 1765 at Arichat, Nova Scotia by John Robin of Jersey, England. With his brother Charles, John obtained the grant for the southwest half of Cheticamp Island, then secured the rest of the island shortly after establishing a second trading post there in 1767, known as La Pointe. It was here that the truck system of credit came into use in Cape Breton, as the Robins gave some fishermen goods on credit which would be paid off the next year in fish.

Manpower was one of the major issues that the Robins encountered as they worked to establish their trading posts, and so they made steps to increase the permanent population of the area. By 1774, the business was being handled by two separate companies; the Robin, Pipon Company was operating out of Gaspe while Robin and Company was operating out of Cape Breton. The three Robin brothers, John, Charles, and Philip, each had equal shares in the two firms and they were very prosperous.

The American War of Independence in 1776, however, would almost bankrupt the company. The Gut of Canso was raided by the notorious American naval officer, John Paul Jones, and the Robins had a great deal of capital invested in their ships which were not armed and thus easily captured by Jones. The loss of the ships' cargoes was equally unfortunate, especially because, due to the fact that attacks happened on land and not sea, only one third of the loss was covered by insurance.

Jones had not touched any of the Robin buildings or shallops at Arichat, however, and the company resumed its operations again in 1777, sending out new ships with the guaranteed protection of the Royal Navy. The Robins had suffered great loss but were able to maintain their establishments in North America due to their investment in one of the most successful privateering ships of the war, the Sprightly, which captured a prize worth 35,000 pounds.

In the 1780s, Robin and Company was renamed the Philip Robin Company (PRC) with Philip, John, Charles and an outside investor, John Fiott, each holding one-quarter shares in the company. The day to day operations of the company were put in the hands of an agent on Cape Breton Island.

During the 1870s, the small fishing and trading establishments at Arichat and Cheticamp merged with the Charles Robin Company in Gaspé. By 1877 they reported having 15 posts in three provinces exporting a combined 90 000 to 100 000 quintals of fish every year. In addition, the company owned 14 sea-going vessels, and directly employed over 200 men. At that time, Charles Robin Company was directed by Raulin Robin (Naples) who owned 63% of the company. In January 1886, however, the Jersey Banking Company failed and the Robin family was forced into liquidation. As a result, the Robins ceased honouring their credit obligations in Gaspé, causing great distress among the fishing population dependent upon them. The crisis was resolved when three Jersey men agreed to take over the firm and meet all of its debts and obligations. On March, 1886 the Robin family terminated its involvement with the company founded over 120 years earlier.

The Company, then under the management of Elias Collas, became limited as Charles Robin Collas and Company. The new proprietors carried on the business as before. In 1910, however, Collas and his partners sold out of Nova Scotian interests and the firm underwent another name change, becoming Robin, Jones, and Whitman Ltd. with headquarters in Halifax. In 1984 the Robin Company still existed but no longer dealt in fish, operating instead as a chain of general stores with headquarters at Paspebiac, Quebec. The company closed its doors for the last time in 2006 due to financial strains.

Johnston, Roderick A.
Person · ?-1915

Roderick A. Johnston was a resident of Bridgeport, Nova Scotia. He married Mary Ann Stewart and the couple had at least one child, John Joseph. Johnston was a miner in the Bridgeport area and for a short time he worked in the Harbour Pitt, Little Glace Bay. Johnston died on 1 January 1915.

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.

Day, James Douglas
Person · 1891-

James Douglas Day was born in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, on February 12, 1891. An electrician by trade, he enlisted for military service on September 24, 1914 after serving for 6 years with the 17th C.F.A..

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.

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.

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.

Hill, Harold Lester
Person · 1887-

Harold Lester Hill was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, on March 9, 1887. In March of 1917, he enlisted at St. John's with the Canadian Engineers, with whom he served overseas during World War 1. He was discharged on May 19, 1919.

Macdonald, Angus L.
Person · 1890-1954

Angus Lewis Macdonald was born at Dunvegan, N.S. on 10 August 1890, the son of Lewis and Veronica (Perry) Macdonald. Macdonald was Premier of Nova Scotia from 1933-1940 and 1945-1954.

Macdonald, John A.
Person · 1815-1891

The Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald was born in Scotland and was raised and educated in Kingston, Upper Canada. He was a lawyer, but during most of his life political duties left him little time for his law practice. He married twice and was survived by his second wife and two children.

