www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, September 22, 2016 | 12 Readers' submissions manda and I set off to drive from Oakville to Cape Breton, N.S. where the Bras d'Or waters beckoned. Lorna MacDonald, a University of Toronto professor and creator of The Bells of Baddeck, a music-drama about Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, one of Canada's most beloved inventors and Mabel Bell, and how the small hamlet of Baddeck captured their hearts. I was invited to participate in several of the preperformance `Bell Chats' during July's monthlong production at The Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. I was honoured to expand on the life of my grandfather, who was one of "Bell's boys." Born Aug. 2, 1886 and brought up in Baddeck, my grandfather Douglas McCurdy could be found at Beinn Bhreagh helping Bell with his glider and kite experiments. When not assisting Bell, he would often be playing with Elsie and Daisy Bell. He remained lifelong friends with Bell's daughters and was a frequent visitor to Beinn Bhreagh even into his seventies. During his childhood, McCurdy met many famous scientists and inventors drawn to hamlet of 100 because of Bell's worldwide reputation. Having lost two sons in infancy, Bell had "Connected to your Community" Honoured to be part of famous grandfather's legacy A Compression soCks are simply a good idea. Honorary Col. Gerald P . J. Haddon, Royal Canadian Air Force, of Oakville, and his wife Amanda, with the portrait bust of Haddon's grandfather, the late J.A.D. McCurdy, former Lt. Governor of Nova Scotia and a friend and colleague of famed Canadian inventor Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. | Michael Creagen photo · Designed to provide support to the veins in your legs · Encourage blood flow · Improve PERFORMANCE · Aid in RECOVERY Oakville Burlington 380 Dundas St. E. 3350 Fairview St. T: 905.257.4335 T: 905.637.4335 wanted to adopt my grandfather when he was five years old, and it would likely have happened had it not been for his strong-minded and motherly maiden aunt, Georgina McCurdy. "J.A.D. McCurdy was born a McCurdy, and by God, he will die a McCurdy," she firmly stated. Bell was his godfather and in 1893, Dr. and Mrs. Bell took my grandfather, aged seven, to Washington, D.C. where he spent a very happy year as part of their family. Later on, recognizing my grandfather to be a brilliant student, Dr. Bell helped sponsor his education to St. Andrew's College in Aurora, Ont. and encouraged my grandfather to attend the University of Toronto's School of Mechanical Engineering, where he was the youngest student to be admitted to the university. My grandparents had a beautiful summer house in Baddeck where I spent many blissful holidays as a young boy. And it was here "Gampy," as I called him, taught me how to sail. see Canadian on p.13 Hospice Visiting and Bereavement Peer Support Volunteers Needed TRAINING BEGINS IN OCTOBER Experience the joy of making a difference when it's needed the most. Contact Dee Kearns 905-827-8800 x 2313 dkearns@acclaimhealth.ca 2376 Parkhaven Blvd, Oakville 2376 Parkhaven Blvd, Oakville · 905-257-5880 Acclaim Health provides nursing and personal support services under contract with Community Care Access Centres in accordance with their programs and service guidelines. Funded in part by the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (MH LHIN) and the Government of Ontario. The views expressed in this publication are the views of Acclaim Health and do not necessarily reflect those of the LHIN or the Government of Ontario. Funded in part by the United Way. Exemplary standing with Accreditation Canada achieved. 905-257-5880 maximekitchens.ca maximekitchens.ca