The Inverness Oran

• Whycocomagh Volunteer Fire Department: 75 years of serving their community
• BOAT: Photographs by Katherine Knight at the Inverness Country Centre for the Arts
• Cape Breton University Opens Nominations for the 2026 Cape Breton Creative Arts Awards
• Judique celebrates all things zucchini at community shindig
• The Doryman Pub & Grill in Chéticamp reaches its 60^th milestone
• U18 Major Islanders open season with 3-point weekend
• Blackstone Knights start defence of title on Oct. 9
• Jr. B Pirates up and running for its 62^nd year in NSJHL
• The new board of governors for Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College
• Canadian Wildlife Federation invites you to join the Great Canadian Bioblitz
• Electrofishing and eDNA collection key to monitoring health of Margaree
  River
• Valley Mills residents call for better storm response and infrastructure
  

-by Rankin MacDonald

The sun came out to mark the occasion.
On Saturday afternoon, the Whycocomagh Volunteer Fire Department gathered their firefighters, friends, and neighbours to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the department.
It was a peaceful affair with MLA Kyle MacQuarrie and Warden Bonny MacIsaac making a visit where there were lots of summer foods and sweets.
Chief Shawn Harrison and Deputy Chief Dale MacAulay had the occasion bright and informative and just about everyone, firefighters and auxiliary, worked to make everyone welcome.
Former firefighter, Burton MacIntyre, in the dress suit he first received when he joined the department was asked to cut the anniversary cake with the chief and deputy chief.
This department keeps a close eye on the structures, the highway, and the trails.
And there is always need for new equipment and much training.
The old fire hall still stands in the village but the new century brought a spacious, bright area to do this training.
The old hall had outlived its purpose so the department went to work and with the provincial government’s help a new fire station was created.
There are 19 firefighters at Whycocomagh.
The brigade serves between 2,500 and 3,000.
Harrison, who has served as chief since 2015, has been on the department for 17 years.
He said he’d like to have about 25 members, so if you want to protect your place, join up. Those, there, are great to turn out and they have a good relationship with the We’koqma’q department next door.
The Whycocomagh department was incorporated in January 1951 with John Allen Waters as its first chief and Charles MacMillan as deputy chief. The first fire hall was built between 1963 and 1964, and its first major equipment acquisition came in 1968 when it purchased a 300-gallon tanker.
The department moved into its current hall in 2010 and was able to pay it off six years later thanks to the local community, which supports it many fundraisers. Harrison says he hopes to see the department’s main pumper truck – which was purchased last year – be paid off this year. That truck, which includes a 1,500-gallon tank, had a price tag of $572,000.
The community is good to support the department.
According to Fire Chief Shawn Harrison:
The earliest record of a formal organization comes from a minute book dated 1942 which appears to detail several house fires that occurred which served as an impetus to form an organization. In 1948, a Wajax water pump was purchased and in 1951 a trailer pump. It was at this time on January 22, 1951 that the department was officially formed according to some of the original past members.
Through a public meeting, John Allen Waters was elected Fire Chief and Charles MacMillan was elected Deputy Chief. At the same time, Eddie Poole and John Lewis MacKeigan were appointed to find land for a firehall which was built between 1963-64. In June of 1968, the Ladies Auxiliary was formed to assist the department in fundraising activities and proved to be a vital and necessary addition to the department.
In November of 1968 bylaws were introduced and a 3000-gallon tanker from Crown Assets Argentia Newfoundland was purchased for the department. With the purchase of existing land beside the hall, logs were cut and traded for lumber to put an addition on the hall. The department was incorporated in 1974 and joined Strait Area Mutual Aid in December 1976 and is still an active member today.
In 1986 a 4WD GMC 3500 truck was purchased and GM MacDonald Welding was contracted to fabricate and install a 300-gallon tank and pump with storage compartments making it the departments first mini-pumper which remained in service until the fall of 2017 when it was replaced with a new Ford F550 unit, fabricated by Carl Thibault Fire Trucks in Quebec.
In 1991, Strait Area Mutual Aid installed a communications tower and repeater tower in the upper Provincial Park in Whycocomagh which allowed a new paging system to be used to contact departments for emergency calls. The new system eliminated the landline service to notify departments of emergency calls and by 1996 the old system was completely discontinued.
In 1987 a Dodge Ram van was purchased to serve as a medical truck for the department and in 1996 GM MacDonald Welding was contracted to fabricate and install a 1,250-gallon water tank, pump and compartment storage to be installed on a new single axle Mack truck that was purchased in the fall of 1995. Once completed, it would become the main pumper truck for the department until July of 2024 when it was replaced with a new Freightliner pumper with a 1,500-gallon water tank. This new unit was built by Metalfab Fire Trucks in New Brunswick.
In 2001 the Jaws of Life Coalition was formed between Whycocomagh, Blues Mills, Valley Mills and Scotsville to purchase extrication equipment used during motor vehicle accidents. The first training was held in October 2002 in Scotsville. The equipment was replaced in 2020 with Holmatro Extrication equipment.
In 2008 work began on building a new fire hall and in 2010 the department moved to the existing hall which also has an EHS bay attached.
With support from government, municipal and our community, we were able to hold a mortgage burning in 2016 and named the fire hall the Ian R. MacKeigan Community Hall.
A huge thank you need to go out to all former members, ladie's auxiliary, their families, our fellow departments and especially the communities we serve for your support throughout the past 75 years for without it, none of this would have been possible.
Active member list: Shawn Harrison, fire chief; Dale MacAulay, deputy chief; Jordan MacRitchie, deputy chief; Matt Brosens; Ken Hunter; Lisa Harrison; Greg Jones; Jordan Keeling; Jamie MacInnis; Derek MacInnis; John Lewis MacKeigan; Robbie MacLean; Sherryl Harrison-Mousek; Zach Simpson; Jamie Sutherland; Andrew Tubman;
Nancy Turbill; and Curtis vandenHeuval.