He entered provincial politics as a Conservative in 1844, becoming a member of the Executive Council in 1847. Macdonald played a major role in creating the Coalition of 1854 which he moulded into the Liberal-Conservative Party which dominated much of the succeeding half century. He was the central figure in the creation of the Canadian Confederation of 1867. Becoming Canada's first Prime Minister in 1867, he retained that post until 1873. He was Prime Minister again from 1878 until his death on 6 June 1891. Besides being Prime Minister, Macdonald held numerous important cabinet posts. Macdonald was central to many Canadian political developments such as the Northwest Rebellions, the Pacific Scandal, the Canadian Pacific Railway and the National Policy.

MacDougall, John A.
Person · 1861-1944

John Archibald MacDougall was born in Christmas Island to successful merchant Malcolm MacDougall and Mary MacNeil of Washabuck. He attended St. Francis Xavier University and studied law. After moving to Glace Bay, MacDougall worked as officer with the Dominion Coal Company. He was an ardent Conservative and very active with the Knights of Columbus and the Scottish Catholic Society of Canada, teaching adult Gaelic classes in Glace Bay. Through his involvement in the Scottish Catholic Society of Canada, he was also involved in the early planning and development ofthe St. F.X. Extension Department, a feature of the Antignonish Movement.
MacDougall married Mary MacNeil of Iona. He was the brother of Hector Francis MacDougall, the Christmas Island MP who campaigned successfully to get the railway to Sydney through Central Cape Breton.

Huk, John
Person · 1928-present

Over a span of approximately forty years, Mr. John Huk collected various documents, photographs and music related to his life and career in Whitney Pier and Sydney. As a young man he worked in a records store and eventually moved to a position with the Nova Scotia Department of Social Services. John was integral in establishing and growing the Ukrainian dance movement in Cape Breton, and has been and continues to be passionate about history and the preservation of Ukrainian culture in Cape Breton. He has collected photographs, stories and documents related to Ukrainian culture in Whitney Pier. The culmination of this work is a publication titled, “Strangers in the Land: The Ukrainian Presence in Cape Breton”. Mr. Huk is an active member of Holy Ghost Ukrainian Parish in Whitney Pier, a member of the men's club, and avid gardener.

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.

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.

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.

Currie, Michael Neil
Person · 1894-11-05 to 1973-01-27

Michael Neil Currie was born in Reserve Mines on November 5th, 1894. In 1905, at age 11, he began working at No. 5 Coal Mine, Reserves Mines. When the mine closed in 1910 he joined a group of workers who hitch hiked their way west to work the harvest. In 1915 he joined the Canadian Army and served in France and Belgium as a stretcher bearer for the Medical Corps.; he was awarded the military medal for Bravery on the Battlefield. On February 7, 1919 he was Honorably Discharged to recover from injuries obtained during battle. In 1920 he returned to work at No. 5 Colliery until it closed; he then moved to work at No. 10 Colliery, both located in Reserve Mines. Beginning August 14, 1942 he served as a Veteran in WWII. He was discharged from that post on September 14, 1944. Between WWI and WWII he settled in Reserve Mines with his wife, Mae Finnell; together they had 8 children. In 1948 he transferred to Dominion Coal Company #25 Gardiner Mine. When this closed in 1956 he retired and was awarded a pension at the age of 63. Michael Neil Currie passed away on January 27, 1973, at the age of 78.

Burchell, David M.
Person · 1901-1907

David M. Burchell was the first mayor of the town of Glace Bay in 1901. He remained in office until 1907.

Douglas, John C.
Person · 1908-1910

John C. Douglas was the mayor of the Town of Glace Bay from 1908-1910.

Harrington, Gordon S.
Person · 1913-1914

Gordon S. Harrington was the mayor of the Town of Glace Bay from 1913 to 1914.

McDonald, A.J.
Person · 1917

A.J. McDonald was mayor of the town of Glace Bay for the year of 1917.

McVicar, Charles
Person · 1932-1933

Charles McVicar was the mayor of the Town of Glace Bay from 1932 to 1933.

Morrison, D.W.
Person · 1934-1950

D.W. Morrison was mayor of the town of Glace Bay from 1934 until 1950.

MacDonald, D.A.
Person · 1951-1970

D.A. MacDonald was the mayor of the town of Glace Bay from 1951 to 1970.

Clark, Bruce A.
Person · 1982-1988

Bruce A. Clarke was the mayor of the Town of Glace Bay from 1982 until 1988.

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.

