Remembering Cyril Newton Ward (1893 - 1981)

Cyril Newton Ward was born at Canso, Guysborough County on October 6, 1893. His father, Charles Hurd Ward, a native of Sydney, NS, worked as a telegraph operator at Commercial Cable Company. His mother, Kate Ravenhill Stickland, was a native of Woodstock, NB whose family operated a mercantile business at Amherst, NS. The third of four children, Cyril spent his childhood years in Canso, and was residing there at the time of the 1901 Canadian census. A decade later, however, the family was no longer living in Nova Scotia.

A member of the generation most affected by the outbreak of the First World War, Cyril was working as a bank clerk when he enlisted for service with the 67th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, at Toronto, ON. His mother, listed as next of kin on his attestation form, was living at Sausalito, California at the time of his enlistment, suggesting that his parents had relocated to the United States.

Charles subsequently returned to Canada aboard SS Olympic in April 1919. While he worked in the banking industry at locations across Canada and the United States, he never forgot his childhood roots. Following his retirement in 1958, Cyril returned to Guysborough, where he spent his remaining years. He passed away there on July 17, 1981 and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery, Guysborough.

An avid reader throughout his life, Cyril left a generous bequest to the Municipality of Guysborough for the establishment of a public library. The Cyril Ward Memorial Library opened its doors on August 6, 1986 and continues to provide the local public with access to reading material and a variety of educational activities to this day.