Irish President Visits Nova Scotia – Fortress of Louisbourg Tour by William A. O’Shea

The President of Ireland, Dr. Mary McAleese, visited Nova Scotia from October 8-10th, 1998 as part of her official visit to Canada.  Part of that visit to Nova Scotia was flying to Sydney from Montreal and visiting the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. “On Thursday Mrs McAleese and her party flew from Montreal to...

Greetings from Nova Scotia

While doing some research on my father, Bill O'Shea, I came acrioss this nice little story in the Edmonton Journal from 2007. My father always loved helping his community and those he met. Edmonton Journal People 14 February 2007 Greetings from Nova Scotia Let’s call this a tale of the Internet. And a fascinating one,...

Commemorative Medal Found – Louisbourg Fire Department Recognition

In the last post on the O'Shea Archives, I wrote about how I learned about the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal awarded to Bill O'Shea in 1992. Luckily it was located last week. Bill's wife, Helen, found it in a lock box. William A. O'Shea's Confederation medal. I was also sent a...

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants – Bill O’Shea (Fortress of Louisbourg)

W.A. (Bill) O’Shea 1946 - 2019 Someone once remarked that we see further when we stand on the shoulders of giants. Bill O’Shea was such a giant for the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.  Bill’s career with Parks Canada spanned over 40 years beginning in Placentia and ending at Cornwall, but he is best...

Willie Montroy Went to War – by William A. O’Shea (A Canadian in World War One)

Written by: Bill O’Shea, July 24, 2014, revised August 2018 George William “Willie” Montroy ( 1895-1970), detail from a larger picture, taken between 1916 and 1919, which used to hang in the family parlor in Bedell, Ontario Introduction  The year, 2014, marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Between the declaration...

William A. O’Shea – October 16, 1946 – October 14th, 2019

William A. O’Shea  William Anthony O’Shea was born in Cornwall on October 16, 1946. He was educated in Cornwall graduating from CCVS. He graduated from St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto with an M.A. in Social Anthropology. It was there he met his future wife Helen Anne Nixon. He had a long and distinguished career...