Beaton Institute Window Bios

Don Arseneau

Dr. Donald Arseneau is a lifelong educator and community volunteer. He became a professor of chemistry at Xavier Junior College in 1955. He served as the Director of the Bras d’Or Institute, the Alexander Graham Bell Institute, the Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, and the Louisbourg Institute. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Atlantic Coal Institute. He retired from the University College of Cape Breton in 1993.

Sister Dorothy Moore

Sister Dorothy Moore is a Mi’kmaq Educator, Indigenous Elder, and Residential School survivor. She was instrumental in creating the Mi’kmaq Studies Program at the University College of Cape Breton. She served many roles in UCCB, including Native Education Coordinator, Native Studies counsellor and advisor, and Lecturer. Sister Dorothy was awarded the Order of Nova Scotia in 2003 and the Order of Canada in 2005. She received an honorary doctorate from Cape Breton University in 2004. CBU renamed the Mi’kmaq Resource Centre to the Sister Dorothy L’nu Resource Centre in 2023.

Ann Terry MacLellan

Ann Terry MacLellan, known as “Cape Breton’s First Lady,” was a well-known radio personality for CJCB Radio who shared her love of the Island with a wide audience. She later held the role of Director of Tourism at DEVCO. She was also involved with Xavier Junior College, hosting their convocations and teaching public speaking. She helped to inform the communications program at the College of Cape Breton.

Allan J MacEachen

Allan J. MacEachen was a Canadian Senator, Cabinet Minister, and the first Deputy Prime Minister. A Gaelic speaker from Inverness, he had close ties to St. Francis Xavier University but supported the creation of the College of Cape Breton. He served as a Member of Parliament during the amalgamation of Xavier Junior College and Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology in 1974. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister during the opening of the New Campus in 1980. He received an honorary doctorate from University College of Cape Breton in 1997.

John Buchanan

John Buchanan was a Member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly. He was elected as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia in 1971 and was elected Premier of Nova Scotia in 1978. His term as Premier coincided with the new College of Cape Breton Campus opening in 1980. He remained in the position as the College was given degree-granting status in 1982, creating the University College of Cape Breton

Bucky Buchanan

Dr. Carl “Bucky” Buchanan was the first Director of Athletics and built the athletic program at Cape Breton University. He became a professor of Physical Education at Xavier College in 1968 and was instrumental in developing the sports program. He served as the president of the Jeux Canada Games Committee, bringing the games to Cape Breton and the UCCB campus in 1987, and oversaw the construction of the Canada Games Complex. In 2023, Cape Breton University opened the Dr. Carl “Bucky” Buchanan Capers Hall of Fame in his honour.

Greg MacLeod

Fr. Dr. Gregory MacLeod, affectionately known as Father Greg, was a Professor of Philosophy and considered an activist scholar. He was concerned with the economic and social development of Cape Breton. He served as the Director of the Tompkins Institute and played a major role in finding support for Indigenous students at the College of Cape Breton. These supports would become the foundation of Native Studies the precursor to Cape Breton University’s Mi’kmaq Studies Program. Fr. Greg also founded New Dawn Enterprises, a non-profit, volunteer-directed social enterprise dedicated to community building. He was awarded the Order of Canada for his community work.

Sister Margaret Beaton

Sister Margaret Beaton was a librarian and archivist dedicated to Cape Breton’s cultural preservation. She joined the staff of Xavier Junior College in 1955 as the librarian and, through this role, realized the need for a repository for Cape Breton’s historical and literary documents lest they be lost forever. She began collecting relevant documents and created Cape Bretoniana, which would become her full-time focus. Following her tragic passing in 1975, the archive was renamed the Beaton Institute Archives to honour her work and dedication.

Charles MacDonald

Dr. Charles MacDonald was a professor, community developer, and singer. He began teaching Theology at Xavier Junior College and finished his teaching career at the University College of Cape Breton. A founding member of our institution he played many roles in our development. Charles served as the chair of the Humanities Department, where he assisted in developing several programs, including Religious Studies, Philosophy, Mi’kmaq Studies, Folklore, and Music. He was also instrumental in the development of the Bachelor of Arts Degree. He led the development of the Cape Breton Farmers Market and was a founding member of the Cape Breton Chorale. Cape Breton University initiated the “Charles MacDonald Award for Exceptional Service to the Academy” in 2014.

Allan Sullivan

Allan Sullivan QC represented Cape Breton West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. He served as a Minister on the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as the Minister of Mines, Minister of Public Welfare, Minister of Education and Attorney General. He later resigned his seat after he was appointed a judge. He was an ardent supporter of the formation of the College of Cape Breton. He had the difficult task of advocating for post-secondary education in Cape Breton while trying to avoid further rifts between the Island and the Mainland. While minister of education, he advocated for the amalgamation of Xavier Junior College and Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology at the site of the latter. He was Attorney General during the formation of the Bill for the Act to Incorporate the College of Cape Breton and introduced the Bill to the Law Amendments Committee on June 24, 1974. The first building constructed for CCB would be named the Sullivan Field House in honour of his advocacy

Denne Burchell

Justice Charles Denne Burchell was the Attorney for the Cape Breton Development Corporation and served on the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. He was the founding chairman of the Board of Governors of the College of Cape Breton and sat on the Board of Governors for the Graham Bell Institute. He had a special interest in music and was a jazz musician. He helped to draft the Bill for the Act to Incorporate the College of Cape Breton and was an early representative during the discussion for amalgamation.

Fr. Donald Campbell

Dr. Fr. Donald Francis Campbell, affectionately known as Father Donnie, was the first president of the College of Cape Breton and an ardent supporter of its growth. He became the principal of Xavier Junior College in 1964 and would see the institution through to university status. Dr. Campbell worked closely with John Terry, the Principal of Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology, to ensure the blending of their institutions would create positive change in Cape Breton. He was a supporter of the Beaton Institute Archives and was instrumental in the creation of the Art Gallery, commissioning the historic murals by Lewis Parker housed in the Great Hall. He retired from the presidency and returned to teaching Psychology in 1982 after the formation of the University College of Cape Breton, saying he had accomplished all he had hoped to accomplish.