CBU Mourns the loss of Dr. Silver Donald Cameron

To the Campus Community,

Today, I am writing to inform you of the loss of Cape Breton University friend and supporter, Dr. Silver Donald Cameron. Dr. Cameron had great impact on CBU and his loss will surely be felt by the CBU community, the Nation, and indeed the world.

A journalist, author, playwright and university teacher, Dr. Cameron holds an Honorary Doctorate from Cape Breton University and he served as the Dean of Community Studies from 1994 to 1996. During this time, he was a strong proponent of the BACS degree, and his many contributions to the School of Arts and Social Sciences can still be felt today.

His most recent project, and one that he was very passionate about, is TheGreenInterview.com, a collection of in-depth discussions with leaders in environmental protection about a green, sustainable future. It is through this platform, Dr. Cameron was able to draw attention to a new era of thinking about the environment. As part of this project, an interview held in June 2019, brought Dr. Cameron home to us at CBU to interview Margaret Attwood in front of a full house at the Boardmore Playhouse.

It was also on this date last June that Dr. Cameron was announced as the first chairholder of the Farley Mowat Chair in the Environment at Cape Breton University. He was tenacious by nature, and very much looking forward to all that he would accomplish in this new role.

His literary work included plays, films, radio/T.V. scripts, corporate/government writing, hundreds of magazine articles and 18 books. He was also the founder of Development Isle Madame and the unique community T.V. station CIMC-TV, known as Telile. His passion for Cape Breton was immense, and he gave back to his community whenever he could.

In 2012, he was appointed to both the Order of Canada and the Order of Nova Scotia, and was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. For when Donald did something, he put his whole heart into it.

Dr. Silver Donald Cameron is survived by his wife, Marjorie Simmins, who is also an award-winning author and essayist and together they have five adult children.

Dr. Cameron will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him, and we will carry on his legacy through Cape Breton University’s dedication to the protection of the environment. His contributions to our CBU community were vast, and will not be forgotten.

Please join me in celebrating the life of Dr. Silver Donald Cameron and sending our heartfelt condolences to Marjorie and his family.

Your very truly,

David C. Dingwall

President and Vice-Chancellor

Cape Breton University