Born on August 31, 1932, and raised in William’s Point, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia, Angus Grant has dedicated his life to growing sport in Antigonish. Growing up as an only child on his parents’ farm, located only “a stone’s throw away” from his current residence, Angus was drawn to sport early on. In childhood, he spent his free time playing road hockey in the winter and softball in the fields with neighbouring children.
L – R: Leo MacDonald, Brierly Brook; Angus Grant, Williams Point; John Allan MacDonald, Brookland St; Bob Davidson, Walter Weir, Ron Fraser, College St; Scottish coach. Taken in 1979 during International Gathering of the Clans.
While he was initially interested in pursuing social work, his calling lay in education. In 1955, he graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Education, teaching “everything” before settling in as a math teacher until retirement. Throughout his teaching career, Angus prioritized the holistic development of his students, emphasizing both academic and physical growth. Sports played a significant role in his approach, and he dedicated himself to coaching various athletic activities, including cross country and softball. Angus’s commitment to local children and youth extended beyond the classroom, as demonstrated through his achievements with the Antigonish Guysborough Rural Softball League. At one point the league had over 1200 players, with Angus coaching in the league for over twenty-five years, in addition to becoming President in the late 1950s. This was followed by a multi-year stint as President of the Minor Softball Association in the 1990s alongside many, many championship wins!
Beyond softball, Angus was an avid supporter of the Antigonish Highland Games. As his children competed in track, he volunteered with the Highland Games Track and Field program. In 1979, he was named the Meet Director, sparking a new era for the Highland Games. That year, it would be the first International Gathering of the Clans outside of Scotland. Prior to 1979, the Antigonish Highland Games had focused solely on local athletes. With the International Gathering of the Clans, it was the first time athletes were brought in to compete from different nations. As Angus considered how to make the Games a success, he recognized the importance of selecting events that would engage and excite spectators. This included longer track and field events and the adoption of international rules. This introduced the 26 lb stone throw, the 56 lb stone throw, the 28 lb stone throw, the 22 lb hammer throw, the 16 lb hammer throw, and a 56 lb weight throw for height. Under Angus’s guidance, the caber toss event also underwent a change, adopting the Scottish scoring system. As a result of these changes, the Antigonish Highland Games were propelled into an international destination for heavy event competitors to attend. Once the Games rolled around, approximately 700 competitors participated in the events, including top athletes from across Canada and Scotland.
As a testament to his remarkable contributions to local sport, Angus Grant was inducted as a Builder into the Antigonish Highland Games Hall of Fame on July 11, 2019. His commitment to growing the Antigonish Highland Games, in addition to his substantial contributions to youth softball and Track and Field, have cemented his legacy as one of Antigonish’s greatest leaders in sport.
Submitted by Alyssa Spridgeon, March 10, 2024
Read more about Angus Grant by visiting his story featured on the Antigonish Heritage Museum’s Facebook page.