Kenzie MacNeil

Kenzie MacNeil {{postnominals|country=CAN|ONS}} (2 September 1952 – 24 July 2021) was a Canadian songwriter, performer, producer and director in television, film, radio and stage, and a former Conservative Party of Canada candidate.{{Cite news |url= http://www.capebretonpost.com/Personal-finance/2007-09-17/article-778483/Film-tax-credit-wont-have-reel-impact-on-Cape-Breton/1 |title=Film tax credit wont have reel impact on Cape Breton |work=The Cape Breton Post|date= 17 September 2007 |author=Laura Jean Grant |access-date=4 April 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002055116/http://www.capebretonpost.com/Personal-finance/2007-09-17/article-778483/Film-tax-credit-wont-have-reel-impact-on-Cape-Breton/1 |archivedate=2 October 2011}} MacNeil completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University. He also studied at the University of Botswana in Lesotho and Swaziland while accompanying his parents on field work with CIDA in Africa for three years.{{Cite web |url= http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2004/riding/012/ |title=Candidate profiles-Canada Votes 2004 |work=CBC |access-date=4 April 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301132428/http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2004/riding/012/ |archivedate=1 March 2007}}

Biography

MacNeil was a major force behind The Rise and Follies of Cape Breton Island, a satirical sketch review that ran from 1978 to 1982.{{Cite news |url=http://www.whatsgoinon.ca/2010/05/cape-breton-summertime-revue-reunion-to-raise-money-for-savoy-theatre/ |title=Cape Breton Summertime Revue reunion to raise money for Savoy Theatre |work=What's going on: Cape Breton's Entertainment Guide |date=26 May 2010 |author=Tera Camus |access-date=28 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124174714/http://www.whatsgoinon.ca/2010/05/cape-breton-summertime-revue-reunion-to-raise-money-for-savoy-theatre/ |archive-date=24 January 2011 }} The revue included songs inspired by the coal and steel industry of Cape Breton and featured local musicians.{{Cite journal |url= http://cjtm.icaap.org/content/14/v14art6.html |title=Labour's Cultural Impact on the Community |journal=Canadian Journal for Traditional Music|author=John C. O'Donnell|year=1986 |access-date=28 December 2010

}} He also served as Artistic Director/Producer of the Cape Breton Music and Theatre Company, and worked as Director of the UCCB Press.

Over the years he contributed to Peter Gzowski's This Country in the Morning and Morningside on CBC Radio, and on some of the most popular television shows of the time: Singalong Jubilee, Ceilidh, Tommy Hunter, Ryan’s Fancy, Ian Tyson, and many others. Kenzie MacNeil also had an active theatrical career performing in productions like Tom Gallant's Step/Dance and with Gordon Pinsent in John and the Missus, and was nominated for an ACTRA award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Last Night in Town. He was involved in the production of the National Film Board's Empty Harbours, Empty Dreams, 12,000 Men, and Scoggie. As well, MacNeil worked as Chair of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation and helped with the creation of soundstages across the mainland and on the Island, and in particular, assisted with bringing the productions Pit Pony and New Waterford Girl to Cape Breton.

MacNeil is best known for his song “The Island,” an unofficial anthem of Cape Breton Island. The song is a tribute to coal industry workers in Nova Scotia.{{cite book |author=O'Brien, Robert |title=Solidarity first: Canadian workers and social cohesion |publisher=UBC Press |location=Vancouver |year=2008 |pages= 107–108 |isbn=978-0-7748-1439-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ39mYY6UtwC&pg=PA107 }} According to Men of the Deeps musical director, John O'Donnell, "the words offer a vivid demonstration that labour in Cape Breton has indeed had a deep cultural impact on the community."

He also worked as a development officer with the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development, and has been the editor and publisher of the Cape Bretoner magazine.

Politics

MacNeil ran as a Conservative Party of Canada in Cape Breton—Canso in the 2004 and 2006 federal elections, coming third and second respectively behind Liberal incumbent Rodger Cuzner.{{Cite web |url= http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2006/riding/012/ |title=Canada Votes 2006 - Candidates and Ridings |work=CBC |access-date=4 April 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108155755/http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2006/riding/012/ |archivedate=8 November 2012}} In the 2019 federal election, MacNeil ran as an independent candidate in Sydney—Victoria,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/michelle-dockrill-kenzie-macneil-cape-breton-federal-election-independents-1.5291619|title=Former MP, local songwriter running as Independents in Cape Breton|publisher=CBC News|date=20 September 2019|access-date=27 July 2021}} but finished in sixth place.{{cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/news/local/video-jaime-battiste-becomes-first-mikmaw-mp-after-winning-riding-of-sydney-victoria-366447/|title=Jaime Battiste becomes first Mi'kmaw MP after winning riding of Sydney-Victoria|publisher=SaltWire Network|date=22 October 2019|access-date=27 July 2021}}

Personal

MacNeil died on 24 July 2021.{{cite web|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/songwriter-behind-iconic-cape-breton-anthem-passes-away-1.5525524|title=Songwriter behind iconic Cape Breton anthem passes away|publisher=CTV News|date=27 July 2021|access-date=27 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/news/kenzie-macneil-known-for-cape-breton-anthem-the-island-dies-100616720/|title=Kenzie MacNeil, known for Cape Breton anthem 'The Island', dies|publisher=SaltWire Network|date=27 July 2021|access-date=27 July 2021}} He was posthumously awarded the Order of Nova Scotia in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://novascotia.ca/iga/2022recipients.asp|title=Order of Nova Scotia: 2022 Recipients|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia}}