Welcome to the Pictou County Roots Society
What's on for Autumn 2026
The Pictou County Roots Society is proud to support special events happening in Pictou County and nearby areas this autumn and winter. New events will be added as details become available. Don't forget to join us for our upcoming Society meeting on Wednesday September 9, 2026 (with guest speaker Dr. Allan Marble) in the Community Room of the New Glasgow library. The meeting after that will take place on Wednesday October 14th.
Here's what's on deck for September, October and November (please note: the November meeting will not take place on Wednesday, November 11, due to Remembrance Day. We will update this web page when a substutute date is established).
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Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Presentation by Dr. Allan Marble: "How Smallpox Prevented George Washington from Attacking Halifax in December 1775"
On Wednesday, September 9, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Pictou County Roots Society will hold its regular monthly meeting to discuss all things genealogical. A special presentation will also take place at this meeting, entitled "How smallpox prevented George Washington from attacking Halifax in December 1775." The talk will be delivered by noted genealogist and Order of Nova Scotia recipient Dr. Allan Marble. The meeting will take place in the Community Room of the New Glasgow library (located at the rear of the Aberdeen Business Centre, 610 East River Road, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia). Attendence is free and all are welcome.
About the talk:
"Smallpox was the scourge of the 18th century and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in Asia, Europe, and North America. There was no vaccine, effective treatment or cure. During the first 50 years of the 18th century, there were at least three major epidemics in the American Colonies. In 1775, as Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, George Washington decided to attack Halifax because it was the only naval dockyard where reinforcements and supplies could be landed by Britain's Royal Navy on the east coast of North America. Washington’s plan was thwarted, however, by a major outbreak of smallpox in Halifax which lasted for four years. Could one conclude that smallpox prevented Nova Scotia from becoming part of the United States? Join Dr. Marble on Sep. 9, 2026, at the New Glasgow library for a discussion about this little-known episode of Nova Scotian (and American) history."
About the speaker:
Dr. Allan Marble, ONS (Order of Nova Scotia), is a retired professor who taught at three universities from 1967 to 2010. He held a joint appointment in the Faculties of Medicine and Engineering at Dalhousie University and was one of the founders of the School of Biomedical Engineering at that institution. As Director of Research for the Department of Surgery, he authored or co-authored over 80 journal papers on the cardiovascular system and served as Chair of a Committee of the Medical Research Council of Canada. In addition to his academic work, he also made significant contributions to genealogical research in Nova Scotia and wrote three books on the medical history of the province. In 2024 he was inducted into the Order of Nova Scotia in recognition of his research on the cardiovascular system, genealogy, the history of medicine, and his leadership in introducing biomedical engineering at Dalhousie.
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Thursday, September 10, 2026
McCulloch House: book reading by Halifax author Donalee Moulton
On Thursday, September 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., our friends at the McCulloch House Museum and Genealogy Centre will be hosting a book reading by Halifax-based author Donalee Moulton. Donalee will be reading from her paranormal mystery Cardinal. A brief synopsis: "Private detective Em Montgomery heads to Pictou in search of a missing woman. She expected dead ends. She did not expect a dead girl who refuses to stay buried. Now Em is knee-deep in fog, small-town secrets, and the uneasy sense that she’s a being watched by more than wildlife." Buy a copy and get it signed! The reading will take place at the McCulloch House Museum and Genealogy Centre, 86 Haliburton Road, Pictou, Nova Scotia. Financial assistance for this event is provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Writers Union of Canada.
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Saturday, September 19, 2026
Pictou County History Museum fundraising event: "Let them Eat Cake"
Do you like cake? Then this event is for you. On Saturday, September 19, starting at 6:00 p.m., join members and supporters of the Pictou County History Museum for their fourth annual fundraising "Let Them Eat Cake" event. The parade of cakes begin at 6:20 p.m., and the buffet of cakes starts at 6:30 p.m. There will be door prizes and games for all those in attendence. Tickets are $20 (the museum accepts cash, credit, and e-transfer to
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June 30 to Fall 2026
Crossing Borders, Keeping Connections
Visit the Antigonish Heritage Museum (20 East Main St, Antigonish, Nova Scotia) to see their new exhibit, "Crossing Borders, Keeping Connections: Antigonish Stories Across North America." This exhibit explores the experiences of Antigonish people who left their native communities for opportunities in western Canada, the Boston States, and beyond. Drop by the museum now before this great exhibit wraps up!
