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Authority record
Town of Louisbourg
Corporate body · 1713 -

Louisbourg was first visited by Europeans in the 16th Century when it was known as English Harbour. The French founded a permanent settlement there 2 September 1713, and by 1745 the Fortress of Louisbourg was completed. In 1758, the Fortress fell to the English, but the area of West Louisbourg (the present Louisbourg) was settled by soldiers and fishermen shortly thereafter. Beginning in 1828, and until the 1830’s, Scottish settlers arrived and by 1879, Louisbourg achieved village status. It was incorporated as a town in 1901, and the rail link to Sydney was established using its ice-free port. Fishing and tourism have been the mainstay of the area’s economy since the mid-twentieth century. In 1997 Louisbourg became part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Town of Glace Bay
Corporate body · 1901-1995

The French are credited as the initial inhabitants of the area of Glace Bay with the discovery of “mountains of coal” along the coast of the area they called Baie de Glace by Nicholas Denys, governor of Île Royale (Cape Breton), in 1672. They would begin settlements in the early 1720s, the area of New Aberdeen being the earliest reference to a European settlement in Glace Bay. The area became used for coal mining, which was to be sent back to Louisbourg to maintain the fortress. After the British took control of the area in 1748, the mines began to rapidly develop, which saw the growth of Glace Bay as a community and a town. The development of Glace Bay had always been directly related to the progress of the coal industry. Consolidation of coal operations under a single company in the later years of the nineteenth century saw new citizens from other parts of Canada and overseas pouring in. Immigrants from Poland, Greece, Russia, the Caribbean, England, Scotland, and Ireland all found homes in Glace Bay. In 1901, Glace Bay became the first town in the British Empire to obtain a charter under the reign of King Edward VII. Little Glace Bay, the village of Caledonia, Dominion no. 2, 3, and 4 collieries (including the old Hub and Sterling Mines) came together to form the new town of “Glace Bay” under legislative action on January 18th that same year. After 1901, an elected council was appointed for Glace Bay. This council would make the majority of municipal decisions and begin the initiatives for road, sewage, water system, education, and medical development. Originally consisting of eight councillors, the town was later divided into six wards with two councillors each, increasing the number of councillors to twelve. Glace Bay would continue on as a distinct autonomous town for 94 years. In 1995, the government of Nova Scotia sought to reduce the number of independent towns, thus, Glace Bay became incorporated with several other towns within Cape Breton Island to form the new Cape Breton Regional Municipality under the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Act.

Town of Glace Bay
1901-1995

The French are credited as the initial inhabitants of the area of Glace Bay with the discovery of “mountains of coal” along the coast of the area they called Baie de Glace by Nicholas Denys, governor of Île Royale (Cape Breton), in 1672. They would begin settlements in the early 1720s, the area of New Aberdeen being the earliest reference to a European settlement in Glace Bay. The area became used for coal mining, which was to be sent back to Louisbourg to maintain the fortress. After the British took control of the area in 1748, the mines began to rapidly develop, which saw the growth of Glace Bay as a community and a town. The development of Glace Bay had always been directly related to the progress of the coal industry. Consolidation of coal operations under a single company in the later years of the nineteenth century saw new citizens from other parts of Canada and overseas pouring in. Immigrants from Poland, Greece, Russia, the Caribbean, England, Scotland, and Ireland all found homes in Glace Bay. In 1901, Glace Bay became the first town in the British Empire to obtain a charter under the reign of King Edward VII. Little Glace Bay, the village of Caledonia, Dominion no. 2, 3, and 4 collieries (including the old Hub and Sterling Mines) came together to form the new town of “Glace Bay” under legislative action on January 18th that same year. After 1901, an elected council was appointed for Glace Bay. This council would make the majority of municipal decisions and begin the initiatives for road, sewage, water system, education, and medical development. Originally consisting of eight councillors, the town was later divided into six wards with two councillors each, increasing the number of councillors to twelve. Glace Bay would continue on as a distinct autonomous town for 94 years. In 1995, the government of Nova Scotia sought to reduce the number of independent towns, thus, Glace Bay became incorporated with several other towns within Cape Breton Island to form the new Cape Breton Regional Municipality under the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Act.

