2. –
Herald was born May 14, 1933 on Cape
Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Cape Breton
Island was a fishing and mining community
when he was growing up there. He
remembers his childhood being very
comforting, warm, and loving. He said he
remembers the different activities he did and
causing mischief. The first memory Herald
can recall is when he was 5 years old and he
was at school. He said the teacher had not
gotten to school yet to open it, but it was cold
out so Herald crawled through a window;
Herald got in a lot of trouble for breaking
into the school. As far as Herald knows he
was a happy baby, but as a child he was
always very helpful and did what was asked
on him
Childhood
3. –
Life as a child for Herald was a lot of fun.
He said they played a lot of games like
baseball, hockey, horseshoes, he would
go exploring in the woods and on the
shoreline. His childhood was very care
free and never boring. Herald always had
something he could do; he would do odd
jobs for money and work on his bicycle.
Herald shared a story about how his
bicycle got wrecked. He said one day his
brothers, Norman and Alistair, took his
bicycle without him knowing and
crashed it into a pole; all that was left of
the bicycle was two pieces.
Childhood-
continued
4. –
Herald’s earliest happy memories are of time
spent with the family, playing with his
friends after school and going exploring.
Herald said his earliest saddest memory is of
losing his mother when he was 7-8 years old.
The passing of his mother affect Herald
deeply, all he could think of how he would
never see her again and how much he missed
her. When his mother passed his oldest sister
Marguerite took on the responsibility of
running the household and became a mother
figure to Herald. The family became very
close after the passing of his mother and
even the neighbours helped out.
Herald was never really sick as a child but he
did have quite a few minor accidents.
Childhood-
continued
5. –
Herald’s father John, was a miner, and his
mother Christina, a stay at home mom, both
were Nova Scotia born. Herald described his
father as being very easy going, playful, and
hard working. His father always played
horseshoes with him and his siblings and he
would sometimes take them to hockey
games. Herald described his mother as
rough; he said if you were out of line she
would tell you, but Herald said he would
never trade her for the world. His parents got
along very well; he cannot recall his parents
ever having an argument. A few teachings
Herald remembers from his parents is “not to
get in trouble”, “be kind to people”, and
“respect your elders”. Herald’s parents got
along with everyone, they always had people
over for Sunday dinners or they would go to
his uncle’s house for Sunday dinner. Herald
said there were always lots of people over for
dinner and it was always a lot of fun.
Parents
6. –
When Herald got in trouble he knew why
usually because he was told not to do it.
His mother was the boss in the house and
if he did something bad enough all she
would say it “wait until your father gets
home”. Usually if Herald wanted
something he would ask his father and if
it was there he got if not he did not. Most
the time if Herald wanted something he
worked for it by doing odd jobs around
the community. Out of everyone in the
house Herald was closest to his oldest
sister Marguerite and he would go to her
whenever he was upset.
Parents- continued
8. –
Herald shared that his oldest sister
Marguerite was the mother figure of the
household and he would look to her for
guidance. Herald said Agnes was always
trying to tag along with Herald when he was
out with his friends. Herald said that one
time he found a snake and tied it around the
door handle to stop her from following him.
Gerald was always the bookworm and a
goody toe shoe of the family. Herald said all
he could remember about Norman growing
up was that he slept all the time; Norman
later joined the military. Katherine was
always very timid and she still lives out in
Cape Breton. And finally, Alistair was really
young when Herald moved out of this
childhood home so he did not know much
about Alistair growing up.
Family- continued
9. –
Other relatives that were important to
Herald growing up was his uncles, Uncle
Peter from his mother’s side and Uncle
Dave from his father’s side. Uncle Peter
use to drive down every Sunday and pick
up Herald and his siblings and go for a
Sunday drive. Uncle Dave would visit
every second week and play horseshoes
with the family. Both his uncles visited all
the time and were very active in their
family.
Herald’s ancestry is Irish and Scottish; his
mother was from Irish decent and his
father was from Scottish decent.
Family- continued
10. –
The first thing s a teenager that Herald
thinks about is skating, hockey and
baseball. The second thought Herald has
when he thinks about his teenage years is
getting the strap and the pointer in the
knuckles at school. In his teen years
Herald really admired his father. Herald
described his father as very easy going
and easy to talk to. Herald expressed that
he could talk to one of his siblings but he
would rather speak with his father.