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Pictou library presentation by A.J.B. Johnston: "Serendipity: A Life in Words"
On Tuesday, October 13 at 5 p.m. Nova Scotia author and historian A.J.B. Johnston will give a talk entitled, "Serendipity: A Life in Words." In an abundantly-illustrated presentation, Johnston will reflect on growing-up in Nova Scotia during the 1950s & 60s. Looking back, he sees those experiences as setting the stage for him to become a writer. Time spent in Pictou played a definite role, as did his years as an historian at the Fortress of Louisbourg. Over the decades, John has written 16 history books, six novels, and dozens of museum exhibits. He remains active in all three areas. Johnston's presentaion will take place at the Pictou library (located at 99 Water Street, Pictou, Nova Scotia). Attendence is free and all are welcome to attend. (Financial assistance for this event is being generously provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Writers Union of Canada.)
About the speaker:
A.J.B. Johnston (or "John" or "Jay") is a writer and author. For many years a historian with Parks Canada, he is best-known for his publications on Louisbourg and Grand-Pré. Since 2009 he has worked independently, contributing exhibit storylines and texts to different museums and historic sites in the Maritimes. For his body of work on the French colonial era in Atlantic Canada, the government of France named Johnston a chevalier of its Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Laurels). John has a Ph.D. from the Université Laval and has authored or co-authored 21 books so far. Sixteen are history books (including one about The Lincolns, a 1960s rock 'n' roll band headlined by Pictou County native Frank MacKay) and five are novels. John is currently writing the fourth and final book in his series of Thomas Pichon novels.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Regular meeting of the Pictou County Roots Society
On Wednesday, October 14, starting 2 p.m., the Pictou County Roots Society will hold its regular monthly meeting. Stay tuned for more information about this session!
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Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Obituary writing workshop at the New Glasgow library
Also on Wednesday, October 14, this time at 6 p.m., the New Glasgow library will present at obituary writing workshop. This workshop will be delivered by Kate Phillips-MacDonald, an apprentice at the Arimathia Funeral Co-op in Upper Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia. Learn how to get started on an obituary, what to include, and learn lots of helpful tips. Kate's presention will be held at the New Glasgow Library, which is presently located at the rear of the Aberdeen Business Centre, 610 East River Road, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. All are welcome to this educational event.
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Thursday, October 15, 2026
New Glasgow library presentation: "Dark / Cemetery Tourism"
It's time to get spooky! On Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m., the New Glasgow library will host a topic just in time for Haloween: "Dark / Cemetery Tourism." This talk, presented by library staff member (and Pictou County Roots Society genealogical secretary) Susan Parker, will examine the lure of cemeteries and tragedies in tourism along with highlighting some interesing graveyards and tombs from around the world. Don't be scared: join Susan for this fiend-friendly event! The diabolical discussion will take place at the New Glasgow Library (located at the rear of the Aberdeen Business Centre, 610 East River Road, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia).
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Saturday, November 7, 2026
Book launch by Judge Clyde Macdonald (ret.): "Still More Tragedies and Triumphs"
On Saturday, November 7, starting at 2 p.m., join Pictou County author and retired judge Clyde Macdonald at the New Glasgow library for a book launch to celebrate his most recent publication, Still More Tragedies and Triumphs. The launch takes place at 2 p.m. at the New Glasgow Library (located at the rear of the Aberdeen Business Centre, 610 East River Road, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia). Light refreshments will be served. Come out to met Clyde, purchase a book, and have an enjoyable time! Clyde has announced that all sales proceeds for this book will be donated to the Pictou County Roots Society, for which we are extremely grateful.
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About the Pictou County Roots Society
The Pictou County Roots Society is a registered non-profit organization. The society held its first monthly meeting on November 11, 1998 for the purpose of assisting the public in genealogical research and preserving historical records so that they may be available for public use. Pictou County, located in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, is the focus of the Society's expertise and resources.
To further these aims, the society has formed working partnerships with the New Glasgow Branch of the Pictou Antigonish Regional Library, the town of New Glasgow and the Pictou County Historical Society.
Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the New Glasgow library (temporarily located at the rear of the Aberdeen Business Centre, 610 East River Road, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia). Members and guests are always welcome.
We also have an office to house our resources in the Heritage Room of the New Glasgow library and have regular open hours from Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteers and staff are available to assist the public.