AWARDING OF JOINT HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS DEGREES TO MARY JEANETTE GALLANT AND AGGI-ROSE REDDIN AT UPEI CONVOCATION 14 MAY 2024
Mary Jeanette Gallant and Aggi-Rose Reddin are passionate about Glenaladale not just for its heritage value and historic importance but also for the initiatives, creativity and entrepreneurship of the people who’ve lived there and for the Estate’s incredible landscape overlooking Tracadie Bay, its farmland and its forest, all of which needed to be protected. They also see its potential as a model for community development and education and have been very successful at drawing in volunteers over the years. As of May 2024, the Trust has received $1.8M in federal and provincial government support to go along with the over $400,000 in private and philanthropic donations received to date (the majority in less than $1000 donations) plus more than $300,000 in donated services and in-kind contributions―an impressive accomplishment for a small charity.
The Trust’s work has been recognized and supported by the National Trust for Canada: as the first Launch Pad recipient, through their This Place Matters program, and as recipient of the Governors Award for “extraordinary achievement in heritage conservation in Canada”.
Mary Jeanette Gallant (née MacDonald) studied nursing at Dalhousie University then received her Early Childhood certification from Nova Scotia Teacher’s College. She worked in this field for a time before spending the next 38 years as office manager of McAskill Woodworking in Charlottetown.
She has long been a member of the PEI Crafts Council and has served as Chair of the Professional Peer Assessment Committee. She is also a skilled caner and is responsible for the successful recaning of many pieces of furniture on PEI over the years.
Mary and her husband Paul Gallant raised their 4 children on the MacDonald homestead at Maple Hill, a farm that has now been in her family for 8 generations.
She has several ancestors who came to PEI as part of the Glenaladale Settlers in 1772. Mary inherited a keen interest and passion in her Scottish heritage from her father, whose extensive knowledge of his family’s history and Gaelic language and culture led to many visitors visiting their home from all over North America and from as far away as New Zealand─people keen to make their Island connections. Over the years Mary has continued this tradition by helping innumerable people learn more about their own families’ history. To Mary, history is not just about the past but is also about the present and the future!
Mary is an active member of the PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society. As a teenager, she served as an usherette for the 200th anniversary celebrations in 1972 and has since held several executive and committee positions, including as Chair of the Genealogy & Artifact Committee for the 225th anniversary and Committee Chair for PEI's part in the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry Project─a global project celebrating the lives of Scottish emigrants over the years: https://www.scottishdiasporatapestry.org/ She was also a member of the committee which researched and published the book Glenaladale Settlers 1772.
As Founding Chair of Glenaladale Heritage Trust Mary has spent countless hours overseeing general operations, increasing awareness of the importance of Glenaladale Estate, networking, and spearheading the ongoing fundraising to support both the Estate and the work of the Trust. She has developed contacts all over the world and is held in high regard by many for her contributions to Scottish culture and family connections on Prince Edward Island.
Aggi-Rose Reddin attended UPEI on an early-admission scholarship then studied Fashion at Sheridan College. She worked in the fashion industry for several years until Holland College came calling. She developed, taught, and later became department head for a comprehensive Fashion program, with graduates receiving their own successes in the field.
Aggi-Rose then became an industry consultant until debilitating illness sidelined her career. This led to her co-founding the PEI Environmental Health Co-operative. This group’s successes included several initatives aimed at reducing risks for children, as well as an annual Dandelion Festival.
Aggi-Rose has had a long-held interest in family history research, for which she received the Mary Cornfoot Brehaut Award from PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation; one of 9 awards from PEIMHF; 4 with her name and 5 others for projects in which she was heavily involved.
She was also an active member of PEI Multicultural Council. When the Council disbanded she and several others formed the Asian Heritage Society, organizing related activities including working with local high schools to promote diversity and break down barriers.
Aggi-Rose has been a member of PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society for 25 years and has served on the executive and on various committees. Among other initiatives―including championing the nomination for Capt John MacDonald to be recognized as a Person of National Historic Significance, overseeing the maintenance of the historic French and Scottish cemetery at Scotsfort, publishing Glenalladale Settlers 1772, and increasing awareness of PEI's Scottish heritage―it was the Society which began the campaign to “Save Glenaladale”.
Aggi-Rose experience in design and construction led to her overseeing the regeneration of the infrastructure at Glenaladale, including the resurrecting of the derelict Glenaladale School―now a beautiful cultural centre and gateway to the Estate, structural repairs to Glenaladale House, the new Sadie’s Barn to support the currently-under-development Glenaladale Farm, and the timber-framed 58'x120' pergola. She also collaborated with Creative PEI and Confederation Centre of the Arts to create the Glenaladale Sculpture Forest, showcasing the work of some of the Island’s strongest artists and artisans.
Aggi-Rose is known as a visionary and an accomplished writer who is highly respected in the arts and cultural community.