Open House with the Tran Family

On Sunday, June 18th the Chestico Museum will hold a very special Open House from 7 PM until 9 PM. The museum will host ten members of the Tran family. The Trans fled Vietnam more than four decades ago and found refuge in Port Hood, sponsored by St. Peter’s & St. Stephen’s Helping Hands Refugee Outreach. The family called Port Hood home from 1980 to 1982, before resettling in Ontario.

Our photo was taken in Toronto in 2012. It is the ten members of the Tran family who will be in Port Hood this week for the first time since leaving 41 years ago.

Back Row: (L to R) Tim (husband of Jenny Tran); Tony Tran; Irene Tran (wife of Tony); Jenny Tran; Vivian Tran; Gary Thai (husband of Holly Tran) and Andy Tran

Front Row: Ann and Ben Tran; John Gillies; Holly Tran

We hope you will join us at the museum on Sunday evening as we welcome the Trans back to Port Hood! 

Historic Environment Scotland Speakers


The Chestico Museum & Historical Society in partnership with Dr. Karly Kehoe, Canada Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Communities at Saint Mary’s University, present:

Two Guest Lecturers from Historic Environment Scotland

Eve Boyle, Senior Heritage Engagement Officer, Historic Environment Scotland: Rural Settlement in Highland Scotland in the 18th and 19th Centuries: Improvement and Clearance

Andrew Nicoll, Deputy Head of Archives, Historic Environment Scotland: Online Archive Sources for Exploring Scottish History

Tea will be served.

Admission Free – Donations Gratefully Accepted

Student Employment Opportunities 2023

The Chestico Museum is currently accepting applications for summer students for the 2023 season.

The ideal candidates will excel at public speaking and engaging with members of the public, possess strong verbal and interpersonal skills and will be efficient and well organized. The ability to multi-task and strong IT skills are key requirements. Knowledge of local history is an asset.

Tasks will include guiding museum tours, assisting visitors with historical and genealogical research, organizing museum events (including our weekly summer ceilidhs), creating exhibits and updating our collections database.

The first position will run from May 29 until September 1, 2023. It is made possible by funding received through the Nova Scotia Student Summer Skills Incentive (SKILL) Program. This position is open to students who have been accepted at a post-secondary institution for full-time study beginning in September 2023. The position is for 14 weeks – 35 hours per week at a rate of pay of $14.50/hour.

The second position will run from July 3 until August 25, 2023. It is made possible by funding received through the Canada Summer Jobs program. The position is open to youth between 15 and 30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period who are legally entitled to work in Canada and who have a valid Social Insurance Number.

Interested individuals may email a cover letter and resume to: chesticomuseum@ns.aliantzinc.ca

Deadline for applications is May 5, 2023.

2022 Calendar Now 50% Off

The remaining 2022 Chestico Museum calendars are now discounted by 50%. The photos by page are:

Cover: View of the crowd at the horse races on the Irish Road ca. 1959

January: Stanley Cup Winner & Olympic Gold Medalist Allan MacInnis. Also features his teammates on a 1976-77 Port Hood team.

February: Leanne MacDonald – All-Canadian University Hockey Athlete

March: Port Hood Precision Skating Team – National Figure Skating Competitors (1983)

April: Glenna Morris / Coline (MacDonald) MacEachern – Boston Marathon Competitors

May: Cape Breton West Islanders 2016 – 2017 Major Midget Team – National Hockey Champions

June: Port Hood Pacers Girls “A” Softball Team 1988-89 – Provincial Champions

July: Duncan Gillis – Olympic Silver Medalist and Canadian Heavyweight Wrestling Champion

August: Basil Matthew Laidlaw – International Boxing Champion

September: Roy Volo – Maritime Provinces Champion Harness Race Horse

October: Port Hood Pee Wee “A” Bees Hockey Team 2006-07 – Provincial Champions

November: Bruce Beaton – Two-time Grey Cup Champion (2003 & 2005)

December: Port Hood Consolidated Boys “A” Hockey Team 1981-82 – Provincial Champions

The calendar costs $20 and is available at the Chestico Museum.

We are happy to mail calendars to anyone who would like one.

The cost of the calendar, including shipping and handling, is $14.50 for people in Canada.

The cost of the calendar, including shipping to the USA, is $16.40.

To order, you can mail a cheque to:

Chestico Museum
P.O. Box 144
Port Hood, Nova Scotia
B0E 2W0

Canadians can also e-transfer to: chesticomuseum@ns.aliantzinc.ca

If you e-transfer, please include your mailing address in the comments.

The photographs and extensive research information within the calendar ensure it will be a valued keepsake long after 2022 is relegated to memory.

Online Art Auction

The Chestico Museum & Historical Society is holding an Online Art Auction. This event is a fundraising effort to support the work of the museum.

The art auction will be held on our Facebook page.

Items will be added on Wednesday, October 20th for VIEWING ONLY.

Bidding will begin at Noon ADT on Friday, October 22nd.

This is our first online auction and we thank all the donors for their generous contributions!

Bob Martin – Cathy Gillies – Clare Gillies – Darryl MacLeod – Debbie MacDonell – Diane MacInnis – Gillian McCulloch – Helen MacDonald – Janet Goodwin – Jeanette MacNeil – John Campbell – Louise Mallette – Monica Goodall – Peggy Burke – Rob Martin – Roberta Watts – Steve Malick – Tom Ryan – Vince MacInnis

CHESTICO MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY ONLINE ART AUCTION RULES
The Auction will run from NOON ADT Friday, October 22nd to Sunday, October 24th at 8 PM ADT. After this no further bids will be accepted.

BIDDING PROCEDURES:
All items up for bid will be displayed ONLY on our Facebook event page. All items will have a minimum bid and that must be the first bid (or a higher bid), after that the bid goes up by a certain increment which will be indicated under the photo. Only comment on the photo with your bid, nothing else. Items will start being posted at Wednesday, October 20th for viewing ONLY. Comments will be disabled until the auction start time of NOON ADT on October 22nd.

WINNING BIDS:
The participants with the highest bids at the close of the auction become buyers and are obligated to purchase the item(s). Once bidding has closed, winners will be contacted to make payment arrangements. Full payment of the winning bid must be completed with 48 hours of the auction closure.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
E-transfer to: chesticomuseum@ns.aliantzinc.ca or in person (by cash or cheque) at the museum – 8095 Route 19, Port Hood.

CLAIM ITEMS:
Winning bidders may claim their items at the Chestico Museum between 9 AM and 5 PM on Monday, October 25th and Tuesday, October 26th. If you live out of town, you are responsible for the shipping of the item (which includes paying for all shipping costs and supplies).

The following conditions apply to all the items in the auction:
• All sales are final. Items may not be exchanged and no money will be refunded.
• The opening bid is an estimate of the item’s market value. Values are not guaranteed by the Chestico Museum & Historical Society.
• You, the bidder, are responsible for the shipping of the item if you are unable to travel to Port Hood to pick up your item.

We hope you enjoy our first Online Art Auction!