Annie Harris

Teachers that came to Pictou Island during the school year, usually returned home to the mainland for Christmas break. Sometimes the Strait was not always suitable for a crossing, especially over the Christmas holidays - when heavy ice most often formed.

One teacher from Three Brooks, Nova Scotia - Annie Harris - had an easy crossing to the mainland in the winter of 1911. However, her trip back to Pictou Island was onboard 'The Stanley'. The terrible conditions prevented anyone fro Pictou Island from reaching the ship, so 'The Stanley' had to keep going to Georgetown, Prince Edward Island. It wasn't until January 27 1912 that the ship was able to return and Annie could get back to teaching on Pictou Island.


Dr. Mina MacKenzie

In the early 1890s, Dr. Mina MacKenzie was teaching on Pictou Island and was able to make her Christmas crossing from and to the Island via a sail boat without any problems!