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Westville Native Once President of the Bank of Nova Scotia
The Bank of Nova Scotia’s “most notable native son”, Arthur H. Crockett, was born and raised in Westville.
At the age of 17, not having finished grade 12, Crockett began as a junior teller in the Westville Branch at a salary of $300 per year in 1934.
After World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served on ships during the North Atlantic convoy run. Arthur retired at the end of the war as a lieutenant commander.
He rejoined the bank’s staff in Toronto and held numerous positions in New York, Winnipeg, and Oshawa as bank manager. He then traveled in the 1950s to London, England, to be manager of the bank. In 1957, Arthur was named manager of the Montreal branch.
After ten months in Montreal, he was transferred to Toronto to manage the bank’s main national branch – “its show-piece branch”.
A number of top-level promotions began in 1966 with the appointment as manager of the bank’s Quebec operations. In 1968, Arthur was named chief general manager of the bank; in 1970, he was appointed bank president; and his career climaxed with the appointment as deputy chairman in 1972.
Arthur always had his mind on Nova Scotia, and made contributions to Halifax developments.
In 1968 when he was chief general manager, the bank put up the initial money for Scotia Square before the mortgage was arranged. Crockett was also involved in financing the Maritime Mall, also in Halifax.
Crockett is married to the former Margaret MacDonald of Sydney Mines, and they have three children.
Arthur Crockett with an
unidentified friend, 1934
Westville Local Council of Women
The Local Council of Women of Westville was organized in 1920 by the provincial president, Mrs. L.G. Ferguson. The first president was Mrs. Rod Fraser.
One or the first projects of the Council was to provide dental care for school children. Others were grocery orders delivered to needy families at Christmas; school prizes awarded annually for highest in English and Best Progress; a yearly cup to the class with the highest attendance; prizes to music festivals; and planting trees along the Acadia Coal Company property.
The Council was responsible
for obtaining the services of the Victorian Order of Nurses
adult education classes and the “Elmer” Safety Program.
At the annual meeting, 15
affiliated societies used to send representatives to give
their yearly reports.
Original meetings were held
in the Town Hall; later in the IOOF Hall.
The Council disbanded in
1975, having given many years of continuous service to the
community.
A passing fancy?
People
MAJOR J.W. MADDIN, (King’s Counsel) was a stout defender of over 60 murder trials.
MARY DALEY was the first female town councilor in Westville.
ISABEL (Grant) MACLEAN was the first librarian and held the position for 22 years.
MARGARET (Harrison) WOOD held key management positions with the Robert Simpson Company and was listed by a Toronto magazine as one of the best dressed women in Canada in 1949.
KAREN SAMPLE was the first female doctor in Westville. She specialized in cardiology.
FRED HARRISON was named deputy general manager, western division, of the Bank of Montreal.
HAROLD GORDON SUTHERLAND was the first piper in the world to appear on the then infant television. He also played on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
A.H. (Art) MACKENZIE was appointed senior vice-president and head of personnel with the Royal Bank of Canada.
MURIEL GOODE was St. Paul’s organist and choir director for more than 40 years.
EDWARD MATHESON tenor soloist was much in demand in provincial concert and church circles.
ANDREW HALL lost both arms with the 85th battalion in WWI. Upon his return he attended university and received his law degree.
BILL MATHESON was executive director of the Nova Scotia Heart Foundation for 17 years. He had a 32-year army career with the rank of Colonial.
MARY HANSON was the janitress of the Bank of Nova Scotia for 50 years.
SHIRLEY EVELYN THOMPSON was the second female doctor in Westville.
JOHN GEORGE MACKENZIE was noted for his talent as an entertainer, singer and volunteer.
ARTHUR BEZANSON had an impressive record of over 50 years of community service and entertaining.
FRED MACLELLAN practiced dentistry for over 60 years in Westville.
FRANK BEZANSON was MLA for the constituency in Kings West from 1971 to 1978.
H. RUSSELL MACEWAN originated form a long line of mining ancestry. He was MP form 1957 to 1971 and served as a Provincial Judge since 1971.
DR. ALLAN B. MORRISON was appointed the first director of curriculum and research of the Nova Scotia department of education.
DR. GEORGE W. MACKENZIE was director of Inspection Services with the Nova Scotia department of education. He was also president of the Canadian Association of School Superintendents and Inspectors.
CHARLES MACDONALD was bandmaster of a Westville and Orangemen’s Band. His three sons, John, Charles Jr., and Raymond were members of various bands. A daughter, Jean, along with other family members, Redvers and Leonard, were versatile entertainers. Another daughter, Lottie, went into journalism.
What Makes a Town - Donnie Cameron
“It’s a great town, Westville,
a wonderful place!”
My grandfather mumbled, as he was reminiscing.
“Proud about its days and rich in heritage.”
Being young, I was skeptical, even as I was listening.
“But Paw,” I argued, “there are many
towns and cities,
why is Westville so different?” I asked with little
sincerity.
“Well, I can tell you about being down
in the mines,
hard work, digging down in the grimy murk.
Yet, everyone will tell you that they were the best of
times,
and we had many a laugh while we scrubbed off the dirt.”
He demurely leaned back and put his
hands behind his head
“Maybe, but that’s not all we did in Westville, you know.
How’s about me telling you about farming instead?
Living a life knowing that you only eat what you grow.”
I was young and foolish, so I thought
it unwise.
and never saw the story he had seen with his eyes.
“I remember Jackie Parker’s farm was just across the road.
His wife and six kids all helped him work the land.
And one time he lost his crops, when the weather was too
cold,
But he never lost the farm, though; we folks all lent a
hand.”
“But helping ‘ol man Parker’ was the
only thing logical,
that’s just humanity, doing what should be done.”
He mumbled and lowered his eyes, I heard him call me
cynical,
and said I’d never understand if I never hear someone.
I left sad, and wanted to give him a
reply,
but he left his chair first, then turned towards the window.
I knew he was disappointed in me, as he let out a sigh,
“I’ll beat you in checkers,” he smiled, “before you have to
go.”
Well, I’m still living in Westville and
I watch my own son grow,
My grandpa died before I could tell him what it is I now
know.
I’ll tell my boy why Westville is the only town for me –
It’s the people who make this town a special place to be!
This garage is a familiar sight
on Westville's Main Street, just in front of the Acadia Coal
Company.