Central to the story of Glendale is the figure of Father John Angus Rankin, a priest with a love of Scottish music who served the community for thirty-five years. While in Glendale he organized step dance and square dance classes for children, taught Gaelic classes, and annually said mass in Gaelic at St. Margaret’s Church atop the mountain at River Denys.

In 1972, Ron MacInnis of the CBC produced a movie called "The Vanishing Cape Breton Fiddle", conveying the message that this art was in a state of decline and could die out. Reaction was swift, and Cape Bretoners were shaken out of their complacency. As a staunch supporter of traditional fiddling, Father Rankin organized and directed a three day Fiddle Festival in 1973 that featured over one hundred and twenty Cape Breton fiddlers.

Many people say that he was the driving force behind the resurgence of traditional Scottish music in Cape Breton.

The Father John Angus Rankin Cultural Centre opened its doors in 1999. The Glendale and Area Gaelic and Historical Society is in charge of the Taigh - Tasgaidh Braigh' na h - Aibhneadh, (Glendale and Area Archives), which is housed in the Centre. Their goal is to collect, preserve, and catalogue local documents, audiotapes, maps, photographs, and videos of cultural significance to Glendale.

The Centre also houses a gift shop that sells local crafts and Gaelic books and videos. In addition, it is the site of the Glendale Community Access Program, which provides tutoring in computer use and public computer access.

For more information:
Contact: Marina MacIntyre
RR #1 West Bay Road, Glendale, NS, B0E 3L0
Phone: (902) 625-1723
Email: glendale.cap@ns.sympatico.ca

OR
Sarah MacDonald – Secretary Treasurer
RR #1, Glendale, NS, B0E 3L0
Phone: (902) 625-1382
Email: smdonald@ns.sympatico.ca

See:
With Fr. John Angus Rankin, Glendale. Cape Breton's Magazine, Vol. 45, p. 59-71.