Nonfiction: Biography, The Maritimes, Politics, World War II
192 pages, $19.95, 6"x9" Paperback (Includes photographs)
ISBN-13: 978-1-897426-02-9
ISBN-10: 1-897426-02-X
Available in September 2008
Amazon || Chapters
Joe Casey's life story mirrors the history of Nova Scotia in the twentieth century. It shows how that history shaped the man and how the man shaped that history - as harbour pilot, fisherman, fish plant owner, lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy, hotel owner, and Member and Deputy Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislature.
His quick wit and indomitable spirit let him take risks in every job he ever undertook. Born in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, in 1918 and still going strong, he will make you laugh your way through the many dramatic events of his active life. As a boy, he delivered his mother's loaves
of bread up and down the Victoria Beach Road and later in life he would break bread with the rich and famous. As a third generation harbour pilot, he faced many dangers piloting munitions-laden ships through Digby Gap during World War II and piloting ships of all kinds in the most severe weather.
Joe has pitted his storytelling skills against some of the best, including the American actor James Cagney. On a sailing trip down the East Coast, Joe's spirit of competition led him to
trade tales with Robert Ripley of Believe It or Not fame. In this volume, his rich stories bring the past alive.
The author, elected six times as a Liberal candidate, explains how his verbal skills, humour and dogged determination helped get things done in the stodgy Provincial Legislature. Premiers
Gerald Regan and John Buchanan both praised Joe for his ability to make friends on both sides of the aisle and they have written forewords for this book. Your excursion through Joe's life will make you laugh out loud at times and, at others, will make you reflect on some of the fundamental issues of our times.
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1 comment:
This is such a thoughtful project for old and new generations that remember Joe Casey or have knowledge of the man and his impact on the communities of Victoria Beach and Digby, and the fishing culture of Nova Scotia.
I worked as a packer in the fish plant at Victoria Beach in the summers of 1983 and 1984. The hours were long- we left Digby at 5:30 a.m. for at 7:00 a.m. start at the plant. We stood on cold concrete in rubber boots with short breaks, 30 minute lunch and the day ended at 5:30 p.m. Once home at 6:30, we had time only for supper, a drink and a shower before bed at 9:00 p.m. Then we did it all over again 5 days a week, and half days on Saturday. There were many unharmonious relationships played among workers on both the filleting lines (all male except one lone female) and the packers. It was not uncommon for fights to break out in the parking lot, and to hear the words, "keep your f'in hands off my man!"
But we were so glad to have that job as jobs were hard to find then. We never told the full timers that we were University students, we just weren't brave enough to face the teasing we knew would come! But the truth will out. Joe Casey, it turns out, knew the mother (Helen) of my friend that I was working and staying with that summer. He arrived at the plant one day, cheerful and optimistic, friendly and kind, and said to the floor manager, Sarah (also kind, and strict!), "Where are those two young ladies of Helen's house working for their education money?" And so we were exposed! Joe was so loved by his neighbours at Victoria Beach because he "walked with Kings, but kept the common touch" - and we were lucky to fall into the cast of light that he shone around the people of that fish plant, and everywhere he went.
Lisa Monk (formerly of Bear River, NS)
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