A good goaltender fixes mistakes, which is what U18 Major Islanders backstop Leo Forance did here with a big save in Saturday’s season-opener, with two Pictou County players in ideal scoring positions.

-by Bill Dunphy

A big win on Saturday and a shootout loss on Sunday got the Cape Breton West Islanders off to a three-point start in their 2026-27 Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League season.

                The Islanders rallied from down one in the first on Saturday to beat Pictou County Weeks 4-1. On Sunday, they led the Cole Harbour Hunters 4-0 and 5-3 by periods but couldn’t close it out in a 6-5 loss in a shootout.

                Both games were played at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre in Port Hood.

                Islanders coach Keenan Gillis said he will take the three points but it’s early in the season and they have lots to work on.

                “In our first game we were trying to feel Pictou out and everybody trying to put up numbers rather than playing as a team. Against Cole Harbour we had a really good first period, possibly the best period we played all weekend,” Gillis said.

                “But in both games we needed to play a full 60 minutes. There were a lot of odd-man rushes. Defensive zone coverage will be our focus in practice, I didn’t like giving up a goal in the last minute against Cole Harbour. We’ll get there, working together, working the full 60 minutes, and getting the full four lines into it.”

                On Saturday against Pictou, Islanders goaltender Leo Forance was called on to keep the game close while the team found its legs.

                Pictou took advantage of the slow start with a fluky goal midway through the first frame on a faceoff to Forance’s right.

                Jack MacInnis got the Islanders on the board at 5:08 of the second period. A pass to the point by Ryan Davidson down low found Linus Braun, who walked the line to the high slot for a shot, tipped by MacInnis past Pictou goalie Jared Sorhaindo.

                The 1-1 tie carried into the third, where the Islanders established their forecheck in a dominating 20 minutes.

