Twice a year, The Governor General of Canada recognizes citizens that have demonstrated a lifetime of outstanding achievement by awarding The Order of Canada. This prestigious award is given to people in all sectors of Canadian Society. At the end of December a new list was released which included Leo MacNeil, a classical craftsman from Cape Breton Island.
MacNeil is a historic furniture maker. He was asked to recreate furniture for the Fortress of Louisbourg. The project took him nearly two-decades. In an effort to maintain as much historical accuracy as possible, MacNeil went so far as to research all the tools and techniques used in the 18th century.
He currently runs a program to train other woodworkers in traditional methods. When asked about receiving The Order of Canada, MacNeil responded by saying “Let me put it in one word: shock…this came right out of the blue, as they say.”
It’s always very exciting to see dedication and craftsmanship acknowledged. The CCF/FCMA would like to congratulate Leo MacNeil!