Adolescence
11. –
Herald’s favourite activities as a teenager was
playing hockey. It did not matter whether it was
ball hockey or ice hockey. Herald said that he
loved the breeze of the game and the feel of it. In
the winter all the nurses and nuns would come
down to skate and they would soak cattails and
light them on fire and skate around with them. As
well, sometimes they would burn a tire for
warmth while skating. Herald shared that he
always had food and necessities growing up and
having all his siblings made him feel like he was
never alone. Every winter was tough for the
whole community. Trying to stay warm was
difficult; Herald had the duty of finding wood or
coal to heat the home in the winter. He shared
that he would wait for a train with carts full of
coal and try to knock some of the coal out and go
back and collect it. That was one way that Herald
would collect coal for his family to stay warm in
the winter.
Adolescence-
continued
12. –
One of Herald’s favourite moments from his
adolescence was Christmas holiday. He
enjoyed the whole atmosphere of Christmas
and the time he would use to play hockey or
go sledging. One of his least favourite
moments of his adolescence was getting into
fights at school. Herald would get into fights
at school with certain guys over
disagreements but Herald admitted he was
not a great fighter.
Herald said in his teenager years he did not
have any girlfriends, but he did have a few
crushes; however he never got involved.
Overall, Herald felt that he was a happy
teenager and had lots of good experiences.
Adolescence-
continued
13. –
In Herald’s early years he remembers
almost loosing a finger while fixing his
bike. He said he spun the wheel of his
bike and his fingers got caught in the
spokes and nearly sliced his finger off.
When Herald was living at home his
household was very involved in the
Salvation Army. His Uncle Dave and his
father played in the band, and every
summer they would preform in front of
the hospital. Also, when Herald was
younger he was put into Sunday school,
which he did not like because he felt he
rather be outside playing with his friends
and having fun.
General
14. –
The school Herald went to was called St.
Anne’s. It was a large school made up of
three separate buildings, a grade school,
middle school and high school. Herald
said that he felt that St. Anne’s was a
good school with lots of good teachers.
The school had lots of sport teams and
activities like football, basketball, and
baseball. Herald said he went to school as
far as grade 9. Two teachers Herald
remembers really well are Ms. Anderson
and Ms. Casey. Ms. Anderson Herald
really liked, but Herald did not like Ms.
Casey because she enjoyed using the
pointer.
School
15. –
Herald’s childhood best friends were
Arthur Eagles and Gerald Peters. Herald
shared that he did not keep in close
contact with them, but when they got
together it was like they never were
apart. On a cold day at school when
Herald broke into the school, it was
Arthur and Gerald that followed him into
the school.
Herald shared that if he had the
opportunity to go back to school he
would like to take three subjects: history,
geography and math. Herald said he was
always good at math and never had any
trouble in that topic.
School- continued
16. –
Herald stated that his adulthood was a
lot of fun. Life was good and he always
did lots of things. He would go skating,
and roller-skating. In his twenties, life
was about hanging out with the boys and
going after some girls; he said he had a
lot of fun all the time. Herald said he
would describe himself as easy going,
and polite; he said you had to be polite or
you would get a smack upside his head.
He enjoyed many activities like hockey,
sledding, fishing and even cricket.
Adulthood
17. –
Herald never bought a house in his
lifetime. Herald when he first moved to
Ontario he lived in room and board
arrangements with room mates most of
the time. When he married Betty they
rented an apartment together. Betty was
the one that did not want to live in a
house again because houses are a lot of
work to take care of.
Family & Home
18. –
Herald did not have any children of his
own, but he was father to his nieces and
nephews.
Family & Home-
continued
19. –
Herald had the opportunity to get to know
Danny and Denise in their teenage years.
Herald said that Danny held a house party
when Herald and Betty were gone. At this
house party Danny’s friend broke the kitchen
sink and the house was a mess.
Denise had trouble in school; she would skip
school all the time because she did not get
along with the teachers. She would watch for
Herald out the window of their home and
when she saw Herald getting off the bus she
would leave the home and go hang out
somewhere until it was around the time
school ended then come home.
