Dan Willie MacKinnon was born in Inverness County and moved to New Waterford as a young child with his parents Willie and Cassie MacKinnon. Dan attended Mount Carmel School in New Waterford for his elementary and high school education. He continued his education at Xavier Junior College in Sydney and then on to St. F.X. University in Antigonish. After receiving his Education Diploma, he went on to study Industrial Arts Education at Nova Scotia Teachers' College. Dan taught Industrial Arts at Mt. Carmel (New Waterford), Cluny (Alberta), and BEC (New Waterford) for a total of 37 years. Dan played baseball, softball, and rugby during his school years and into adulthood. He coached Mt. Carmel high school hockey, New Waterford Minor Baseball, and New Waterford Minor Hockey. During his playing days, his baseball and softball teams were provincial champions several times. He was on Maritime Championship teams with the Scotchtown Raiders, State Tavern (Sydney), New Waterford Comets Softball, New Waterford Giants Baseball, and New Waterford Olands Baseball. Dan was inducted into the New Waterford and District Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in 2013 with the New Waterford Giants Baseball, in 2014 with the Scotchtown Raiders Softball, in 2016 with the New Waterford Olands, and in 2017 as an athlete. As a member of the 1959 Giants, Dan was inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and into the Maritime Sport Hall of Fame in 2015. Dan was also recognized by the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic as a member of the New Waterford Giants and the Scotchtown Raiders teams who were honored by the tournament. Dan is a former Boy Scout Leader,  former member of Mount Carmel Auditorium Committee, member of the board of directors of Carmel Center, and currently active in affairs of St. Leonard's Parish. Dan resides in New Waterford with his wife Nancy (Tetford). They spent many hours in rinks, gyms and ball fields enjoying sports with their five children; Norma MacIntyre, David, Janet Hashem, Doug and Blair. They can now often be found in some of the same venues watching their fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandson participate in various sports. It is with gratitude that the Coal Bowl Board of Directors recognizes Dan Willie MacKinnon as a 2018 Division Chair for his dedication to sports and his community.  

Marion MacNeil was born and raised in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. She began school in a two-room school in Upper North Sydney. At the beginning of grade primary, her teacher sent a letter home with one of her sisters stating that Marion was playing sports on the boys side of the school instead of staying with the girls. Her mother however never brought it to her attention because it was what she enjoyed doing. And, so it began - a love of sports. From an early age, she became active in sports, both as a player and a coach. Marion attended Thompson High School and played on the soccer team and track and field team which captured the Cape Breton Championship. These were the only two sports available for girls at the time. Her summers were spent at the tennis courts and beaches. She was the Under 16 Triple winner at the Alexandra Street Tennis Club in North Sydney. In the Under 18, she was a member of the Cape Breton team comprised of 4 boys and 2 girls that captured the Nova Scotia Junior Davis Cup with a perfect 6-0 record having won all her matches. As a junior, she won singles and doubles in the Cape Breton Tennis tournament and was ranked in the top 5 players in Nova Scotia. Marion received a scholarship to the Nova Scotia Teachers' College in Truro for Physical Education and left for college, turning down an invitation to play in the Canadian Junior Tennis Tournament. Shortly after arriving at college, she was asked to represent them at Dalhousie University in a doubles tournament with a player from Dal. They win this tournament. At Nova Scotia Teachers' College, she played on the field hockey team and the B volleyball team. Marion also played on the broomball team, winning the scoring title for the Debert league. Around this time, the newly appointed principal of Breton Education Centre was touring the Teachers' College interviewing for positions for the soon to be open high school. She capitalized on the opportunity and was hired to the staff. She began to teach at BEC with its opening in 1970 and remained there until retirement in 2000 as a department head. While teaching at BEC, Marion was an intricate part of the Physical Education Department and school athletics. She helped coach a swim club at the radar base, and also played a major role in winning several provincial titles with the Senior High Girls Soccer team and the Cape Breton Championship each year. Marion also coached the senior girls softball team - and could be found practising at the rink in the early mornings and on the soccer field until dark. Her dinner hours were often spent playing badminton with students and other staff members. She was super pleased the year she and the rest of the Phys. Ed staff coached the track and field team to win the Cape Breton title defeating the Glace Bay team who had won it several times. Marion also coached a girls road hockey team, a girls floor hockey team and one year, coached a boys soccer team during the summer when a coach was needed.  During her summer months, Marion played ladies lob ball in New Waterford winning MVP and also fastball for the Sydney Whitney Pier Panthers that won the Nova Scotia title. At Saint Agnes Parish, she was the past president of the CWL, parish council member, property and finance committee member and trained the altar servers for 17 years. Marion was married to the late Gary MacNeil who also taught and coached in New Waterford. Together they had 2 boys, Craig and Marc and 4 grandchildren, Robyn, Joshua, Brady and Benjamin. It is with great honor that the Coal Bowl Board of Directors names the Marion MacNeil Division to commend Marion on her dedication, volunteerism and athleticism in and for the town of New Waterford.