Showing 1765 results

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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.

MacDonald, Winnie
Person · 1934-2020

Winnie MacDonald was born on November 17, 1934 to Archibald MacDonald and Ethel MacDonald (Ethal Bartlett) in Sydney, Nova Scotia. In 1956 she married Lloyd MacDonald, with whom she raised 12 children. MacDonald was an accomplished pianist and a member of her family's band, Scumalash. She also sang, played the organ, and served as choir director in two parishes for over 45 years. She worked in education, teaching children and later adults with intellectual disabilities at the adult training centre in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. She died on January 11, 2020.

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.

Cremo, Lee
Person · 1938-1999

Born on December 30, 1938 to Simon Cremo and Annie Cremo in Barra head, Cape Breton. A Mi’kmaq community which is now called Potlotek. At age 4, he moved to Eskasoni, and that’s where he spent most of his life with his wife Nelly Cremo and two children, Liz Cremo and Timothy Cremo. As a young child, he would listen to his father play, an accomplished fiddler, who later taught lee to play the fiddle at the age of 7. His talent wasn’t revealed till the age of 18, at the time him and “his father were playing for a dance in Boisdale, Lee was playing the guitar accompanying his fathers fiddle. His father took a stroke during at that location and was immediately rushed to the hospital. To save the dance, Lee picked up the fiddle and finished the dance for him”. Over the years from being taught not only his father but by Winston Fitzgerald and Dan Hughie. Lee began his journey, to becoming one of the greatest fiddlers of all time. Cremo made his living in turn as a lumberman in Maine and a bus driver in Eskasoni but he appeared at the fiddling and folk music events across the world. Lee won many competitions and awards throughout his fiddling career. He won the maritime Old Time Fiddling Contest in Dartmouth, NS, six times. A trip to the Grand Master Fiddling Championships in Nashville, which he got an award for ‘ Best Bow Arm In The World’ which is documented in the film Arm of gold (1986). He also performed at events as Expo 67 for Queen Elizabeth ll, and in 1999 the launch of the Aboriginal People’s Television Network. By 1995 he had won over 80 fiddle competitions and released The Champion Returns which was voted The Best First Nations recording at the 1996 East Coast Music Awards. Lee Cremo died on October 10, 1999 at the age of 60.

Lee Cremo, son of Simon and Annie Cremo, was born on December 30, 1938 at Barra Head, Cape Breton. At the age of 4, he moved to Eskasoni and spent his life with his family. As a young child, he would listen to his father play, an accomplished fiddler, who later taught him how to play the fiddle at the age of 7. He was also taught by influential musicians Winston “Scotty” Fitzgerald and Dan Hughie MacEachern. During his renowned fiddling career he had received over 80 awards and competitions. During 1966 to 1977, he was awarded first place in the Maritime Old Time Fiddling Contest in Dartmouth, NS. He also performed at events for Expo 67 for Queen Elizabeth II and in 1999 released The Champion Returns which was voted The Best First Nations recording at the 1996 East Coast Music Awards. While he appeared at fiddling and folk music events across Canada and the United States, he was also a Lumberman in Maine and a bus driver in Eskasoni. During his life, he was well known as an ambassador for the Cape Breton Mi'kmaq community. He passed away on October 10, 1999 at the age of 60.

Corporate body · 1871-

The Cape Breton Highlanders were officially formed on October 13, 1871 as the Victoria Provisional Battalion of Infantry under the command of Captain William Bingham. The unit consisted of four companies from Baddeck, Nova Scotia; Middle River, Nova Scotia; and, Grand Narrows, Nova Scotia. By the First World War, the unit had been re-designated a number of times and was known variously as the Victoria “Highland” Provisional Battalion of Infantry (December 2, 1879 – April 8, 1880), the Victoria Provisional Battalion of Infantry “Argyll Highlanders” (April 9, 1880 – June 11, 1885), and the 94th “Victoria” Battalion of Infantry, “Argyll Highlanders” (June 12, 1885 – May 7, 1900).

With the outbreak of World War I (WWI) in 1914, the 94th was placed on active service around Cape Breton for protection duties. On July 15, 1916 the 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders), CEF was authorized and it left for training in Great Britain on October 12, 1916. For the duration of the war, the 185th was part of the 5th Canadian Division and was used for reinforcements until February 1918.