Person · 1887-1965

Dr. Rev. Patrick J. Nicholson was born in Rear Beaver Cove to parents George and Catherine Johnston. After attending the seminary at St. Francis Xavier University, her went on to earn a Masters and a Doctorate in Physics at Johns Hopkins University. He would eventually continue his seminary studies in Montreal and Toronto. He was ordained in Toronto in 1916 and shortly after took up a the post of Physics professor at St. Francis Xavier. Nicholson was appointed President of the university in 1944 - a post which he held for ten years. He remained on staff at Saint Francis Xavier until his death at St. Martha's Hospital.
Besides being a Physics scholar, Nicholson was an authority on Gaelic language and folklore. He was regularly consulted by scholars from around the world. He edited the Gaelic column in The Casket, "Achadh nan Gaidheal" for 25 years.

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.

Desmond, Viola Irene
Person · 1914-1965

Viola Irene Desmond (née Viola Davis) was born July 6, 1914, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as one of fifteen children born to James Albert Davis and Gwendolyn Irene Davis. Desmond attended Sir Joseph Howe Elementary School and Bloomfield High School before working as a teacher at two racially segregated schools in Preston, Nova Scotia and Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. In 1936, she enrolled in the Field Beauty Culture School in Montréal, Quebec, one of the few institutions that accepted Black students. She continued her education in New York, New York and in 1940 received a diploma from the Apex College of Beauty Culture and Hairdressing in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Viola married Jack Desmond, a barber, in 1936 and the two settled in Halifax. In 1937, Desmond opened Vi’s Studio of Beauty Culture on Gottingen Street and started a beauty product line, Vi’s Beauty Products, which catered to Black women's needs. In addition to the salon, Viola started the Desmond School of Beauty Culture where Black students could learn hairdressing in Atlantic Canada. On November 8, 1946, Desmond refused to move from the whites-only section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, an act that resulted in a conviction for tax evasion, which cemented her as a significant figure in the Civil Rights Movement in Canada. Desmond received an official apology and a Grant of Free Pardon from the Province of Nova Scotia in 2010. She died in New York City on February 7, 1965.

Boardmore, Elizabeth
Person · 1940-2004

Elizabeth Anne 'Liz' (MacDonald) Boardmore was born in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia in 1940. Liz was educated and trained as a teacher at the Provincial Normal College, Truro, and at St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish. After graduation, Liz taught at Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour, where she met Harry Boardmore in the 1960s. Liz and Harry married and came to Sydney in 1966 to teach at Xavier Junior College, later UCCB. The original plan was to come to the Junior College for two years and then be transferred to Antigonish, but Harry said, "there was something in the air... and we hated to leave." Liz and Harry established the Xavier College Drama Society and early productions and drama festivals took place on the top floor of the Lyceum in Sydney, which became the Xavier College Theatre. The productions America Hurrah! (1969) and The Serpent (1970) were particularly well received at both provincial and Dominion Drama festivals. When the new College of Cape Breton campus opened in 1979, the drama society and theatre moved to its new permanent home at the Playhouse. In 1990, it was renamed the Boardmore Playhouse in honour of Liz and Harry Boardmore, for their unwavering dedication to the development of community theatre in Cape Breton. Liz was a professor of English at UCCB for 28 years and she was much loved by her many students. Her enthusiasm and passion for theatre and education was always evident. She was recognized for her work with a Cultural Life Award (1993) from the Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia and with award from the Association of Teachers of English, Nova Scotia. Elizabeth Boardmore passed away on Sunday, February 15th, 2004 at the age of 64.

Currie, Michael D.
Person · 1854-1936

Michael D. Currie was a school-teacher, tradition-bearer and bard. He was married to Mary Ann MacDonald of Grand Mira and had eight children, one of whom, Lauchlin, was also a bard, producing many songs in both Gaelic and English. We can glean from his letter to the Casket (MG 6.3) that it was very important to Michael D. that pioneer Gaels be portrayed as sober, industrious individuals who overcame hardship to build a better life for themselves that that which they had left in Scotland. It may have been Michael D.'s need to "set the record straight" which incited him to produce a regular column in Teachdaire nan Gaidheal detailing immigrant Gaels trials and tribulations. He also wrote articles on Scottish history and prose in both Gaelic and English, which appeared in Teachdaire nan Gaidheal and Am Mosgladh.
Michael D. was the son of "Red Donald" and Christie Ann Currie (née Currie). His paternal grandfather had emigrated from Loch Carnan in South Uist. His maternal great-grandfather, Michael, was the son of Niall who with his family, immigrated to the Boisdale are in the 1820s. Niall's father, Lachlann, along with his brother Iain, were well-known and respected bards. Before emigrating, Lachlann read a testimony before the Gaelic Scoiety of London in which he listed his patronymic back eighteen generations through his father, Niall (the last hereditary bard to be patronized in Scotland) to Muireadhach Albannach, who came from Ireland in the 13th century to serve as bard to the Lords of the Isles. The Curries are also sometimes referred to as MacMhuirich or MacVurich. Lachlann and Iain both later removed to Blackett's Lake.

