Fredericton Daily Gleaner

Fredericton's Derrick Paul Miller soloist at tattoo in Halifax

It's the world's largest annual indoor show and one of the world's top cultural and entertainment events. It features more than 2,000 Canadian and international military and civilian performers.

Miller travelled to Halifax on June 18 to begin rehearsals. The tattoo will run today through July 8. Miller says he loves everything about this family show that features music, dance, acrobatics, drama, comedy and more.

This all began in 1979 when it was known as the Nova Scotia Tattoo. Then it changed its name to the Nova Scotia International Tattoo five years later.

In 2006, her Majesty The Queen changed the name to the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. That same year, Miller was invited to be a soloist in the show for the first time.

He remembers what it was like to wait for the curtains to open before he performed the song Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera.

While he'd performed in front of larger audiences in the past as part of an ensemble cast, this was the first time he performed as a solo artist for up to 7,000 people.

"I heard the roar of those 7,000 people. I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest. I was so nervous. I just saw all of these faces sitting around the Metro Centre," says Miller.

Thanks to rehearsals, he says, he was able to perform well and held himself together until he walked off the stage. Then his body shook from the huge adrenaline rush.

"After that I thought 'Oh that was awesome. I can't wait to do that again!' "

He has. In fact, with the exception of 2008, when he performed in Toronto in a stage production of Les Miserables, he's been at each Nova Scotia International Tattoo since then. As soon as one tattoo is over, the producers get started planning and preparing for the next year's show. At the end of one season, they invited him back to perform at the next year's show.

"It's really great for publicity and it's a really great experience. It's a lot of fun."

This year, he says, there will be a tribute to heroes in Act One. There will also be a tribute to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and lots more.

As soon as Miller returns from the tattoo, he will start preparing to teach at a musical theatre summer program in Oromocto. The camp will run from July 25-29 at Studio L in the Oromocto Arts and Learning Centre. This camp is for kids and youth ages 10-18.

dailygleaner.com - Body of missing Fredericton doctor found | By ...

The body of prominent Fredericton doctor John (Jack) MacKay who went missing in a boating accident on the Southwest Miramichi River last week has been found.

Cpl. Yann Audoux, spokesman for the RCMP J Division, said Wednesday a body was recovered from the river by the Blackville RCMP early Tuesday evening.

"The remains have been identified to be Dr. MacKay," he said.

MacKay, 81, fell into the Southwest Miramichi River on June 23 around 5:30 p.m. near Porter Cove Road. He was fishing for salmon from a boat at the time.

A second man who was in the boat at the time tried to pull MacKay from the water but also fell overboard.

The second man managed to make it to shore.

MacKay was an obstetrician-gynecologist who worked in Fredericton for decades and retired in 2006.

The doctor's family issued a statement Wednesday afternoon.

"The MacKay family is very grateful to everyone who has been involved in the search effort to locate our father and bring him home.

"We especially appreciate the extraordinary efforts of the RCMP, the divers, the Kenmore Fishing Club, Boiestown and Doaktown fire departments, government entities, community rescue volunteers, as well as the local fisherman who discovered Dad yesterday."

"We'll never forget the outpouring of affection and support expressed by so many people this past week.

"Dad lived a life full of many good friends and good times. The many lives he touched will be the best tribute to his life."

The family said visiting hours and funeral plans will be announced soon.

The RCMP is warning New Brunswickers to be careful on the water this Canada Day weekend and always wear a life-jacket.

"The personal flotation device is the most basic and important piece of safety equipment a boater has, but you have to wear one for it to work," said Sgt. Mark Bridges with the New Brunswick RCMP's federal enforcement section.

"In New Brunswick, our waters are considered cold year round so if someone is suddenly immersed, the instinct is to gasp and they inhale water.

"If you're not wearing a life-jacket to bring you to the surface, you can drown quickly."

In 2010, four people drowned in New Brunswick and so far this year three people have drowned.

None was wearing a life-jacket, said the RCMP.

The RCMP also said most boating-related fatalities happen on inland waters at low speeds, often relatively close to shore.

"prosecuting vice; etc." Emma Stirling's work for children, youth and young women, 1894-1895

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History of Fredericton, the last 200 years

Canadian Annual Review of Politics And Public Affairs, 2001

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