Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour Jim MacLellan, best known as “Big Jim”, the last original performing member of the Men of the Deeps, who has officially retired after nearly 60 remarkable years with the choir. At 91 years of age, Jim gave his final performance this past weekend at the historic Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay during a Christmas show. He shared that emotions were running high before and after the show, and the crowd's response made the moment even more meaningful.
Jim was a founding member of the Men of the Deeps in 1966. Like so many Cape Bretoners of his generation, he came from the mines, starting at the age of 17 in the No. 12 colliery, before later moving into engineering. He brought that lived experience to the stage, telling stories, singing with the group and helping audiences connect to Cape Breton's proud mining heritage. His fellow members describe him as humble, hard-working and a true embodiment of what the choir represents.
On behalf of our community, I want to thank Big Jim for nearly six decades of dedication. I wish him nothing but the very best in his retirement.