Russell MacNeil

Canadian politician (1931–2018)

Russell MacNeil

MLA for Cape Breton Centre
In office
1989–1998
Preceded by| Wayne Connors
Succeeded by| Frank Corbett
Personal details
Born| (1931-02-24)February 24, 1931
New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died| June 16, 2018(2018-06-16) (aged 87)
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political party| Liberal

Russell Francis MacNeil (February 24, 1931 – June 16, 2018) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Cape Breton Centre in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1989 to 1998. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.[1]

## Personal life and career

[edit]

MacNeil was born to Michael ("Mickey") and Mary ("Molly") MacNeil on February 24, 1931 at New Waterford, Nova Scotia.[2] He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with an arts degree in 1953, and an education degree in 1954. During his time at University, he played varsity basketball and rugby.[3][4] Following graduation, MacNeil was a physical education teacher in New Waterford, and later served as the recreation director for the province of Nova Scotia.[4] He lived the majority of his life in New Waterford with his wife, Isabel, and their four children, before moving to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 2005. MacNeil died on June 16, 2018, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.[5]

MacNeil's father was a coal miner as were many of Russell's friends. When a teenage MacNeil became jealous of the money his friends had acquired, he expressed to his father that he was tired of school and wanted to work. Early one morning, MacNeil's father woke him up to take him to a shift in the mine, not far into which Russell knew he no longer wanted to be a coal miner. His father told him to go home and do his homework, which set the course for his career in education and politics.[6]

## Sports and recreation

[edit]

When he was 15 years old, MacNeil played for the New Waterford Strands intermediate basketball team, where his teammates were all in their 20's or 30's. During an exhibition game against the St. Francis Xavier University varsity basketball team, he caught the eye of the University's recruiter, who requested that MacNeil's parents allowed him to attend St. Francis Xavier University, which they approved. Throughout his collegiate basketball career, MacNeil and St. Francis Xavier won five Maritime intercollegiate championships. MacNeil had a final basketball record of 69 wins and 7 losses throughout his five years at St. Francis Xavier University.[6][7]

MacNeil was heavily involved in sports and recreation for Nova Scotia. He was a founding member of the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic, an annual tournament that continues to be played today, organized the 1969-70 Caper Games, served as president of the Eastern Junior A/B Hockey League for 14 years, was the director of the 1987 Canada Winter Games in Cape Breton, and was named the recreation director of Nova Scotia.[6]

MacNeil was inducted into the St. Francis Xavier University Sports Hall of Fame in 2001,[7] the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2010,[8] and the New Waterford Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[9]

## Political career

[edit]

MacNeil entered provincial politics in 1989, running as the Liberal candidate in a Cape Breton Centre by-election.[10] Defeated by seven votes on election night,[11][12] the number was reduced to two when official results were announced.[13][14] However, a judicial recount in September ended with MacNeil being declared the winner by three votes.[15] His Progressive Conservative opponent appealed to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court,[16] and in February 1990, the by-election was declared invalid and MacNeil's victory voided.[17] A second by-election was held on August 28, 1990, with MacNeil winning the seat.[15] He was re-elected in the 1993 election,[18] and served as a backbench member of John Savage's government. MacNeil did not seek re-election in 1998.[19]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Electoral History for Cape Breton Centre" (PDF). Nova Scotia Legislative Library. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
2. ^ The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. P.G. Normandin. 1994. p. 767\. ISBN 9780921925545.
3. ^ "It all started at the Strand Gym for Russell MacNeil". Cape Breton Post. May 27, 2010. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
4. ^ a b "Russell MacNeil: Retired MLA and sports hall of famer". The Chronicle Herald. February 24, 2018. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
5. ^ "New Waterford loses two former Cape Breton MLAs". Cape Breton Post. June 17, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
6. ^ a b c "Russell MacNeil: Retired MLA and sports hall of famer | The Chronicle Herald". 2018-02-27. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
7. ^ a b "St. Francis Xavier University Athletics". St. Francis Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
8. ^ Fame, Cape Breton Sport Hall of. "Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame". Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
9. ^ "New Waterford Sports Hall of Fame - 2013 Inductees". www.nwsportshof.net. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
10. ^ "Cape Breton summer by-election heating up". The Globe and Mail. August 21, 1989.
11. ^ "Tory wrests riding from Liberal by 7 votes". The Globe and Mail. August 23, 1989.
12. ^ "Tory wins by 7 votes in Cape Breton riding". Toronto Star. August 23, 1989.
13. ^ "Two-vote margin found after Nova Scotia recount". The Globe and Mail. August 30, 1989.
14. ^ "Recount ordered in N.S. by-election". Toronto Star. August 30, 1989.
15. ^ a b "Return of By-elections for the House of Assembly 1989 and 1990" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1990. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
16. ^ "N.S. Tories to appeal by-election recount". The Globe and Mail. September 26, 1989.
17. ^ "N.S. judge orders 2nd by-election". The Globe and Mail. February 2, 1990.
18. ^ "Returns of General Election for the House of Assembly 1993" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1993. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
19. ^ "Coal is king in C.B. Centre". The Chronicle Herald. March 11, 1998. Archived from the original on January 23, 2005. Retrieved 2014-10-06.

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