IN HONOUR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEBRUARY 2021

JONATHAN SKEETE-WHITNEY PIER - CAPE BRETON ISLAND

Constable Jonathan Skeete was the first Black Cape Breton Islander to be recruited to the RCMP. Jonathan was the son of Olga and Lem Skeete and he grew up just a few houses from Menelik Hall on Laurier St in Whitney Pier. His parents had come from Barbados and his father was employed at Sydney Steel Plant.

Jonathan was an athletic man and when he attended Dalhousie and participated in a Transition Year Program (TYP) for Black and Indigenous, he was on the Intra Mural Team that were pretty much undefeated in any sport they played. Dalhousie Uni has the "Jonathan Skeete Memorial Prize" which Friends, faculty and former students of the Transition Year Program have established an endowment from which to fund the annual prize.

The award honours the memory of Jonathan Skeete who, following completion of the TYP, graduated with a Bachelor's of Commerce degree and then served several years with the RCMP.

Jonathan's Dad Lem had formed the "United Mission Pony Softball League" and Jonathan was a coach. The league was for the kids who couldn't make the Little League level and Jonathan was dedicated to those kids.

When he later as a RCMP Officer was stationed in Bengough, Saskatchewan he also started a baseball league for the local kids. Sadly. Jonathan passed away from Cancer in 1987 and although he had a wonderful productive life, it was short.

The following year his friends and Fiancee started the "Jonathan Skeete Memorial Run" that starts and ends at Menelik Hall on the street he grew up on and his parents usually watch from their front steps.

They are still active in their 90's, God love them and Lem Skeete is the oldest Black Nova Scotian WW2 veteran.

Thank you Calvin L. for the post.