Margaret MacCallum

Margaret MacCallum chose to leave Pictou Island and study nursing in Montreal. However, she had to be at her first class for January of 1918; which just so happened to be the worst time to be crossing the Northumberland Strait to the mainland. Not only was there heavy ice in the Strait, but there was rough open water as well.

Margaret had to walk on the open stretches of ice, but got to sit in the boat when the mailmen rowed it through the open water. She finally arrived in Pictou safely, and traveled the remainder of the way to Montreal by train. Just in time to begin class that January as scheduled.

Margaret became known as "The Florence Nightingale of Pictou Island."