ARTS EAST

Nova Scotia songstress Christina Martin is currently on tour in Europe in support of her latest release, Impossible To Hold . Recently we spoke with her about her past, present and future. What are your roots? I’m French Canadian. My French Canadian parents moved to Florida to have me and my brother Alexander, but they spoke English to us when we were very young.   We always heard French spoken around us, and most of our extended family is French Canadian. My grandfather’s ancestors (on my mother’s side) are from Normandy France, and that’s about as much as we know for sure. Both of my parents were born and raised in Saint Leonard NB. Where do you currently reside? I live in Port Howe, Nova Scotia! It’s a rural community in Cumberland County. When and why did you start playing music? I took piano lessons as a child, and at an early age I remember writing my own music (not lyrics), but I kept this to myself. I quit music for many years, and started writin...

The quaint community of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, is as charming as its name. There, the famed Rose Manor Inn welcomes visitors from around the world. Recently we spoke with owner Erika Pardy. What is your own ethnicity/heritage? I was born in Happy Valley, Goose Bay, Labrador, from Welsh/Irish/English parents.  After the age of 9, I was raised on Fogo Island and moved to Harbour Grace a few years ago, after taking a job as EDO for the municipality. What is the Inn's history and mandate?  Rose Manor Inn was originally known as Bellevue Manor and was built in 1878 by Justice Thomas R. Bennett at the cost of 85 pounds sterling. Mr. Bennett (who later became the 11th speaker of the house in the House of Commons) was the judge who presided over the infamous "Harbour Grace Affray". During a march on St. Stephen’s day in 1883, tensions between the Protestants and Catholics were elevated. The ensuing altercation resulted in 5 deaths and 17 injuries. Ninete...