Gardener, Teacher, World Traveler
1934 – 2020
Peter McDermaid, 86, passed away November 24th, 2020 at Hospice Halifax following a brief battle with brain cancer. Born in Halifax, he was a son of the late Donald Kennedy McDermaid and Dalhousie ‘Dalhsie’ Armitage McDermaid. Predeceased by older brother Donald R. McDermaid and younger sister Nancy D. Kitchen (McDermaid); survived and tremendously missed by big brother Ian C. McDermaid, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Peter’s love of academia and politics began in high school, where he and a group of friends founded the Queen Elizabeth High School (QEH) Model Parliament, which continues to this day at QEH’s successor, Citadel High. Peter was Prime Minister for both the first and second Parliaments.
He furthered this interest while pursuing his Bachelor of Arts at Dalhousie University, serving as a Minister in the first Maritime Model Parliament held at Province House in 1954, and later he became Prime Minister of two campus-wide model parliaments.
While studying at Dal, Peter was also active as national president of the Progressive Conservative Student Federation, playing a role in the convention that elected John Diefenbaker as P.C. Leader in 1956. In addition, Peter joined the Royal Canadian Air Force reserves and earned a commission during his university years.
Upon graduation, Peter took a position in Toronto with the insurance company Reed, Shaw & McNaught (now AON Risk Solutions). After two years he returned to Halifax to work with McDermaid Agencies and later became managing director of a new insurance firm, INS Agency Ltd. He also earned the designation of FIIC, Fellow of the Insurance Institute of Canada.
In 1968, Peter returned to Dal to obtain his Bachelor of Education degree. That year he accepted a position at his beloved former high school, QEH, where he went on to become a favourite teacher of political science and economics courses for 24 years.
Much-loved for his quick wit, enthusiasm and ever-present infectious laugh, students not even officially enrolled were known to sneak into Peter’s famous course ‘Modern World Problems’, just to see what all the fuss was about!
He was also instrumental in the continuing operation of QEH’s Model Parliament and helped colleagues in other local high schools start their own versions. An executive member of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union for nearly a decade, Peter continued to be active in politics, especially in the riding of Halifax Citadel where he served as Treasurer for 18 years.
A little-known fact is that Peter received an Award of Harmony from The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, in appreciation of his efforts to ‘make our community a place of harmony for all, and as a sincere gesture of thanks for your dedication to concern for others.’
Upon his retirement in 1992, Peter moved to a condo at Regatta Point on the Northwest Arm. Always eager to be involved in his surroundings, the following year he was elected to the condo’ Board of Directors, where he served for many years. He also served on the Board of the Regatta Point Landowners Association, where he led a group in starting a waterfront flower garden at nearby Mont Blanc Park.
By that time Peter’s green thumb was already quite legendary, as gardening had been a major hobby and source of endless enjoyment at the cottage he’d purchased in 1965 on Todd’s Island at the Head of St. Margaret’s Bay.
Besides growing his own tobacco during his pipe-smoking years, he was well known for the extensive varieties of lettuce he cultivated each season, generously providing dozens of family and friends with lettuce plants each Spring for over 50 years.
Another favorite activity of Peter’s was traveling abroad, which he did extensively in his retirement. Always eager to share stories from exotic locales, it was not uncommon to receive several postcards a year with tales of Peter’s adventures, like visiting Petra in the deserts of Jordan, cruising the rivers of Europe, exploring Mayan Ruins in Mexico, or touring Egypt’s famed Valley of the Kings.
Back in Nova Scotia, when not gardening, traveling, or serving on local committees, Peter somehow managed to find time to be a member of the Saraguay Club of Halifax, the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, and the Victory Services Club of London, England.
Peter’s love of life and of laughter will be greatly missed. He always had a joke to tell, or a story to share, spiced up with his extensive knowledge of classic movies, politics and of course, British comedy (like his favourite sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances, which he declared “marvelously hilarious”).
If you were curious about any aspect of McDermaid family history, the advice was always “ask Uncle Peter, he’ll know”. Sure enough, you’d be rewarded – first, with his signature chuckle (“Oh, you don’t know that story? That’s a WONDERFUL story!”) and then he’d launch into a colourful tale that amused and informed in equal measure.
An exceptionally warm and cheerful person, Peter will also be remembered for the soft spot he held in his heart for the various Pekinese dogs, together with Scotch and Yorkshire Terriers, who were his faithful companions in his home and in his garden for many years.
The Family wishes to express a special thanks to the tremendous team on Unit 8.1 at the Halifax Infirmary and also to the incredibly compassionate staff at Hospice Halifax for taking great care of our “Uncle” Peter in his last weeks.
Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, the family aims to hold a memorial service next summer at St. George’s Anglican Church (aka ‘the little brown church’) at the Head of St. Margaret’s Bay, where the McDermaid family plot lies as part of this quaint seaside cemetery.
In the meantime, condolences may be sent to the family c/o Peter’s nephew Don at [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, donations in Peter’s memory may be made, with thanks, to the Nova Scotia SPCA or Hospice Halifax.
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