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.

Morrison, Murdoch
Person · 1873-1945

Murdoch Morrison was born in Ferguson's Lake near New Boston. Many of his songs appeared in Orain Fuinn is Cladaich compiled by by Alex Finlayson and published by Alexander MacLaren & Sons in 1931. He moved to Alexandra St. in Sydney. Morrison was remembered as a strong Liberal. Another of his songs appears in Beyond the Hebrides.

John Currie
Person · c1860-?

John Currie, also known as "Iagain Mór" (Big Johnny) was born in East Bay to Red Donald and Christie Ann Currie. He was known as a very good bard and was the younger brother of Michael D. Currie, a frequent contributor to Teachdaire nan Gaidheal. His maternal grandfather was the son of Niall who with his family, immigrated to the Boisdale are in the 1820s. Niall's father, Lachlann, along with his brother Iain, were well-known and respected bards. Before emigrating, Lachlann read a testimony before the Gaelic Society of London in which he listed his patronymic back eighteen generations through his father, Niall (the last hereditary bard to be patronized in Scotland) to Muireadhach Albannach, who came from Ireland in the 13th century to serve as bard to the Lords of the Isles. The Curries are also sometimes referred to as MacMhuirich or MacVurich. Lachlann and Iain both later removed to Blackett's Lake.

John Ingram Ball
Person · 1932-1984

Ingram Ball was born at Coxheath in 1906. A carpenter by trade, he worked at Dominion Iron & Steel Corporation until 1941, since then he has been self employed. Died 1984

Macdonald, Tommy (Peggy)
Person

Thomas (Tommy Peggy) MacDonald was a resident of the North Shore, Cape Breton (N.S). He was a well known Gaelic singer and tradition bearer and a member of The North Shore Gaelic Singers. He is the father of popular Cape Breton musician Buddy MacDonald.

Macdonald, Johnny Allan
Person · 1890 -

Johnny Allan MacDonald was born in Enon, Cape Breton, N.S, in 1890. He was a well known Gaelic singer, fiddler and tradition bearer in the Loch Lomond/Richmond County area. Johnny Allan was raised in a Gaelic speaking home with his father Ian mac Ghilleasbuig MacDonald, and his monolingual Gaelic grandmother.

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.

Beaton, Murdoch
Person · 1879-1976

Mudoch Beaton lived on the Shore Road in Harbourview near Port Hood. He married Mary Christina MacDonell. He is remembered for his wit and talent as a storyteller.

Silver Donald Cameron
Person · 1968 - 1995

Silver Donald Cameron was born on June 21, 1937 in Toronto. Cameron was raised in Vancouver. He is one of Canada's most versatile authors, who in (1995) was Dean of the School of Community Studies at the University College of Cape Breton in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Dr. Cameron's work has appeared in countless magazine articles. A former contributing editor of Weekend, he has received four National Magazine Awards. He has also written more than 50 radio dramas, many scripts for film and television, and a stage play, many of which have won awards. Silver Donald Cameron holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia, an M.A. from the University of California, and a Ph.D. from the University of London, England. He taught at Dalhousie University, University British Columbia, and the University of New Brunswick, and was Writer-in-Residence at the University College of Cape Breton (1978-80), the University of Prince Edward Island (1985-86) and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1987-88). He was Vice-Chairman of the Writers Union of Canada and founding Executive Director of Centre Bras d'Or in Baddeck, Nova Scotia. He is also President of Novara Software and of his own company, Paper Tiger Enterprise.

Edward Buckner Sutherland
Person · 1851-1852

Captain Edward Sutherland (1794-1885) came to Sydney about 1829 as a lieutenant with the 96th Regiment of Foot (Manchester Regiment). He was Town Adjutant of Sydney 12 July 1833. He stayed until 1855 when the garrison was removed and he went to Canada. While in Cape Breton he lived in Westmount, and later moved to California where he died in 1885.