Latest news with #Eskasoni
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Busiest performers in Cape Breton have full dance card
There's a special sound when you've been a duo all your lives. And it's even better when you're siblings and were brought up singing along with a gifted family. Marshal Brothers Music is made up of Merle Marshall, 31, and Owen Marshall, 27, who are sons of Esmond Marshall, who was a band member with acclaimed fiddler Lee Cremo. He also played a long time with Silvermoon. The Eskasoni brothers have been singing all their lives but have been on the road singing as a duo for about five years now. Performing is a full-time gig for the Marshalls, who presently travel around Cape Breton and beyond with three bands: The Blues Moose Band, HiBoys, and their own duo. A major performance coming up is when they play with the HiBoys as part of the upcoming Indigenous culture festival called Wi'kipaltimk on Aug. 9 at Open Hearth Park. They say their summer is almost full of music and that makes them happy. COUNTRY FOLK Owen describes their sound as country-folk. They performed recently at the newly re-named and re-opened Tide Tacos and Tequila (formerly Portside), on the Sydney waterfront. The smooth sounds of both the brothers' voices attracted attention as they sang on an outdoor stage and watched the sun go down over the ocean. 'We're mostly like a country-folk band. That's where we're aiming ourselves. We're mostly folk singers and we're trying to stick with country,' he said. 'Eventually, we'll add traditional stuff. We're songwriters and artists.' In performances, Owen and Merle switch instruments for different sounds. Owen, at times, plays acoustic guitar, which adds to the folk vibe. They cover well-known songs from the 1960s, '70s and '80s that take their audience back to a quieter, simpler time, and also get people up dancing. As well as singers, songwriters and musicians, the two are also all-around nice guys. As busy as they are, they always have time to play monthly for the elders in Eskasoni at the Kiknu seniors' residence They say it is a way to pay respect to their elders. They also perform when they can in facilities in North Sydney and Sydney Mines. They're very involved in using their talents for fundraising activities with the Red Tribe Boxing Club of Eskasoni, which acts as a health, fitness and mentoring space for youth in the community. ORIGINAL SONGS The two have just begun publicly singing the songs they've written for their upcoming debut album. All on the album will be original, except two songs that were gifted to them. 'The album is all original songs except for two songs that are given by the family of Keith Julian. These are songs he wrote in the early 1990s and the family gave them to us,' says Owen. Julian, from Waycobah First Nation, passed away at the age of 42 in Ottawa in 2009, where he had gone to pursue his music career. Merle explains that one piece is a letter the family found after Julian passed and the Marshal Brothers may write the music for it and if all goes well, include it in their performances and album. 'We're bringing the album out slowly,' says Merle. Music is in their genes. Their father, Esmond 'Blue' Marshall, is known today as the first Indigenous councillor for Cape Breton Regional Municipality. First elected in 2001, he has won and lost in subsequent elections, but currently represents District 3, which he won in the last municipal election. Those living around Cape Breton 35 years ago will recognize his name as being part of the band that travelled with nationally acclaimed fiddler Lee Cremo, who died in 1999. Just last year at the Celtic Colours International Festival a special performance called 'The Many Styles of Lee Cremo' was put on featuring many performers inspired by Cremo. The elder Marshall played bass guitar on an album by Mooney Francis, also an Eskasoni fiddler known for 'The Lumberjack Reel,' which garnered him an East Coast Music Award nomination in 2003. Francis passed away in 2022. Esmond Marshall also played with the original Indigenous band Silvermoon and still plays in bands around the island. He says he used to take Merle out to play with him at various jobs as a teenager and had to sign a special paper to let him play in venues such as local legions because he was underage at only 16. The duo can be found on Facebook, on the Nova Scotia Music website and through Music on the Hill. On Facebook, the brothers have had to drop the second letter 'l' from their name because their name corresponds with a popular country music band in Australia. They are thinking of taking legal steps to change their band's name in order not to get mixed up in social media searches. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
22-07-2025
- CTV News
Man charged with 11 weapons offences in Eskasoni
One man has been charged with multiple weapons offences after a firearm and crossbow were seized by police in Eskasoni, N.S. Police say they received multiple reports of a person in possession of a firearm near Arena Road at around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday. According to a Tuesday news release, 39-year-old Stephen Morris of Eskasoni was arrested once officers attended the scene. Police were also able to find his vehicle where they seized a loaded firearm. A crossbow and other items were also seized from a residence on Sunrise Dr. after police executed a search warrant in relation to the investigation. Morris had his first court appearance on Monday. He has been charged with a total of 11 offences including: - using a firearm in the commission of an offence - careless use of a firearm - possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose Morris remains in custody pending future court appearances. Police say further charges are anticipated. The investigation is ongoing, according to police. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
