Best known as the home of St.Francis Xavier University, Antigonish is a small town half an hour west of Cape Breton
Although a variety of religious groups exist there, the influence of the Roman Catholic church is the strongest. The people in this Truro sized town are conservative but welcoming. If you meet a smiling, formally dressed older woman wearing a large silver cross, you may be meeting a nun. She is likely a member of the Sisters of Saint Martha or the Congregation of Notre Dame. These groups serve the community in a variety of ways, both in and out of church.
Want Catholic books or gifts? Respect Life Center specializes in them. As the name suggests, this store supports the ProLife cause.
St.Ninian's Cathedral, a massive and impressive stone building, is well attended each Sunday. Note the tall spires and impressive window architecture outside, the beautiful stained glass and statues inside. Look up and see the words "Taigh Dhe", Scottish Gaelic for "House of God". Antigonish was founded in the eighteenth century by Highland Catholics fleeing religious persecution during the infamous "Highland Clearances" carried out by the English.
Researching your Nova Scotian, especially Scottish, geneaology and family history? Think you may be connected to Bonnie Prince Charlie? Do not miss The Father Charles Brewer Collection in the St.Francis Xavier Library. Expert help will guide you through the records to connect you with census and ship records, geneaologies and trees, and more. You could also research a particular Nova Scotia community and its records. Browse old newspapers and, using special gloves, page gently through frail books kept under lock and key.
You will also notice a strong Celtic influence in some of the gifts available in stores. Celtic knotwork on fabric and jewelry, tartans, kilts, books, family crests, and music are all easy to find here.
Gifts that represent Nova Scotia and Canada, such as images of the Blue Nose or the maple leaf, mesh easily with a variety of fine goods at stores like The Curiosity Shop.
Support the rights of indigenous Mexican people. Buy fair trade coffee, toys, ornaments, furniture, and more at South of the Border. Enjoy steaming coffee or tea with a sandwich. At the same time, relax by playing checkers or one of the other games set up for your convenience. Alone? Enjoy a crossword, sudoku, magazine, or newspaper.
Looking for a restaurant with vegetarian options, wine, and decadent cheesecake dessert? Check out Sunshine on Main. The spinach mandarin salad with hard boiled egg and creamy poppy seed dressing is a treat. The non alcoholic spritzers are mineral water drinks with a squeeze of flavoring, such as Strawberry Kiwi.
At.St.Francis Xavier University, there are a number of free lectures to attend. Subjects range from Celtic Studies to Religion to History and Politics.
Interested in learning Scottish Gaelic? Several times a year, the university hosts Gaelic Days and Weekends. Put on by the Celtic Studies Department, these are open to the public for a small fee. This is waived if you happen to speak Gaelic as a first language- which is indeed the case for some seniors who attend. All ages can take classes at different levels, from absolute beginner to fluent. Between classes, enjoy a "strupag"- tea with biscuits, tea, and donuts- and meet new friends. Buy books from The Gaelic Merchant manning his table. After, be treated to a Gaelic movie with English subtitles or a Gaelic song workshop. Finally, the day is likely to close with fiddle music, highland dance, and singing, Discover the traditional custom of "waulking", a way to full a loop of wool to make it thick and warm for winter clothes and blankets.
Antigonish is a place where tradition meets the modern world, a place where the Celtic heartbeat vibrates with song, story, and dance.