                Davidson scored what would be the winning goal at 4:30, completing a play with rookie forwards Colin Crawford and Asher Sampson.

                Veteran leadership continued to show the way with Hunter MacDonald making it 3-1 during a four-on-four, converting a rebound on a point shot by Sawyer Nadasdi off a feed by Lex Watt.

      And rookie defenceman Oliver MacMullin scored a shorthanded goal at 10:27 for added insurance, set up by a nice pass from Colby Fleet who had caught up to a clearing shot by Kieran MacDonald.

      Pictou had a powerplay and six shots in the final minutes but Forance held the fort for the 4-1 win, making 30 saves in total.

      Davidson said scoring the winning goal wasn’t as hard as it was just to get on the ice in the third.

      “That was my first shift of the period – I had a lace snap on the bench. Once Dan (trainer MacDonald) got the skate laced again, coach said “You’re up” and 10 seconds in Crawford threw me the puck and from then on it was history,” he said.

      “We have a lot of leaders in the room and the first-years were rolling. We took some stupid penalties in the first so we had to wake up in the second. It all started with Leo (Forance) keeping us in it.”

      The returning players made their presence known in Sunday’s game against Cole Harbour.

      Fleet opened the scoring at 9:24 of the first on a play with Will Chisholm and Davidson.

      Veteran d-man Jonah Ellis made it 2-0 on a feed from Kieran MacDonald at 13:31 and Fleet scored again 18 seconds later, with Chisholm and Sampson getting the helpers.

      Jake MacInnis closed out the 4-0 period with a goal at 16:42, assisted by Crawford and Kieran MacDonald.

      The 60-minute factor came into play in the second frame when the Hunters scored three goals in the first 10 minutes to draw within a goal.

      But with 17 seconds left to play in the period, Will Chisholm put the Islanders up 5-3 with Fleet and Davidson picking up the assists.

      The third period didn’t go quite as planned for the Islanders.

      The game turned chippy early on and Cole Harbour drew within one again with a goal at 8:31.

      At 14:35 Davidson drew a checking from behind minor and tempers flared with all five players from both team who were on the ice getting the gate with 10-minute misconducts. Gone for the Islanders were Davidson, Jack MacInnis, Andrew Jones, and defencemen Braun and Ellis.

      And as luck would have it, the Hunters tied the game 5-5 with 26 seconds left in regulation time. Hugh Burchill, who faced 36 shots in the Islanders goal, held the team in through the overtime period but Cole Harbour got the extra point in the shootout.

      The Islanders take to the road this weekend for two games against the South Shore Mustangs at the Lunenburg County Wellness Centre.

      The following weekend, Sept. 25-27, they are in New Glasgow for an Early Bird tournament. The Islanders play South Shore on Friday at 11 a.m. On Saturday they take on the Fredericton Caps at 9 a.m. and the Kensington Wild at 5:30 p.m.

      The next home games for Cape Breton West are Oct. 3 and 4 when they host the Halifax Macs on Saturday at 6 p.m. and the Mustangs on Sunday at 1 p.m., both at the Al MacInnis Sports Centre.

The original trio of artists to perform every Saturday afternoon at the Doryman were André LeBlanc, Gélase Larade, and Donny LeBlanc. This lineup performed every single Saturday afternoon for a span of 20 years!

-by Rosie Aucoin-Grace

            The Surfside Tavern, or as we know it at present, The Doryman Pub & Grill along main street Chéticamp has been a cornerstone of its community for 60 years – evoking history, loyalty, comfort, and deep local roots. Known for their exceptional reputation of consistent entertainment diversity, warm hospitality, and great cuisine. Yes, six decades of poured pints, shared stories, and memories of gatherings and good times.

