Rodney MacDonald

Honorable Rodney J. MacDonald, E.C.N.S. (Executive Council of Nova Scotia), is an accomplished Cape Breton musician and dancer who has performed throughout Atlantic Canada, Eastern USA, Central Canada, and Scotland. He is the grandson of the great fiddler and composer, the late Donald Angus Beaton and comes from a family of musicians. He began stepdancing at home at a young age and began playing the fiddle at the age of 12 as a result of lessons from his uncle, Kinnon Beaton. MacDonald recorded his own solo recording in 1995 entitled "Dancer’s Delight", "Traditionally Rockin’" in 1997 (with Glenn Graham), and was included on the 2004 Smithsonian release of "The Beaton Family of Mabou: Cape Breton Fiddle and Piano Music". MacDonald is a former Premier of Nova Scotia and Cabinet Minister. He is presently the CEO of Colaisde na Gaidhlig/The Gaelic College and resides in Mabou, Cape Breton with his wife, Gayle, and their three children.