Big Jim MacLellan remembered as pillar of Men of the Deeps

It's an entrance they've made hundreds of times, but Sunday night was special as the Men of the Deeps walked on the Savoy Theatre stage celebrating 60 years of songs and stories. It's such an honor to be part of this group. Nipper McLeod has been with the choir for 50 years and was recognized for his time, but it was also a night filled with emotion. Founding member 92-year-old Jim McClellan died just days before. We were singing at our reception gala at 7 30 at the Miners Museum. And at 7.53, Big Jim passed away while we were singing. None of us knew at the time, but his spirit was flying around that miners' museum. If this building had not been erected, the Men of the Deep probably would never have been formed. McClellan was one of 40 miners that sang O Canada at the opening of the miners' museum in 1967. People, I think, who are in the local area knew that coal miners could sing, but I'm not sure they knew it outside of Cape Breton Island, but they soon found out. McClellan was one of the mine managers at No. 26 Colliery in 1979, when 12 men died in an explosion. In an interview with CBC last year, McClellan said he never questioned his decision to go underground. I was born a miner. I lived about three minutes from the pit, and I know I'll die a miner. Back on stage, the lineup was second to none, from the Barron McNeils, Matt Minglewood, Buddy McDonald, Matt Anderson, and many more here to honor the men, all while doing so with heavy hearts. I think this was Jim's way of making sure he was here. His legs weren't going to get him here, so we wanted to make sure that he could spend time here with his brothers, and we felt his spirit here tonight. It's a working man. To many, he was known as Big Jim. He leaves behind six children and will be remembered for his many monologues during performances, his booming voice, and most importantly, as a man who had your back. Kyle Moore, CBC News, Glace Bay.