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Presidents Message
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Old Sydney Autumn Lecture Series/Upcoming Events
The Old Sydney Society’s Winter Lecture Series begins ___. Lectures take place at 7:30PM at the Cape Breton Centre for Heritage and Science, 225 George Street, Sydney.
The CBCHS’s newest exhibit, “Around the World With Richard Carr”, an exploration of design, art and architecture around the world through the eyes of Mr. Carr, a highly respected journalist, opens January 28, from 4-6. All are welcome to attend.
Cape Breton Naturalists Society News
Winter/Spring Lecture Series
December 15th: Exploring Shorebirds in Cape Breton, Susann Myers (a Cape Breton Birder)
January 12th : Marine Mammals of Atlantic Canada, Tony Douglas
February 9th : Zambian Safari, David McCorquodale (Cape Breton University)
March 9th : Cape Breton Birds, Tuma Young (bird photographer par excellence)
April 13th : Nova Scotia Butterflies and the Maritimes Butterfly Atlas, John Klymko, (Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre, Sackville, NB)
Meetings begin at 7:30 pm at the Cape Breton Centre for Heritage and Science, the Lyceum 225 George Street Sydney.
Halloween at the Lyceum
This October, the Old Sydney Society played host to two successful Halloween events.
The CBCHS welcomed a hoard of costumed youngsters through the Lyceum doors for its first, and possibly annual, children’s Halloween party. About 45 children and almost 20 adults arrived to find the Centre stuffed full of spookiness. They had a chance to play Halloween games both old and new (from fortune telling with “The Three Bowls”, like they did in Victorian times, to making toilet paper mummies), gorge themselves on sweets, and learn about not only Halloween in Canada, but around the world. The kids had fun, and many prizes were awarded for costumes and for skill and dexterity with games. They also got to check out some of the more frightening objects in our collection, from cracked porcelain dolls to human teeth. It was an excellent opportunity to share more of our extensive collection with the community. Thanks to all who helped make the even a success!
St. Patrick’s St. Patrick;s Museum was host to a triple feature of Halloween plays from the Cape Breton Stage Company. Tales From the Bottom of the Well 2 featured an anthology of horror by Anna Spencer, James F.W. Thompson and Jenn Tubrett. The plays were well attended and well received.
Lift Off: CBCHS Hosts 3 Book Launches in 1 Month
This November, the Centre hosted all of three book launches.
The first was for Paul MacDougal’s new book, “Distinction Earned: Cape Breton Boxing Legends 1946-1970” to a record number of interested members of the public. Over 100 fans of the art of pugilism showed up to the event and all available books were sold! If you missed it but are interested in getting a copy of your own, you can find “Distinction Earned” at Coles, the CBU bookstore and at the Cape Breton Curiosity Shop. A small display of local boxing photographs and memorabilia remained up for some time afterward due to the large show of public interest in the subject.
A second book launch was held this month as well, for Ken and Stuart Donovan’s latest volume of The Nashwaak Review, a literary journal featuring poetry, short fiction, travel pieces, articles, reviews, essays and more. This edition featured a theme of Cape Breton, making the Centre a perfect launch site. The event was well attended, and many books were sold.
Finally, Ed MacDonald’s new book, Spat the Dummy, a tense, darkly humorous fictional tale, was launched. MacDonald, a three time Gemini award winner for excellence in television writing, decided to launch his debut novel in his hometown of Sydney, and did so with much success.
The Immigrants
The artist and sculptor William Brown has created a piece entitled “The Immigrants,” which should soon rest in a prominent spot along Sydney Harbour. The eight foot high sculpture of a man and a child is at this moment in Las Vegas, being bronzed.
The Old Sydney Society is currently awaiting a formal letter of agreement from Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club to have the piece erected on the boardwalk, facing the entrance to the harbour.
Update from the Museums Committee
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