21-07-2025
- CTV News
Eskasoni man facing drug trafficking charges: N.S. RCMP
A sign for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is pictured on June 23, 2025. (CTV Atlantic / Avery MacRae) A 38-year-old Eskasoni man is facing drug trafficking charges after the Nova Scotia RCMP seized narcotics from a residence in the community. Officers with the Eskasoni RCMP General Investigative Section, and general duty officers, executed a search warrant at a residence on Richard Avenue Wednesday, as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking. 'Officers safely arrested a man and seized a quantity of narcotic prescription pills and cash,' reads a news release from the Nova Scotia RCMP. Keith Geoffrey Denny has been charged with three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime. Denny appeared in Sydney provincial court on Thursday and was remanded into custody. He is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
11-07-2025
- CTV News
Eskasoni man wanted for assault, forcible confinement: N.S. RCMP
Rein Kyler Rodman Ryan (Dennis) is pictured in this image from the Nova Scotia RCMP. The Nova Scotia RCMP is looking for a 26-year-old man wanted on a provincewide arrest warrant. Rein Kyler Rodman Ryan (also known as Rein Kyler Rodman Dennis) of Eskasoni, N.S., is facing the following charges: in committing assault chokes, suffocates or strangles forcible confinement assault two counts of criminal harassment two counts of uttering threats Eskasoni RCMP says it has made several attempts to locate Ryan (Dennis) and is now asking the public for help. Ryan (Dennis) is described as five-foot-11 and 160 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Police say he should not be approached if spotted. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Eskasoni RCMP at 902-379-2800 or their local police. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
06-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Solar project melting away energy costs for Sydney cold storage facility
Sunshine is helping a storage facility in Sydney, N.S., reduce its power bill by up to 40 per cent. Eskasoni Cold Logistics stores frozen, cold and dry goods, which can include anything from satellite dishes to blueberries, but the bulk of its storage is frozen fish products. Thanks to the recent addition of more than 1,300 ground-mounted solar panels through a government-funded solar energy initiative, up to 40 per cent of the facility's energy use is offset by solar power. The project was celebrated with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on June 23. "The fact that we're just using natural sunlight to drive power is a good thing," said co-owner Jim Gillis. Gillis and his brother Allan purchased the facility in 2017 in partnership with the Eskasoni First Nation. Steve Parsons, the CEO of Eskasoni's corporate division and the lead on the community's renewable energy efforts, says the project resulted from another partnership between Eskasoni and Natural Forces Solar, an independent renewable energy power producer in Halifax. That partnership qualified the storage facility for the solar panel installation under the province's Green Choice Program, which aims to help large-scale electricity customers transition to clean energy. According to Eskasoni's corporate division, the 583-kilowatt solar system was the result of a $1.85-million investment, with $1.1 million from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, $570,000 from Eskasoni, $128,000 from the province and $72,000 from Efficiency Nova Scotia. Parsons said the facility can store up to 2.3 million kilograms of frozen fish products, which requires a constant temperature of about –23 C. The facility also provides live lobster storage and can hold up to 113,000 kilograms at once. The lobsters require a constant filtered water flow at about 3 C to remain dormant. Parsons said the cost to run those systems adds up, so the solar energy project will make a big difference on the monthly bill. "Based on the estimates and our typical, average sun patterns, we should be able to save 35 to 40 per cent on an ongoing, consistent basis," he said. That represents about $8,000 a month, Parsons said, noting the project has created jobs in the community as well, with 10 band members trained as certified installers of solar ground-mount systems. Gillis, who is also general manager of Live Stor Sydney, which operates out of the facility, said the solar system was only brought online a few months ago, but it's already making a difference on the power bill and the building's efficiency. The facility still relies on Nova Scotia Power for at least 60 per cent of its energy consumption, but Parsons said he hopes there will be more clean energy opportunities for the facility in the future. Gillis is also excited about what lies ahead. "I know it's new, the solar panel systems are starting to crop up. I see them a lot on houses now," he said. "So I think it's the future and no time like now to jump on."