Family & Home-
continued
20. –
Herald expressed that his family life was wonderful
and he really enjoyed it. Overall, Herald feels really
good about his children because he feels like they
were all good kids. Herald would rate his child
rearing skills a 3, 1 being bad and 10 being great,
because he said he was not much help for them for
school things, but they would come to him and talk
to him. Herald rated Betty’s child rearing skills as a
10, he said that the children really listened to her and
she was fair. Herald said that often he was softer
than Betty so he would tend to give in to the children
more than Betty.
When Danny and Denise left home Herald felt that it
was good, but he missed them. He said when you go
from a house of 4 to a house of 2 it felt empty. Darrell
moved home for a short awhile because he was tired
of travelling. Herald said that Darrell was a
wonderer when he was young; he worked lots of
different jobs all over the world.
Family & Home-
continued
21. –
Herald says his relationship with his children
now is wonderful and his relationship with
them has always been positive. He was always
proud of the children when they graduated
from school. Herald was only really
disappointed twice by his children, when
Danny through a party and when Denise was
skipping school. Although he was disappointed
then he said he is very proud of them now.
Other family members in Herald’s life that play
a large role are his sister’s children. Death of
family members affect Herald badly, the death
of a family member tends to hit him harder than
most. When two of his nieces died, Donna and
Ann Marie, he felt a great amount of sadness
because they had once looked after him. Herald
believes that family is very important in society,
especially in Cape Breton. In Cape Breton family
and community is a very important aspect of
everyone’s life compared to Toronto.
Family & Home-
continued
22. –
Herald shared that the recession and depression
did hit his family hard, but his family always
pulled through. He was young when the war
was going on so he does not think it affected his
life all that much. However, Herald remembered
that his family had to use food stamps to help
them get by.
Herald never really followed any fades, but he
was into Country Western Music and Western
movies.
Herald recalls his trips he took to Europe as an
special occasion. He travelled to Germany with
Betty to see their son and to also see the sites. As
well, Herald went to Italy, Paris, and France
with Betty too. When Herald was younger he
went to Switzerland for a hockey tournament,
which was really exciting for him. Something
Herald remembers well about his trips to these
other countries is the food and the beer, as well
as the historical sites.
Eras & Galas
23. –
Besides being involved in the Salvation
Army and going to Sunday school when
he was young Herald was never a part of
a religion or church. Herald also, tries to
live his life day to day rather than living
his life by some belief. However, Betty
was stricter and liked to have a schedule
and a plan for everything.
Religion
24. –
Herald said that he has very vivid
dreams and they often feel real
sometimes. Herald shared that
sometimes the dreams startle him so
much he wakes up in a cold sweat. He
said that his dreams have definitely
changed with time, he more often dreams
of the good times which is nicer than the
other dreams he has.
Dreams
25. –
Herald said he does not hold a political
view. He feels that things are always in
turmoil these days in the government
and he hopes that Trudeau will be able to
change that in given time. Herald also
pointed out the American election and
said that he does not know what our
country is going to do if Trump is elected
President in the United States. Herald
said that he does not get the fuss over the
Syrian Refugees, he believes that they
should get a chance to live in Canada and
experience a better life.
Politics
26. –
Someone Herald has not mentioned that he
felt like he could always depend on is his
friend Clifford Carron. Clifford Carron is
from Cape Breton and he use to live down
the street from Herald when they were
children. Herald shared that him and Clifford
would go out skating and playing ice and
ball hockey together all the time.
Some neighbours that stand out in Herald’s
memories are his neighbours from Cape
Breton, the McNeils and the Peters. The
McNeils and Peters were good neighbours
that Herald previously did chores for when
he was young. Compared to Toronto Herald
said that his neighbours in Cape Breton were
a lot friendlier. In Toronto Herald said you
hardly know your neighbour, he said he tried
waving and saying hello to his neighbour
once and he just looked right through him.
Significant Others
27. –
Throughout Herald’s life he said that he has had
bad and good influences. The bad influences
that he met were usually the people who tend to
get rowdy. Herald said these rowdy friends
were fun loving and good people, but he would
not get involved in doing the things that they
did. A positive influence Herald recalls is Aubrie
Donavan; Herald said that Aubrie was a good
student that did not skip school. Herald said
that Aubrie joined the air force, which Herald
was not surprised about because Aubrie and
Herald would build model airplanes together.
