Angus Bernard MacDonald

Angus Bernard MacDonald

Angus Bernard MacDonald, educator, co-operative leader (b at Glassburn, NS 21 Nov 1893; d at Ottawa 13 Sept 1952). Following study at St Francis Xavier University and at NS Agricultural College, MacDonald worked in government agriculture positions in NS and Ontario and studied at Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Toronto. He returned to NS in 1925 as inspector of schools for Antigonish and Guysborough counties. In 1930 MacDonald joined St FX's extension department as associate director.

A good administrator and powerful personality, he became a vitally important leader in the Antigonish Movement, as the department's program came to be called. MacDonald also organized several credit unions and became managing director of the NS Credit Union League when it was formed in 1934. During 1943 he became involved with a reorganization of the Co-operative Union of Canada and in 1944 was appointed its national organizer. In 1945 he joined the CUC as general secretary (subsequently national secretary), a post he held until his death. MacDonald's accomplishments with the CUC included the sponsoring in Canada of CARE, the international aid program.