MacMillan, MacIsaac making history at first Heritage Awards Gala

PICTOU (The News) - A lifelong educator and a collector and chronicler of historical photographs will be the first recipients of special heritage awards.

Doris MacMillan and Don MacIsaac will be honoured later this month for their efforts in preserving history in the first Pictou County Genealogy and Heritage Society's Heritage Awards Gala.

MacMillan relied on her skills as an educator and her interest in history to document the stories of county teachers from the days of the one-room schoolhouses to today. The project resulted in the publication of Slates to Computers, which the society calls a significant contribution to preserving the memories of Pictou County's teachers and the stories from the classrooms and schoolyards.

MacIsaac might be best known as the name at the bottom of an old-time photo printed in the local newspapers next to the phrase "courtesy of." For decades, he has avidly documented the history of Pictou County through photographs and the collection of dozens of historical photos of the region.

The awards gala, planned for April 26 at the Hector Centre in Pictou, is the society's effort to acknowledge the work of people who have been gathering, protecting and spreading the word about Pictou County's history.

"There are so many everyday people who have contributed to the historical knowledge base of our community, each of them is driven by their passion and not by a desire for recognition," said Darrell Burke, curator of the Hector Centre and McCulloch House Museum.

"But their contributions are invaluable and we felt it was high time to give thanks in a way that pays homage to the gifts they've given us."

The Thomas McCulloch Heritage Stewardship Award will be bestowed annually to individuals who have collected, preserved or shared Pictou County history, either through their direct efforts or through their support of such endeavours.

Recipients can be anyone who has played a role in preserving Pictou County's history, and will not be limited to members of the society.

"The idea behind the award is to make heritage more accessible, more relevant and that means making sure that celebrations such as these are open to anyone who has played a role," Burke said.

The gala will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free. More information on the event is available by calling 485-4563 or by visiting the website, www.saveamoment.ca.