Herald said he would like to renew his
relationship with ‘the boys’ from Toronto. Over
time Herald said the boys separated got married
and moved away. So he is curious to see how
they made out and how they are doing. Herald
said that when he goes back to Cape Breton and
sees his friends there they pick up where they
left off.
Influences
28. –
Herald said he had dogs when he was
young, King and Max. A pet Herald
remembers well is this stray cat that hang
around there home. Herald said that this
cat was very wise; it would look both
ways before crossing the road. However,
Herald believes that his cat was poisoned
because he got really sick and died.
Pets
29. –
Something that was very important in
Herald’s life is hockey. Herald said his
life without hockey looks dull. He has
always liked playing hockey and
watching his favourite hockey team the
Montreal Canadiens play. Herald has
many good memories of playing hockey
with ‘the boys’, back home in Cape
Breton (in the hospital parking lot) and
playing ice hockey in the winter.
Hockey
30. –
Herald shared that he has always
admired Wolves. He said that they look
so sleek and the way they move is very
beautiful. Herald has seen a wolf as a pet
and in a zoo up close. He saw one in the
wild in Margaree Valley Northern Nova
Scotia. In contrast to how beautiful
Herald thinks wolves are, he thinks that
Moose are the very unattractive; he said
that they are not the best looking animals
he has seen.
Sensory
Experiences: Sights
31. –
Herald has some vivid memories of odours,
when he was a mailman he has a memory of
skunks. There was one day when Herald was
out delivering mail and he nearly stepped on
a skunk, and luckily the skunk did not spray
him. Herald said he could smell the skunk
before he saw it. Another smell that Herald
remembers vividly is the smell of the farms
when he was a child. As well, Herald
remembers smell of the packing plant on the
corner of St. Clair and Keel in Toronto,
Herald said that you could really smell that
place. A pleasant smell Herald remembers is
of Bacon. Herald said that he loves the smell
of bacon and the taste of bacon, but he can no
longer eat bacon anymore.
Sensory
Experiences: Smells
32. –
Movement that Herald associates with
memory is skating. Skating brings back
memories of the cold, the pain in his
fingers and toes when he tried to warm
them back up, the nuns and nurses; he
remembers how skating brought people
together. Another movement that brings
back memories and the movement of
walking, Herald said when he walks it
brings up this feeling of having to keep
up.
Sensory Experience:
Movement
33. –
Herald’s favourite pastime is going for
walks outside; in the past Herald
particularly enjoyed playing hockey. A
pastime Herald started with Betty was
they would go out dancing together.
Herald said he was never really artsy or
creative, but when he was a child he
enjoyed colouring in colouring books and
doing jigsaw puzzles.
Entertainment
34. –
Herald is a big fan of Western and Detective/
Mystery movies. Particular actors he likes are
Bill Hitchcock, Gene Autry, Lish Rue, and
Clint Eastwood. Also, Herald enjoyed
Crime/Mystery Television shows. Herald
really liked the Guy Lombardo show, which
is an orchestra show that was on TV. A radio
broadcast Herald use to listen to was the
Creaking Door and Hockey Night in Canada,
when he had the time to listen. As well,
Herald really enjoys Country Western style
of music like Hank Snow, Hank Williams,
and Merle Haggard. One of his favourite
songs is by Hank Snow called Mother;
Herald said he really enjoys the singing and
lyrics of the song. Another song Herald likes
is Okie from Muskogee by Merle Haggard.
Entertainment-
continued
35. –
Herald has a few favourite foods and he
admits to being fawn of most foods. In
particular he enjoys hamburgers,
scalloped potatoes and ham, and fish
cakes. He does not have a special
restaurant he likes; him and Betty would
try any restaurant to eat at. Herald said
he does not like cooking much because
by the time you finish cooking your meal
you are not hungry anymore and do not
want to eat it.
It is no surprise Herald has an interest in
hockey, but Herald also has an interest in
baseball, darts, curling, boxing (every
Friday night) and the Olympics.
Entertainment-
continued
36. –
In Cape Breton as a child Herald’s family
had a vegetable garden they shared with
another family. They grew potatoes,
cabbage, turnip, and carrots. Betty really
liked to grow houseplants, but Herald
never really had any interest or time to
take care of plants.
