Page 94 - With Jessie Morrison of Cape North - A Cape Breton to Alberta Pioneer

ISSUE : Issue 66

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1994/6/1

would take an animal to market to try and get a little cash in hand and bring the animal back because the price was so low that they were selling for far less than the cost of raising them. It was a very, very difficult period and people started moving away in droves. Just getting up, packing up and moving away and leaving the land that they had worked so hard to cultivate. Very often with very good buildings, just to be abandoned. The people seemed to go mostly north to vari? ous communities around Edmonton, and many went to the Peace River area. Very often, (they were) people who wanted to give up farming. Probably settle in the town and rent the farm on a share basis. It didn't involve cash. And the people who were mov? ing (in) brought their implements and their animals with them.... So my people moved also and they came to a community southwest of Edmonton. And my father bought a quarter-section of land and he rented from the Hudson's Bay anoth? er quarter-section. Pulled up stakes, left the homestead they had given the best years of their life. Left good buildings my father had built a few years previous to the move. A very fine penthouse, but it couldn't accommodate a family, so my moth? er said. But anyway they had to pull up stakes and move. At the age of 5 6--my mother was 56, my father would be 56 in February, And as I mentioned before they bought a quarter-section which was heavily wooded--and started pioneer life over again. My brother was; seventeen, my sister Anna was fifteen and Muriel was twelve. It was extremely hard for both, but espe? cially for my Super' 'T??V/JJ:;NJ|:fJ>)J;J Welton St., Sydney King St., North Sydney Paint St., Port Hawkesbury Kings Rd., Sydney River Reserve St., Glace Bay Stellarton St., New Glasgow ther. The old friends, the community life, and espe? cially the church services left behind. Only her strong faith in her God brought her through. It was a terribly difficult time. It was hard on my father, too, physically as well as emotionally be? cause the land had to be cleared of heavy trees-- largely spruce. And he had to put up buildings, walk? ways. Like her grandpar? ents. Mother had to live in a log house. There were three bedrooms--small, but WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE... Scottish and Acadian Festivals Hiking trails, picnic and camping parks Museums and heritage The warmest waters north of the Carolinas! Cottage crafts and works of art The Cape Breton highlands National Park Fresh and salt water fishing Horse racing, canoeing, and other sports Fine accommodations, gift shops Restaurants Wildlife The Sunset Side 'n|/C'' of Cape Breton Requests for Visitor's Guide, brochures, and general information may be made to: Inverness County Department of Recreation/Tourism P.O. Box 179. Port Hood, N.S. BOE 2W0 (902)787-2274 Message from the Minister OF Fisheries and Oceans WHEN I BECAME MINISTER OF Fisheries and Oceans, I pro? mised that the Govemment of Canada would not tum its baclc on people whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by the downtum in the At? lantic grovmdfish industry. We have kept that promise. We have allotted almost $2 billion for The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy (TAGS), a program meant to assist those affected by the collapse of the groundfish industry and to provide opportunities for their futures. We put legislation in place to crack down on foreign overfishing outside of Canada's 200-mile limit to ensure that our conservation efforts are not compromised. We have consulted with the provinces and industry stakehold? ers to find irmovative solutions to the problems plaguing the grovmdfish sector. We will continue to do so. Let me reassure all of Atlantic Canadians that the Govemment of Canada remains committed to rebuilding a strong and economi? cally viable fishing industry and to stimulate and promote economic growth in the region. I'"! Fisheries Peciies and Oceans et Oceans Brian Tobin Canada

Cape Breton's Magazine