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PORT HAWKESBURY HIGHLAND DANCERS - By 1973,Gerarda MacPherson of Antigonish began to teach highland dancing in Port Hawkesbury. The Strait of Canso area became known for the excellent talent in Highland Dancing and dance competition medals were and still are brought home from all over Canada, the United States and Scotland.
Seen in this picture taken in 1980 in Alberta are: Back left- Dale MacDonald, Barbara Lohmann, Patti Ann MacLeod, Linda Dawe, Patricia MacEachern, Rosanna Campbell. Front- Kim Morgan and Robin Doyle.
Dale MacDonald continues to teach Highland Dancing in Port Hawkesbury thirty two years after the Port Hawkesbury Highland Dancers group was started in 1973.

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Scotia Highland Dancers in Scotland
September, 1981
Scotland

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SCOTIA HIGHLAND DANCERS - A number of the more advanced dancers from the greater Strait of Canso area, Antigonish and New Glasgow became the Scotia Highland Dance Group which was started by Gerarda MacPherson and Janice MacQuarrie. Besides competing, they entertain and impress audiences with skill, technique and delightful expression in Highland and National Dances as well as original numbers. Here they are in Scotland in 1981.
The Scotia Highland Dancers Group continues in 2005 under new leadership for another generation of dancers to carry on the tradition of excellence.

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Fiddlers on stage at an outdoor concert in Glendale in the 1970s.
1973
Glendale, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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GLENDALE FIDDLE FESTIVALS - The Cape Breton Fiddler's Association started a three day Festival of Scottish Fiddling at the Glendale Parish grounds, Cape Breton in 1973. The idea came from the desire of many people who play or listen to the fiddle tunes "to preserve and develop the art, for the future of fiddling on the Island was felt to be threatened."

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Crowds of Cape Bretoners and visitors at Glendale outdoor concert in the 1970s.
1973
Glendale, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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PASSIONATE ABOUT THE MUSIC - " Up the slope in Glendale fly some tremendous sounds, a symphony of spirit and strong testimony to how alive the fiddle is. Very appropriate are Father John Rankin's opening remarks on Music and Love for listen to the love with which these fiddlers play !"

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Stepdancers in Glendale, Inverness County
1974
Glendale, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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HIGHLAND HERITAGE - It was the Scottish settlers who brought the fiddle to Cape Breton in the late 1700's and early 1800's. At this time the Highland pipes, kilts and clan gatherings were banned due to the rule of the English over Scotland. Fiddle and step dance was permitted, so the Scots pioneers kept tunes alive and passed them on with this instrument when they came to New Scotland( Nova Scotia).
Cape Breton fiddlers retained the pure old style of fiddling and they have now taken these tunes and style back to Scotland. Buddy MacMaster of Judique being among one of the first to do this.

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Fiddler Billy MacPhee
1975
Glendale, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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CAPE BRETON'S FIDDLE STYLE stands as one of the more unique traditional music forms in the world." This last quote by the College of Cape Breton Press sums up the feeling of these Scottish fiddling Festivals that still occur regularly in Cape Breton and draw thousands to cross the Canso Causeway for this experience.

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MULGRAVE ROAD SHOW - On July 13, 1977 in Mulgrave, the play "The Mulgrave Road Show" was first performed at the St. Lawrence Parish Hall in Mulgrave. This production contained a scene about the effect of the opening of the Canso Causeway on the town. Two of the songs written by Robert O'Neil, Michael Fahey, Wendell Smith and Gay Hauser are about the road across the water; My Pile of Rocks and The Causeway Song. The latter expresses the negative impact of the Causeway on the town of Mulgrave that resulted in the loss of many jobs. The group of four led by Robert O'Neil birthed the Mulgrave Road Theatre Company that now is a professional touring company based in the town of Guysborough in Guysborough County.

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Winnie Chafe, a renowned fiddle player, sharing her love of Cape Breton music with others.
1979
Creignish, Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada

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SHARING TALENT - Two of many Cape Breton fiddlers to take their music beyond the Cape Breton Island were Sydney area performers, Winston Scotty Fitzgerald and Winnie Chafe. Each eventually made their home in Boston and from there launched many concerts and albums. Winnie connected with classical musicians and eventually returned home to pass on her knowledge to young and older students.