Herald said he and Betty had plans to
travel across Canada, but when Betty got
sick their plans got cancelled. Herald said
he would not want to travel by himself,
he would only want to travel with Betty
because she is a good travel companion.
Entertainment-
continued
37. –
Something Herald is really proud of is being
born in Canada. He says considering the world
we live in today being in Canada is something
to be proud; especially the East Coast. Herald
wishes now that he did not avoid school. If he
could go back in time he would have finished
his schooling or go further than what he did.
Growing up Heralduse to do lots of chores for
the elderly in his neighbourhood. Herald feels
that people should look out for each other. He
would run earns for his neighbours for nothing
just to help them out. Even now Herald still
likes to help people when he can.
Herald would treat himself too. Herald would
go around collecting scrap when he was young
to get some extra money and he would go to the
restaurant and eat pie, ice cream, 7up, anything
really he could get.
Triumphs &
Regrets
38. –
Herald said his best qualities are that he is:
1. Caring
2. Patient
3. Resourceful
As a child Herald would describe himself as
very helpful, easy-going and patient. In fact
Herald said that throughout his entire life he
has been an easy-going guy. When he got
older (in his teenage and adult years) he was
very active, always walking or playing
sports. A lot of these qualities Herald still
has, he is still very active, caring, helpful,
patient and easy going.
Best Qualities &
Self-Description
39. –
A major turning point in Herald’s life
was when he started getting sick in
November 2012. When he started getting
sick he started thinking about his family
and life differently. As well, he had to
adjust to giving up some of his
independence. Herald said that Betty
went through a lot of the same thing so
she understood what he was going
through. Herald has learned to take each
day one at a time. He is not afraid of
death and he does not think about it
because he is content in living each day.
Turning Points in Life
40. –
The kindest person Herald has ever
known is his wife Betty. Herald said that
she is someone who would give her shirt
off her back to someone. She has always
been very kind and caring towards
people. Also, Herald said his sisters were
some of the kindest people he has
known, they took care of him. The most
unkind person Herald knew that this
bully from school, he use to pick on
people just for fun.
Kind & Most Unkind
People Herald has
known
41. –
The most interesting experience Herald
had was when he travelled to
Switzerland. He said that the scenery and
the people were all so different; the
people were very friendly there. The
most boring experience Herald had was
French class in school, he did not find it
very interesting at all.
Most Interesting &
Boring Experiences
42. –
The best place Herald said he lived was
in Cape Breton, Herald loves the way of
life in his hometown. Comparatively, the
worst place Herald has lived was
Toronto. What Herald did not like about
Toronto was that you hardly knew your
neighbour because no one spoke to each
other.
Best & Worst Places
Herald has Lived
43. –
1. To never change his way of life
2. To finish school to grade 12
3. To be able to help people by doing
things for them and to check on them
Herald’s Three
Wishes
44. –
Overall Herald said he has lived a very good
life, although he said it was nothing special he
enjoyed everything he did. The only thing
Herald said he would change if he could is that
he would have stuck with school longer.
Herald’s three main satisfactions in life were
meeting Betty, moving to Toronto, and ending
up in Crown Ridge Place. His only
disappointment in life was not finishing school.
Although Herald did mention about how his
brothers broke his bicycle into pieces after
working on it all winter to get it ready for the
summer, as another disappointment in his life.
The hardest thing Herald faced in his life was
growing up without his mother. Also, Herald
added that he always had a hard time getting up
in the morning for school when he was young.
The happiest period in his life was when he was
young; especially when he got his first hockey
stick and puck.
Final Summary
45. –
If Herald could stay the same age all his life he
would pick 20. Herald said when he was 20
years old he was still young, but he was
becoming more mature at the same time. At his
age now Herald is worried about falling apart,
he said his body does not work the way it use to.
However, the best thing about being his age now
is the all the memories he has.
As Herald grows older he fears losing his
eyesight completely. However, Herald said he is
not afraid of death because we all end up there
eventually. Herald hopes that as he grows older
that he will be well taken care of.
In life Herald did not do anything he did not
want to do. He said if anyone asked him if he
wanted to go to the opera he would say no, but
if someone needed help with something he
would be more than willing.
Final Summary-
continued
