Highland Village Receives Award for Virtual Museum Exhibit

The Highland Village Museum/An Clachan Gàidhealach in Iona, Victoria Co., has received the prestigious Dr. Phyllis R. Blakely Award for outstanding achievement in the archival field from the Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

The award was presented to the Highland Village for its virtual museum exhibition on Cape Breton Gaelic culture, Céilidh air Cheap Breatunn or Cape Breton Céilidh. The exhibit uses archival materials to explore various aspects of Cape Breton Gaelic life, including music, song, storytelling and dance. The interactive exhibit is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada and features video clips, flash movies and a learning centre. The exhibit can be found at www.capebretonceilidh.ca or www.virtualmuseum.ca .

The Blakeley award was established by the Council of Nova Scotia Archives in 1988 as a memorial to Phyllis R. Blakeley, Nova Scotia's first woman provincial archivist. During her 40-year career, she epitomized high standards in archival work and was particularly concerned with spreading the word about archival holdings. The award is presented annually to a council member institution or organization displaying outstanding accomplishments in the archival field.

The award recognizes projects that focus on archival holdings in preservation or an exhibit that uses archival material to educate the public.

Long-time Highland Village volunteer, former board member, and well-known Cape Breton historian, Jim St. Clair was also honoured by the council for his commitment to keep the archival history of Nova Scotia alive.

Mr. St. Clair was presented with the Anna Hamilton Award for Outstanding Voluntary Service to the Nova Scotian Archival Community. With a life-long enthusiasm for genealogy and family history, Mr. St. Clair has researched many of the immigrant families of Cape Breton, people of many ethnic strains.

He has traveled Cape Breton many times as a volunteer for numerous organizations, encouraging and inspiring people and promoting preservation of archival documents.

The Anna Hamilton Memorial Award was established by the Council of Nova Scotia Archives in 2004 to honour one volunteer each year who has served the Nova Scotia archival community with sincere dedication, and in an exemplary fashion, just as Anna Hamilton did for many years. Hamilton was a tireless volunteer who dedicated much of her life to archival work.

These awards were presented in Halifax at the council's annual conference. Highland Village Museum's genealogist, archivist and collections manager, Pauline MacLean, was elected president of the council.

The Council of Nova Scotia Archives is a professional association for archives and archivists in Nova Scotia. The council advocates the importance of archives, preservation of Nova Scotia's documentary heritage and public access to these records through our member institutions.

The Highland Village Museum is part of the Nova Scotia Museum and operated locally by the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society.