About Us
Welcome To Whitneypier.org
The community of Whitney Pier, has made a significant contribution to the development of multi-cultural Canada since it's settlement at the turn of the 20th century.
People from over seventeen countries in Europe, Asia, the West Indies and Newfoundland were offered work in the coal mines and steel plant, settling the 3 square miles near the steel plant with ambitious young families in a very short time. People with different languages, traditions and religions lived close to each other, went to school and social and recreational activities together.
The Pier survives to this day as a testament to the adaptability and resilience of the diverse people who built it. Due to the common experience of working for the same company the diverse cultures of the area pulled together and helped each other to survive in an otherwise inhospitable environment.
In spite of harsh work conditions, labour strife, economic downturns, and pollution from the massive steel plant just beside it, Whitney Pier has kept up its communal spirit of helpfulness and it has flourished. Whitney Pier's people are proud to be working people, strong and vibrant in their various ethnic traditions. They have shaped their community to reflect the values of those traditions many of which remain in tact today.
This web site is a project designed to provide awareness of the many business, organizations, community leaders and unique visuals which are modern day Whitney Pier. We will continue adding to this web site until we fulfill that endeavour. The organization responsible for developing this project is the Whitney Pier Information Technology Accessibility Program: Room 11 at the Jamieson Centre.
We would like to acknowledge the support of the CAP Society of Cape Breton, District Seven Business Association, Whitney Pier Society for the Arts and the Whitney Pier Historical Society.
The Arts
In 1993 it was decided by some dedicated culture vultures that it was time that Whitney Pier artists were introduced to a broader public. For 5 years each summer the Whitney Pier Historical Museum hosted "Pier People-A celebration of our Artists" and from 1997-98 for an month in the summer, they were given space at the Royal Bank, Prince St. to showcase artwork.
In 1997, our community was still struggling to shake off that rough frontier mentality people still harboured about Whitney Pier. We needed a healthy dose of pride in who we were. The success of "Pier People" encouraged a small group to spearhead an ad hoc committee that eventually became the Whitney Pier Society for the Arts. 2007 was the 10th anniversary of PierScape, a community arts festival, featuring a week-long art gallery in Whitney Pier Memorial Jr. High School, Choir Night, Social Tea and Entertainment, workshops in visual and literary art, Literary Café, where writers can read from their work, and the Italian Dinner Theatre.
PierScape has become a big success with about 80 artists participating from all over Cape Breton. In 2009 there were 170 pieces of visual art on display on easels and plinths. Sales of art work have gone up and down but the interest in viewing the work has increased steadily over the years.
For more information about PierScape go to www.pierscape.ca.