On April 1, 1920, the unit, made up of the 94th, 85th and 185th battalions, was redesignated The Cape Breton Highlanders during a reorganization of the Militia. In 1932, unit headquarters moved from Baddeck to Sydney, Nova Scotia and in 1937 five new companies were established, including HQ Company (Sydney), A Company (Baddeck), B Company (Sydney), C Company (New Waterford), and D Company (Glace Bay).

Upon the outbreak of the Second World War (World War II, WWII), the Highlanders were placed on active service on September 1, 1939 for local protection duties. These duties ended on December 31, 1940 and the 1st Battalion, The Cape Breton Highlanders, CASF were mobilized on January 1, 1941. In November of that year, it was sent to Great Britain before joining the 11th Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division in Italy in November 1943 and then moving to Holland in early 1945. The battalion was disbanded on February 15, 1946 and returned to militia status.

In 1954, with the Pictou Highlanders and the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, the Cape Breton Highlanders were amalgamated into the 2nd Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders. In 2011, as it was serving in Afghanistan, the unit was again designated The Cape Breton Highlanders. In 2021, the Highlanders celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Dechman, Margaret
Person · 1957 - 2020

Dr. Margaret Dechman was born on January 21, 1957 in Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia to John Dechman and Jane MacLean. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia and her Master of Arts from Dalhousie University. For over 20 years, she worked in the academic and public sectors, before returning to Dalhousie University for her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). She graduated in 2008 and joined the Cape Breton University faculty as an associate professor of sociology in 2010. She was an active member in the community and on the board of the Ally Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. She died on November 16, 2020 in Howie Centre, Nova Scotia.

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.

Paruch, Ray
Person · 1948 - 2020

Francis Raymond Paruch (Ray Paruch) was born on October 6, 1948 to Edward Paruch and Margaret Macdonald. He married Wanda Mackenzie and had two children, Nadine Paruch and Glenn Paruch. After the death of his wife, Wanda, he found a partner in Margie Bruno. In 1995, Ray was successful in becoming the District 6 councilor for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM), a position he was elected to 7 times in total, equaling 25 years of municipal service. He died on April 19, 2020 at the age of 71.

Pastuck, Stephen
Person · 1953 - 2022

George Stephen Pastuck (Stephen Pastuck) was born on December 23, 1953 to George Pastuck and Mary MacDonald in New Waterford, Nova Scotia. Stephen married Brenda Durdle and had two children, Jeffery Pastuck and Ashley Pastuck (Ashley Gouthro). He spent his career at the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) in New Waterford and retired after 34 years with the company. Fixing cars and drag racing were his most important hobbies, both of which he shared with his son, Jeff, and he began racing his Plymouth Roadrunner in the 1990s. Stephen died on January 25, 2022 at home in New Waterford.

Politte, Peter
Person · May 31, 1931 - February 25, 2023

Peter Politte was born on May 31, 1931 to Paul Politte and Minnie Politte in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Peter married June Babstock and had a daughter, Tara Politte. Peter spent his career at Markadonis Shoe Repair in Glace Bay and he also operated a shop in his backyard where he would fix harnesses and bridles, hockey equipment, and canvas tents. Peter was best known for his skate sharpening skills, with his reputation extending across the Maritimes. He died on February 25, 2023 at the age of 91.

McDonough, Alexa
Person · August 11, 1944 - January 15, 2022

Alexa McDonough was born Alexa Ann Shaw on August 11, 1944 in Ottawa, Ontario to Lloyd Shaw and Jean MacKinnon. She attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Ontario, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and psychology in 1965. After graduating she became a social worker and worked for Gerald Regan’s Liberal Party. In 1974, she joined the New Democratic Party (NDP) and on November 16, 1980, she became the leader of the Nova Scotia NDP party and the first woman to lead a major political party in Canada. In 1995, she was voted in as the new leader of the federal NDP party. She retired from politics in 2008.

Campbell, John Colin
Person · 1935 - 2022

John Colin Campbell was born on January 22, 1935 to Vincent Campbell and Viola MacNeil in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He married Dolores Campbell on December 26, 1963 and together they had four children, Mary Campbell, Susan Campbell, Archie Campbell, and Flora Campbell. As a young man he wrote an obituary for a local boxer and received a job offer from the Cape Breton Post and worked as a journalist until his retirement, including 13 years as editor of the Cape Breton Highlander. In 2000, he was nominated for and won the Atlantic Journalistic Achievement Award. He died on September 21, 2022.