ROSENEATH, P.E.I. — Everyone is invited to attend the annual Brudenell Pioneers Memorial Service, set for Sunday, July 14, 3 p.m., at the Activity Centre of the Brudenell River Provincial Park.
The service is held every year to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival of a group of settlers from Scotland in the fall of 1803, who came to be known as the Brudenell pioneers.
As part of the service, which is held indoors, a memorial wreath will be laid, piper Larry Fitzpatrick will play the lament and there will also be a Scottish poem read.
New this year is special Celtic music being supplied by two well-known musicians on P.E.I. – Norman Stewart and Rannie MacLellan.
Stewart, who has strong eastern P.E.I. roots deeply embedded in Scottish musical culture, is the son of William Stewart, a noted Gaelic singer. He has performed all over P.E.I. for many years, lending his talents to numerous causes and benefits. He also has performed with Lester Stubbert and MacKenzie Drive and is currently a member of Treble with Girls. As a guitar player, he has shared the stage with many fiddlers as an accompanist and is known for his on-stage humour and his great voice. He has one CD to his credit, “Norm’s Souveiners”, and he is looking forward to working on a Christmas CD with his bandmates in Treble with Girls.
MacLellan hails from Southwest Margaree in Cape Breton and now makes his home in Prince Edward Island. A true traditional fiddler in the Cape Breton style, he has played all over this Island since making his home here. He plays for dances and at benefits, is a composer of some lovely tunes and is a member of The Chaisson Trio (with Kevin Chaisson and Louise Chaisson MacKinnon). The group plays occasionally at the BIS ceilidh in Charlottetown and every Monday night in Stanley Bridge.
A picnic will follow at the Activity Centre, which is within view of Brudenell Island. Everyone is welcome to attend both the service and the picnic. The event will be held rain or shine.
