Heritage Day Event in Great Village

The Great Village Community Association organized a Heritage Day event which took place in the school gymnasium on 7 August 2017. Approximately 75 people attended to hear three guest speakers talk about three different periods of West Colchester’s history. 1. Garrett Gloade — early Mi’kmaw settlement of West Colchester and the Cobequid shore. 2. Bill Casey — the Acadian presence in Colchester and Cumberland counties. 3. Richard Akerman — Great Village’s role as the port of Londonderry during the boom period of the iron ore mines in that community.

Along with several other community groups, the EBSNS contributed a display, which was manned by April Sharpe, the summer student who is helping out at St. James Church. April kindly agreed to write a report for the blog, which follows: 

“Heritage Day was full of history, including the Elizabeth Bishop Display table set up for all to see. Many people came to the table, drawn perhaps by the Elizabeth Bishop doll more than anything. There were people who had no idea who Elizabeth Bishop was, but many more knew of her. Both groups were happy to see the display, to further their knowledge of the famous poet. The pictures of her maternal family members drew the most attention. The Vassar yearbook, citing Great Village as her home and showing her in her youth, made many smile. The display featured publications by and about EB, photographs, and various projects the Society had undertaken including our centenary and roadside banners. EBSNS pencils and walking tour booklets were free for the taking. It was an all around success. "

(A glimpse of Heritage Day and the EBSNS display --
our centenary and roadside banners are on the wall. Photo by Keith Pratt.)