            As we look to the future and continue supporting and celebrating our rich local music scene, it is also important to look back at the memories which helped build The Doryman and its reputation. Originally built in 1966 by Seward Chiasson and Milton Aucoin, The Surfside Tavern had been popular amongst locals and tourists alike since day one. The original building, known as the “tavern side” is located in front of the bar and was a men’s-only watering hole, selling bottled beer, draught beer, and bottled wine only. Although it is very hard to believe that only men were allowed in the bar, that is what was common in that era of time. Women were not permitted in the establishment until 1970, when the new owner Eddie (à Milton) Aucoin, decided to double the building’s size and rebrand as the Doryman Beverage Room. The new side of the building, known as the “lounge side” (which is adjacent to the Cabot Trail Road) is where most of the tables still are today and it is also this side of the building that holds the famous Doryman stage. However, the stage was not always located in the same corner. Believe it or not, pre-1980, the stage was comprised of two pool tables with a sheet of plywood on top, and bands (such as Doryman regulars – The Phantoms) would use this set up as a stage.

            In 1977, the Doryman Beverage Room was sold to an accountant from Dartmouth, N.S. named James McCarthy. McCarthy also owned The North End Bar in Halifax. He hired local managers to keep it going. They were: Rhéal Doucet, Arthur LeBlanc, John Joe LeBlanc, and Chester LeLièvre. It was under his ownership that our famous Saturday Afternoon Fiddle Matinée officially began. (It is worth noting however, that previous owner Eddie Aucoin, would hire fiddlers once in a while for a “one-off” gig in the busy summer months in the prior years.) The original trio of artists who performed every Saturday afternoon were Donny LeBlanc, André LeBlanc, and Gélase Larade. This lineup performed every single Saturday afternoon from 1977 until 1997.

            By 1986, the year after their former Acadian Lounge burnt down to the ground, local brothers Wilburt and Ron Aucoin bought the Doryman from McCarthy. In the late 1990s, there was more competition in the Chéticamp bar scene than ever before and in order to compete, different lineups of fiddlers were brought in on Saturdays to draw more customers. The original trio, however, still continued to perform on a regular basis, and they still occasionally take the Doryman stage to this day.

            1992 was another landmark year for the Doryman as the sale of hard liquor was introduced in June of that year. Patrons could now purchase beer, draught, wine by the bottle or glass, spirits, coolers, and food – because in order to sell hard liquor, the Doryman had to offer a food options. The menu might have been basic, with steaks, wings, scallops, clams, chicken fingers, burgers and fries, but people still talk about it to this day. Another important event that occurred in 1992 was the birth of the famous Thursday Night Talent Night. This event began one week before the introduction of the hard liquor license at the Doryman and featured longtime host Gerry Romard as the showrunner. The premise of the show was that the house band would play some songs, and then they would bring up talent from the crowd to perform. The hosting lineup has changed over the years, but Talent Night still happens every Thursday from May to October and draws crowds and talent from all walks of life.

            In November 2006, the Doryman was sold to New Waterford siblings with Chéticamp roots, Gerard, Claude, and Denise LeFort. Under their ownership, this business continued to prosper and attract artists and customers from all over the world. During their tenure, the LeForts expanded the Doryman once again by adding a full kitchen area, relocating the washrooms and adding a basement for storage.

     On Christmas Eve 2010, the Doryman was sold to Claude Bourgeois and Christina Roberts. It was during their ownership that the Doryman Beverage Room was rebranded as the Doryman Pub & Grill and underwent some much-needed renovations such as new windows, siding, roof, carpet, entry doors, and kitchen equipment. It was also during their tenure that popular events such as Wing Night and Chase The Ace were introduced and world-renowned performers such as Ron Hynes, Georgette Jones, and  Brakin’ Tradition. Many popular Acadian country artists from New Brunswick were also frequent performers during this period.

