Every stitch in the fabric mural of Cape Breton University tells a story. For more than two decades, the mural has been a vibrant backdrop to CBU's convocation ceremonies, watching over countless students as they transitioned from learners to graduates and connecting generations of CBU alumni.
The beautiful fabric mural is the result of the combined community effort of a very special group of volunteers. Twenty-two craftspeople, mostly quilters from the Sydney River area, including three octogenarians, cut out each piece of fabric and hand-stitched them into the wonderful hanging. Each artisan brought their unique expertise to the project, contributing countless hours to ensure every detail was perfect.
The Express publication in March 1997 noted that the same group of volunteers was also responsible for another magnificent fabric that had been the backdrop for the UCCB Convocation podium for several years. That tapestry was created in observance of the County of Cape Breton's Centennial celebrations and had been displayed on numerous civic occasions, as well as serving as a backdrop for the Cape Breton Summertime Revue.
The three panels of the mural cover nearly 50 square metres (10m wide by 5m high) and would be mounted side-by-side. The centre panel, measuring 4m by 5m, bears the University Coat of Arms that is accurate in every detail and is almost 2m in height. This official crest is superimposed on a background of blue sea and sky. The two side panels, each 3m wide, depict landscapes of land and mountain, sea and sky, framed by tall trees. The mural represents more than 2,500 hours of labour over a period of three years. The lettering of the University motto, "Theid Díchioll Air Thoiseach," a Gaelic idiom meaning "Perseverance Will Triumph," took 88 hours to complete.
Craftspeople completed the project in the "loom room" on the main floor of what was then the Cape Breton School of Crafts at the Lyceum on George Street (now the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design). During the School's 25th anniversary celebrations, a special "in progress" preview of the mural was featured as a highlight. On October 5, 1997, UCCB celebrated the official hanging of the mural in the new Student, Cultural and Heritage Centre, with the craftspeople and many community members in attendance.
As we mark our 50th Anniversary in 2024, this remarkable piece of art takes its place in our exhibit Cape Breton University - 50 Years in the Making at the Old Sydney Society's Sydney Museum (173 Charlotte St, Sydney). It serves as a reminder of the values CBU stands for and the community that supports and upholds these values. The mural, along with other artifacts, tells the story of a university that has grown and thrived, always grounded by the dedication of its people.
The exhibit is open to the public from now until November 15, 2024, during the Museum's regular opening hours: Tuesday-Friday: 9:00am-5:00pm and Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm.
For more information on the Old Sydney Society, please call 902-539-1572 or email: oldsydneysociety@gmail.com
To stay up to date on the 50th celebration, visit cbu.ca/50.
