Date: 2023
Location: Edmonton
Profile: Cecil George was recruited by Syncrude from Toronto in 1979. As lead hand electrician on the Dragline, a major component of Syncrude’s operations, George supervised 10 white electricians who fought his supervision. The operations adopted more technical processes and he was promoted and rewarded for his creative skills. A member of IBEW Local 224, George was also a master electrician for dragline operations in the Athabasca region.
George introduced the steelband to Fort McMurray. Later relocating to Edmonton, he then worked in an Edson coal mine as an electrician, earned his master electrician certification, formed his own electrical company, and opened Sunshine Food Mart, a family-run West Indian grocery store on Whyte Avenue/96 Street. It became a community hub that helped create CARIWEST, initially an island association whose structure and profile soon broadened. Edmonton Parks & Recreation aided Cariwest’s evolution, its mas(querade) bands, and festival activities. George developed the steelband industry and orchestras in Edmonton, raising his children as pillars of his diaspora culture. He taught steelband at Grant MacEwan for 2 years.
Fort McMurray-born daughter Danielle still leads Edmonton’s Trincan Steel Orchestra, performing on world stages as a solo artist. George’s “pan sticks” factory invents and markets specialized instruments internationally.
Keywords: CARIWEST; Diaspora communities; Dragline; IBEW, Local 424; Lead hand; Steelband; Trincan Steel Orchestra.
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See also: Black Communities in Alberta; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Oil Workers in Alberta; Systemic Racism in Alberta