Corporate body

In 1975, North Sydney celebrated Bar 90, a week-long summer festival to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the town’s incorporation. Organized by the community-led Bar 90 Executive Committee, the festival was founded as a lead up to the town’s 100th anniversary celebrations in 1985 (Sampson and Currie, 65, 1985). The festival included different events and competitions that were held in the town, such as talent shows, a beauty contest, parades, barbeques, dances, concerts, races and other public events (Sampson and Currie, 65, 1985). After 1975, the number of years after the 90th anniversary of the town was added to the name of the town’s festival (For example, in 1980, the festival was named Bar 90+5). After the town’s centennial celebration, the festival was renamed Bar 90 Days. In 1995, North Sydney almost lost the annual festival after North Sydney was amalgamated into the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. With the help of local volunteers, the festival was saved. In 1996, it was re-named The North Sydney Bartown Festival. The festival continues to be held each year (Bartown Community Society, 2010). Prior to the Bartown Festival, North Sydney hosted an annual week-long festival named Old Home Week.

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.

The Gaelic College
Corporate body · 1938-

"The Gaelic College was founded in St. Ann’s, Nova Scotia, in 1938, by people from the local community who wanted to create a memorial for the Gaelic speaking pioneers of Cape Breton. Efforts were spearheaded by Angus William Rugg MacKenzie, the minister at the Knox Presbyterian Church in nearby Baddeck. That year, the Cape Breton Island Gaelic Foundation began the work of raising funds to establish the Gaelic College. A committee toured the United States and Canada, raising money through $5 subscriptions. The first building at the site on the Bay of St. Ann’s was a log cabin raised in 1939. Classes in the early years included Gaelic language, Gaelic grammar, Gaelic song, bagpiping, the history of the Gaelic in Scotland, in Nova Scotia and in the rest of North America, as well as social economics. Classes in weaving, folklore and highland dancing were soon added. From its humble beginnings, this unique institution has expanded and gained an international reputation for its contribution to the maintenance and preservation of the language and culture."

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.

Corporate body · 1848 -1975

The Caledonian Society of Cape Breton was established in Sydney in 1848. Immigrant Gaels followed a trend earlier established in places like New York and Ontario where other Caledonian or Scottish societies had previously been formed and flourished. Major C.I.N. MacLeod was president of the Society in the 1950s. It has also been named the Sydney Celtic Club and the Cape Breton Highland Society.

Corporate body · 1977 - 1984

Tarbot, Cape Breton’s Music Festival was founded by Steve Grose (Stephen Grose) and Jane Grose. The Groses had moved to Cape Breton from Toronto in 1975 and opened a craft shop along the Cabot Trail. Steve loved the music scene in Cape Breton and thought that an outdoor concert or festival would be an interesting way to highlight the best musicians on the island. He had no event planning experience, but did a little research and booked each act with a phone call. Everyone he called said yes, which lead to the first concert on August 28, 1977.

The site of the festival was the Dean Family farm in Tarbot, Nova Scotia, which was located about 3 miles (5 km) from the Groses. Malcolm Dean (1897-1988) had an amphitheater shaped hill on the property and thought a music festival was a great idea. Dean refused outright payment and instead collected and sold all the beer bottles left on the hill after the concert as his compensation.

The Tarbot Music Festival lasted three years before being shut down. Neighbours of the Dean property in Tarbot did not like the noise and felt their security was threatened with so many people coming to the area. A petition was circulated to stop the festival and was ultimately successful, with the last concert held in August 1979.

During its existence, many people enjoyed attending the festival to see popular Cape Breton acts, such as Sam Moon, Kenzie MacNeil, Ronnie MacEachern, Lori and Dennis Cox, Leon Dubinsky, Lee Cremo, and many others. A record, Tarbot Anthology: Live Recording of the Tarbot Music Festival, was released in 1978 featuring performances from the first festival in 1977 (See: R-58 in the Beaton Institute’s Sound and Moving Image Collection). The corporation “Tarbot, Cape Breton’s Music Festival” was dissolved in 1984.

Corporate body · 1908-1923

The Sydney Trades and Labour Council (TLC) was founded in 1908 as a chapter of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada. The organization acted as a forum for discussion and action on issues relating to union politics, wages and working hours; its local chapter membership included iron, steel and tin workers, carpenters, plumbers, mechanics and tailors. The Council's first president was J.R. Martin, M.J. Kelly acted as vice-president and P.M. Draper was the first secretary-treasurer. The Sydney Trades and Labour Council was disbanded by 1923.

Sydney Millionaires
Corporate body

The Sydney Millionaires challenged the Quebec Bulldogs for the Stanley Cup for the first and only time in 1913, under the leadership of Captain Alfred "Cap" McDonald. In 1922, the team name was resurrected under a new senior team, which would go on to play for two Allan Cup national titles. In 1949, the name was also used for a junior team, which started up in 1949.