“As we commemorate Remembrance Day this year, along with honouring the service and sacrifice of everyone in our armed forces, the Old Sydney Society wanted to remember how everyone on the homefront experienced those trying times,” says Joyce Rankin, director of the Old Sydney Society which is hosting Tales from the Home Front: Stories of Cape Breton Families during War. “The Society has invited three guest speakers to recount their experiences and memories, both happy and sad, of the Cape Breton home front for this event that is free to all interested members of the public.”
Presenters include Terry Mosley, who will share stories of growing up in Sydney’s North End during World War Two and Debbie Hawco, who will share her family experiences while her husband served in Afghanistan. Ken Chisholm will emcee the event and share some stories from his own family’s wartime experiences as well as from his research for several plays he wrote about Cape Bretoners during the First and Second World Wars.
“After a short tea break, we will encourage our audience to ask questions or make comments on what our guests said and perhaps share their own families’ home front memories,” Rankin says. “Cape Breton has a storied history during Canada’s conflicts: the island’s service people fought with distinction and valour, and furthermore, Sydney harbour was a convoy point, and we were also literally on the frontline. So we are sure we will hear plenty of fascinating, little known, and, yes, heart-breaking stories at this event.”
Tales from the Home Front: Stories of Cape Breton Families during War takes place on Wednesday November 9, 7 pm to 9 pm, at St Patrick’s Church Museum, Esplanade, Sydney.