49

THE MACDONALD HUNDRED JUNIOR GIRLS PIPE BAND - Cousins Sheila Wood (left) and Karen Wood carried the white banner for the Gaelic College Macdonald Hundred Junior Pipe Band across the Canso Causeway. The band members were so happy to be part of the celebrations that they could bear being very warm in their jackets, kilts and woolen knee socks on an extremely hot day in August.

50

Crowds along roadway up the hill to Port Hastings
13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening

51

THE PARADE ARRIVES ON CAPE BRETON ISLAND - R.C.M.P. officers John Clifford and Dawson Lough on their motorcycles were at the head of the procession which has just come across the Canso Canal Bridge onto Cape Breton Island at Port Hastings. Crowds were waiting to view the colourful procession of 20,000 who walked across the Canso Causeway.

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Certificate of participation
13 August 1955

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CERTIFICATES were presented to participants in the official opening ceremonies on August 13, 1955.
This certificate, presented to a bagpiper for "formally participating in the March of the Hundred Pipers, celebrating the official opening of the Canso Causeway" was signed by Henry Hicks, the Premier of Nova Scotia in 1955.
The Gaelic phrase underneath the title reads: "The Road to the Isles".

54

Bands and crowds march up towards the Tourist Bureau of Port Hastings village
13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening

55

BANDS AND CROWDS approach the Port Hastings Tourist Information Bureau on the upper right. Many local people didn't get a chance to participate in the walk as they were busy providing services, and souvenirs to the largest crowd that had ever congregated in one place in Nova Scotia.
Unlike some other communities, the town council of Port Hawkesbury made the decision not to have a civic holiday that day.

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Crowds headed down route 19 to the Fair at Spruce Grove on route 19
13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening

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HIGHLAND DANCERS AND GAMES - Some are seen here proceeding down route 19 in Port Hastings to an open field just above the Canso Canal. Highland games, a ferris wheel, hot dogs and cake were part of the festivities on a very hot August 13th, 1955 day.

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Highland games and ferris wheels
13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening

59

FOOD AND SCOTTISH CULTURE - The reception area in the Spruce Grove field on route 19 on land overlooking the Canso Canal was a busy place.
Lennan MacDonald of Port Hawkesbury worked for the contractor who built the Canso Canal. He shared this memory in 2004 with Brent Butcher at the Gut of Canso Museum and Archives.
"On the day of the official opening of the Canso Causeway on August 13th, 1955, the Port Hawkesbury Fire Department had a large booth set up on the grounds and sold food and drink on the opening day. I was a volunteer fireman at the time and put in a full day with the Auxiliary. That night I attended a square dance at Creignish and took my wife, the former Irma (Clancy)of Mulgrave, home for the first time".
Many other entrepreneurs would set up booths and sell hot dogs to the thousands of people in attendance that day.

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Train, cars and people after the official opening of the Canso Causeway on August 13th, 1955
13 August 1955
Canso Causeway official opening

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SPECIAL TRAINS- Canadian National Railway had trains leaving from Halifax and Sydney for the special day. The one from Sydney left at 7:30 am. "picking up passengers in route to Port Hastings where the special train will arrive at 11:40 am. Returning, the special train will leave Port Hastings at 5:30 pm. to arrive Sydney at 9:30pm.
Special low round trip fares from Sydney will be $3.65, North Sydney $3.15, Grand Narrows $1.70, with equally low round trip fares from other stations.
A lunch counter car will be attached to the special train providing meals at low rates".
(The Victoria Inverness Bulleting, August 10,1955)

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View of the Canso Causeway and Strait of Canso from the air looking north.
1990
Strait of Canso, Nova Scotia, Canada