     Claude and Christina carried the Doryman torch until it was purchased by local entrepreneur, Marc Neary, in June 2020. Although purchasing a bar during a pandemic might seem like an unlikely task to some, Neary knew that if he could capitalize on the Doryman’s reputation and find a way to elevate it even more, everything would work out. Since taking over, the current ownership has introduced the very successful Sunday brunch, a Steak and Ale night on Wednesdays, and a brand new live music series with no cover charge on Friday evenings during Wing Night. This business was locked down twice due to Covid-19 restrictions since Neary took over but the downtime provided the chance to do some more major renovations such as two new restrooms, a new sit-down bar, new tables and bar stools, a renovated backbar, and a new walk-in freezer, among others.

     Over the years, many fine fiddlers and remarkable bands have graced the stage in this generational establishment. It is great to see some of the changes in the Doryman and how historical information was incorporated in the new décor, including the late Gerry Romard’s guitar and a plaque in his honour, old memorial photos and tidbits of good times at the Doryman, and the once lost mural painting, a scene of the Cabot Trail painted by local artist J.T. Harris. Thanks to Richard Chiasson, it found its way back to its original home. There is even a corner of the bar dedicated to the longest running and most popular local band – Les Phantoms – who played regularly at the Doryman.

     Although Neary has breathed new life into the Doryman Pub & Grill, he never loses sight of the deep historical attachment to this tavern. The Doryman established itself early on as the place for local musicians in Cape Breton.  Supporting the growth and exposure of local talent was an important role for the pub, which in turn was supported by the community – both the local Cape Breton community and the much larger music community. Its story spans for 60 years and shows no signs of slowing down. One thing remains the same – The Doryman Pub & Grill is a place to gather among friends, to take in some awesome music, have a great meal and to enjoy some good times. It is a special place and its unique history and connection with the community and visitors resonates with many of us – memories to cherish forever!

     During this significant year, there were rounds of events to celebrate 60 years of tradition! Since 1966, The Doryman has been home to the best friends a place could ask for. So many have migrated elsewhere but cannot wait until their next visit home which includes The Doryman. From the first notes of a Saturday fiddle set to the last story told at the bar, this place has gathered a community that feels like family – this year was the time to celebrate that legacy together. There were special guest bands, just to name a few, featuring Lennie Gallant, Scott & Gerald Delhunty, Signal Hill, The Barra MacNeils, Richard Wood, Hal Bruce, our friends from the Magdalen Islands, Robert Bouchard, Third Harmony, Jimmy Rankin, countless amazing fiddlers, very talented local bands and the list goes on. It has been a year of reminiscing, digging out old photos, stories and collecting testimonials about fun times spent at the Doryman! Do you have anything to share with us?

     Speaking with Marc Neary, owner of the Doryman Pub & Grill, he expressed, “As we continue to celebrate our 60^th year in business, we will be hosting our official celebration, the Doryman’s 60^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, October 3^rd. This event will be “an evening of celebration, friendship, stories, and unforgettable music” and will be hosted by Louis Arsenault. The gala will feature six musical segments: Robert Bouchard with full band, Tribute to Gerry Romard (ft. Chester Delaney, Nicole Deveau and Michelle Deveau), The Phantoms Celebration (featuring many alumni of The Phantoms band), The Original Trio (the trio that started it all back in 1977: Donny LeBlanc, André LeBlanc and Gélase Larade), Tribute to Marc Boudreau (ft. Howie MacDonald, Shelly Campbell, Andrea Beaton and Hilda Chiasson) and Risin’ Tide will pay tribute to the ‘Songs of the Doryman.’ The event promises to be a great evening of music that will pay tribute to acts that have meant so much to the Doryman’s story over the years all while continuing to showcase some talent that will carry on the legacy for the years to come. We invite everyone to stay tuned to our Facebook page for further information. We cannot thank our customers enough for all their support over the past 60 years. The Doryman belongs to you, and we will continue to work hard at bringing you the best entertainment we can all while preserving the traditions that got us to this special milestone.”

     (For more information, you may check out Doryman Pub & Grill Facebook page, their website: www.doryman.ca or call 902-224-9909. We continue to invite people to share their photos and stories.