Nominations still being accepted

McLennan award recognizes contributions to arts, culture, heritage

Nominations are being accepted until June 19 for the Katharine McLennan Award.

The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the arts, culture or the historical preservation of Cape Breton Island and will go to someone who shows leadership, integrity, social responsibility and a willingness to serve the community.

Past winners include John C. O’Donnell (2013); Shirley Chernin (2014); Ronald Caplan (2015) and Rosemary McGhee (2016).

McLennan advocated for the designation of the Fortress Louisbourg as a national historic site.

“The Katharine McLennan Award came about as a result of a partnership between the Beaton Institute, the Cape Breton Regional Library, the Fortress Louisbourg Association and Parks Canada, to tell the life story of Katharine McLennan and to bring public awareness to her contributions,” said Catherine Arseneau, director of cultural resources, Cape Breton University.

“Through this award it is hoped a continuing legacy of the project will be the recognition of others who today continue to enrich Cape Breton Island’s artistic, cultural and heritage communities.

“Katharine’s life was spent in service to her community; she served as a First World War nurse, she was an artist and photographer and a community developer of museums and libraries.”

The recipient of the award will be honoured at a ceremony in September.

The Through Her Eyes: Katharine McLennan website includes the names of former recipients. The award recipient will receive a National Parks Discovery Family Pass for 2018 and have the opportunity, if they wish, to access the Fortress Louisbourg site to hold a fundraising event benefiting a charitable organization of their choice.

For more information, eligibility standards and the nomination form visit http://www.kmclennan.com/legacy/.