The Interviews

Here is a list of all the interviews I did, in chronological order.

In-Person Interviews – I did these at first, and the writing is more long-form.

• Jeremy and Melanie White, Nyanza Bay (Jan 2012) A couple from elsewhere in Canada moved here and are starting a microbrewery on an old farm property.
• Morwenna Hancock, North Sydney (Feb 2012) A family from the UK have moved to Cape Breton, which was only meant to be a stopover on their way to British Columbia.
• Brian Dean and Erin Phillips, Whitney Pier (Feb 2012) A couple from Ontario and the USA have moved here to start their family and work.

Q+A Series – in chronological order – these were done over the Internet, via email or Facebook. I sent someone 10 questions, they wrote back their responses! It was quicker and saved time and fuel.

• Alicia Penney, Ashby (March 2012) A local singer-songwriter.
• Daniel Harris, New York City (March 2012) A philosophy PhD student.
• Laura MacFarlane, Big Baddeck (March 2012) A mother of two whose husband works in Fort McMurray.
• Carmel Mikol, Halifax (April 2012) A singer-songwriter who grew up in North River.
• Natalie Fraser, Ottawa (May 2012) Born in Sydney, Natalie now lives and works in Ottawa, and in her spare time, she runs to raise money to fund leukemia research.
• Madonna Doucette, Sydney (May 2012) Editor-in-chief of Coastal Braid, an online magazine for and about Cape Breton’s queer community.
• Jay McNeil, Glace Bay (May 2012) News Director for Newcap Radio, Jay also produces web-documentaries, and is the subject of a year-long weight loss challenge.
• Kate Beaton, Toronto (May 2012) Originally from Mabou, Kate is a cartoonist and author of the Doug Wright Award-winning book Hark! A Vagrant.
• Mark Sparrow, Sydney (May 2012) Business Development Officer with the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council, Mark is also passionate about local food and music.
• Wayne McKay, Sydney (May 2012) Originally from Glace Bay, Wayne is the Physical Activity Coordinator for the Cape Breton Region, for the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.
• Steve Sutherland, East Bay (June 2012) The host of CBC Cape Breton’s Information Morning talks about his work on radio and his book on leadership.
• Third Person Press – Julie Serroul, Nancy Waldman, and Sherry D. Ramsey (June 2012). A Cape-Breton based speculative-fiction publisher launches their third anthology of short stories.
• Kelly MacArthur, Sydney (July 2012). The owner of a dance school talks about The Celtic Department, a new series of workshops to teach the Celtic arts.
• Doug Milburn, Sydney (July 2012). Co-owner of Protocase Incorporated, Doug also loves to sail and shares his thoughts about starting a business in Cape Breton.
• Douglas Ronne, Baddeck (July 2012). Lead Software Developer at Protocase Inc, Douglas talks about how he found his way back to Cape Breton. (It’s a great love story!)
• Bryan Picard, North River (August 2012). Chef at the Chanterelle Inn, and food blogger on his blog The Bite House, Bryan Picard is a newcomer to Cape Breton and talks about how his childhood influenced his food loves, and what it’s like to move to the island.
• Zac Tomas, Toronto (August 2012). Attending the Humber Institute and studying Sustainable Energy and Building Technology, Zac talks about growing up in Cape Breton, living out west, and what it would take for him to move back.
• Lorna MacLean, Middle River (August 2012). A local daughter of a dairy farmer, Lorna has her Culinary diploma, loves to bake cakes, hike in the Cape Breton woods, take photos, and garden. She shares her memories of growing up in Middle River.
• Dawn and Margie Beaton, Sydney (September 2012). A musical duo, two sisters originally from Mabou now work in the musical and creative industry in Cape Breton and also play their tunes at festivals all over the island.
• Vince Forrestall, Baddeck, (October 2012). Victoria County’s Naturally Active Physical Activity Strategy Coordinator (whew! that’s a mouthful!), Vince talks about his background in recreational sports and leisure, and what it means to him to be physically active.
• George and Cora-Lee Eisses-Smith (March 2013). A chef and his wife live in Middle River and put on literary-themed dinners, in addition to raising heritage pigs, and working day jobs.
• Angelo Spinazzola, North River (May 2013). A kayak tour owner and operator, musician and traveler.
• Bailey Chapman, Baddeck (May 2013). A university student, lifeguard and waitress.
• David and Michelle Greenwell, Mabou (June 2013). Newcomers from Alberta find the West Coast of the island wonderful.
• Bill Conall, North Shore (July 2013). Author of “The Promised Land: A Novel of Cape Breton” chats about why he needed to write about rural communities.
• Emily Chafe and Steve Rankin (September 2014). A young couple who grew up in Inverness County have come back to make a creative, entrepreneurial life here.

The Risk Takers Series: This series started in January 2014.

• Jenni Welsh on moving to Cape Breton, working with video, taking risks and feeling part of community.
• Hailey Isadore on becoming a mom at 22, and doing design work for her community.
• Denise Arsenault on starting her own business, volunteering and exploring the world around her, as well as raising her son.
• Pamela Johnson on leaving her home in Ontario to move to Cape Breton to finish her graduate degree, and how that changed her life.