# Kenzie MacNeil > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenzie_MacNeil > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenzie_MacNeil.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzie_MacNeil > Source revision: 1302676187 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Kenzie MacNeil** (2 September 1952 – 24 July 2021) was a Canadian songwriter, performer, producer and director in television, film, radio and stage, and a former [Conservative Party of Canada](/source/Conservative_Party_of_Canada) candidate.[1][2] MacNeil completed a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree from [St. Francis Xavier University](/source/St._Francis_Xavier_University). He also studied at the [University of Botswana](/source/University_of_Botswana) in [Lesotho](/source/Lesotho) and [Swaziland](/source/Swaziland) while accompanying his parents on field work with CIDA in Africa for three years.[3] ## Biography MacNeil was a major force behind *The Rise and Follies of Cape Breton Island*, a satirical sketch review that ran from 1978 to 1982.[4] The revue included songs inspired by the coal and steel industry of Cape Breton and featured local musicians.[5] He also served as Artistic Director/Producer of the Cape Breton Music and Theatre Company, and worked as Director of the UCCB Press. Over the years he contributed to Peter Gzowski's *This Country in the Morning* and *Morningside* on CBC Radio, and on some of the most popular television shows of the time: *Singalong Jubilee*, *Ceilidh*, *Tommy Hunter*, *Ryan’s Fancy*, *Ian Tyson*, and many others. Kenzie MacNeil also had an active theatrical career performing in productions like Tom Gallant's *Step/Dance* and with Gordon Pinsent in *John and the Missus*, and was nominated for an ACTRA award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in *Last Night in Town*. He was involved in the production of the National Film Board's *Empty Harbours*, *Empty Dreams*, *12,000 Men*, and *Scoggie*. As well, MacNeil worked as Chair of the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation and helped with the creation of soundstages across the mainland and on the Island, and in particular, assisted with bringing the productions *Pit Pony* and *New Waterford Girl* to Cape Breton. MacNeil is best known for his song “The Island,” an unofficial anthem of [Cape Breton Island](/source/Cape_Breton_Island). The song is a tribute to coal industry workers in Nova Scotia.[2] According to [Men of the Deeps](/source/Men_of_the_Deeps) musical director, John O'Donnell, "the words offer a vivid demonstration that labour in Cape Breton has indeed had a deep cultural impact on the community."[5] He also worked as a development officer with the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development,[3] and has been the editor and publisher of the *Cape Bretoner* magazine.[3] ## Politics MacNeil ran as a [Conservative Party of Canada](/source/Conservative_Party_of_Canada) in [Cape Breton—Canso](/source/Cape_Breton%E2%80%94Canso) in the [2004](/source/2004_Canadian_federal_election) and [2006](/source/2006_Canadian_federal_election) federal elections, coming third and second respectively behind Liberal incumbent [Rodger Cuzner](/source/Rodger_Cuzner).[2][3][6] In the [2019 federal election](/source/2019_Canadian_federal_election), MacNeil ran as an independent candidate in [Sydney—Victoria](/source/Sydney%E2%80%94Victoria),[7] but finished in sixth place.[8] ## Personal MacNeil died on 24 July 2021.[9][10] He was posthumously awarded the [Order of Nova Scotia](/source/Order_of_Nova_Scotia) in 2022.[11] ## References 1. Laura Jean Grant (17 September 2007). ["Film tax credit wont have reel impact on Cape Breton"](http://www.capebretonpost.com/Personal-finance/2007-09-17/article-778483/Film-tax-credit-wont-have-reel-impact-on-Cape-Breton/1). *The Cape Breton Post*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20111002055116/http://www.capebretonpost.com/Personal-finance/2007-09-17/article-778483/Film-tax-credit-wont-have-reel-impact-on-Cape-Breton/1) 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 April 2024. 1. O'Brien, Robert (2008). [*Solidarity first: Canadian workers and social cohesion*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rZ39mYY6UtwC&pg=PA107). Vancouver: UBC Press. pp. 107–108. ISBN 978-0-7748-1439-3. 1. ["Candidate profiles-Canada Votes 2004"](http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2004/riding/012/). *CBC*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070301132428/http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2004/riding/012/) 1 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 April 2024. 1. Tera Camus (26 May 2010). ["Cape Breton Summertime Revue reunion to raise money for Savoy Theatre"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110124174714/http://www.whatsgoinon.ca/2010/05/cape-breton-summertime-revue-reunion-to-raise-money-for-savoy-theatre/). *What's going on: Cape Breton's Entertainment Guide*. Archived from [the original](http://www.whatsgoinon.ca/2010/05/cape-breton-summertime-revue-reunion-to-raise-money-for-savoy-theatre/) on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 1. John C. O'Donnell (1986). ["Labour's Cultural Impact on the Community"](http://cjtm.icaap.org/content/14/v14art6.html). *Canadian Journal for Traditional Music*. Retrieved 28 December 2010. 1. ["Canada Votes 2006 - Candidates and Ridings"](http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2006/riding/012/). *CBC*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121108155755/http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2006/riding/012/) 8 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 April 2024. 1. ["Former MP, local songwriter running as Independents in Cape Breton"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/michelle-dockrill-kenzie-macneil-cape-breton-federal-election-independents-1.5291619). CBC News. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2021. 1. ["Jaime Battiste becomes first Mi'kmaw MP after winning riding of Sydney-Victoria"](https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/news/local/video-jaime-battiste-becomes-first-mikmaw-mp-after-winning-riding-of-sydney-victoria-366447/). SaltWire Network. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2021. 1. ["Songwriter behind iconic Cape Breton anthem passes away"](https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/songwriter-behind-iconic-cape-breton-anthem-passes-away/). CTV News. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021. 1. ["Kenzie MacNeil, known for Cape Breton anthem 'The Island', dies"](https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/news/kenzie-macneil-known-for-cape-breton-anthem-the-island-dies-100616720/). SaltWire Network. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021. 1. ["Order of Nova Scotia: 2022 Recipients"](https://novascotia.ca/iga/2022recipients.asp). Government of Nova Scotia. ## External links - [Kenzie MacNeil](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534109/) at IMDb --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenzie MacNeil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzie_MacNeil) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzie_MacNeil?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.