Did a google search of "The Other Side of the Harbour" by Johnny Currie. CBC Radio1 website had this.... Welcome to Island Echoes Your host Wendy Bergfeldt keeps you up-to-date with Cape Breton culture every Saturday evening with Island Echoes, a weekly cultural program broadcast at 8:05 p.m.(AT) on CBC Radio One. ISLAND ECHOES FEATURES December's schedule for Island Echoes Dec. 6 - Wendy Bergfeldt talks with John Currie, author of The Other Side of the Harbour, a new history of Sydney Mines. The program will also feature the music of Sydney Mines' musicians The Barra MacNeils and Bruce Guthro. ************************ CBPost has more on this article.... Fri Nov 21, 2008 Cape Breton Post The Other Side of the Harbour: Retired educator to launch book on history of Sydney Mines. Retired educator John Currie is set to launch his new book, The Other Side of the Harbour, an in-depth look at the rich, diverse history of his home town of Sydney Mines. LIFESTYLES Last updated at 12:19 AM on 22/11/08 Retired educator John Currie is set to launch his new book, The Other Side of the Harbour, an in-depth look at the rich, diverse history of his home town of Sydney Mines. Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post The Other Side of the Harbour Retired educator to launch book on history of Sydney Mines BY JULIE COLLINS The Cape Breton Post SYDNEY MINES - Retired educator John Currie spent the past three years working on a book that depicts the diverse history of his home town of Sydney Mines. Currie taught high school, was a junior high principal for 12 years, served as assistant school superintendent and ended his career as school superintendent. "I was always intrigued by the diversity of Sydney Mines, not so much of my own personal ancestry, but that of a lot of the people who settled and made a life here (after) leaving their native counties like Italy and Poland," he said. "Also, I wanted to capture those robust economic times when the town boasted six hotels and businesses such as the British Canadian Co-operative, which had over 3,000 members during in its peak years." In writing the book, Currie said he wanted to flush out some of the preliminary histories that have been done in the past by the likes of Richard Brown and expand on some areas. He noted that Sydney Mines was a pretty significant town in the 20th century referring to 1889 when the town had a larger population than that of Sydney at around 9,000 people. "My goal was to capture the colour and character of Sydney Mines as a dynamo town when you consider the coal and steel industry, the immigration and commercial impact in those early years," he said. "I did numerous interviews and the more I was able to delve into topics such as immigration, coal and steel and commerce, the more interesting it became and the more information became uncovered. For me, it was a wonderful learning experience and I appreciate those folks who allowed me into their homes." There was a core population of Scots and Irish, which soon exploded at the turn of the 20th century when Lithuanians, Polish, Italian and Romanian immigrants settled in the small mining town. "There was certainly a multinational flavour during the boom years in Sydney Mines," he said. "I was able to go into greater detail and expand on the history of these families that immigrated, many to escape impoverished conditions in their home countries." The book also goes into detail about contributions made by the people of Sydney Mines during the First and Second World Wars. "There is a section in the book dedicated to early education in Sydney Mines, the difficulties the poorer classes had in obtaining an education." he said. "I have a number of other books in the wings, but this was my first and I appreciate all those who helped make it possible." Currie invites the public to the launch of "The Other Side of the Harbour" at the Martha Howllett Memorial Library, Fraser Avenue, Sydney Mines, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. jcollins@cbpost.com ************************