Peggy Lou Anderson

Peggy Lou Anderson, 83 died peacefully on May 18, 2023 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, with her husband of sixty years, Bruce, and son James by her side.

Family and close friends, here in Baddeck, joined James and Bruce with Peggy in her final hours. The community was such a great support to her. Peggy was born in Kitchener, Ontario, to Anthony and Irene Keicher in 1939.

It wasn’t so much that she was raised in Kitchener, but more how she was raised. Supportive and encouraging parents led her to her lifelong interest in learning. Her mother’s love of music took Peggy to symphony events at a young age. She often spoke of snoozing against her mother’s fur coat while listening to Chopin. And it was her mother’s devotion that ensured Peggy and her brother attended church. After public education she attended Wilfred Laurier University studying Psychology and English. She completed her formal education at the University of Toronto studying Early childhood education. At Laurier she met Bruce at her freshman dance, or rather Bruce cut in on his best friend dancing with her, and their story began. They married in 1963 and moved to Port Hope, Ontario. James was born there in 1965 while Peggy had a position with a preschool program in Coburg. There Peggy drew upon the influence of Bill Blatz, professor of Child Studies at U of T. Lynne was born in 1966 and the family of four found themselves in Oakville, Ontario, with Peggy instructing at Glover’s Nursery School and Bruce teaching at Appleby. In 1972, an itch Peggy and Bruce had to start their own business and live in the prettiest part of Canada took root. The four hit the road to Cape Breton with a KOA franchise in tow. The thought was to try for five years, but the five turned into more than 50. Peg delved into co-founding a cooperative nursery school, teaching piano, and singing in the choir. Peg and Bruce became members of Knox Presbyterian church continuing the values the family embraced at Knox in Oakville. Opportunities for even more community supportive business presented themselves including a Bed and Breakfast, small figure skating shop, Seawinds Chandlery on the Baddeck Wharf, and finally Kidston Landing – the pride and joy of Peggy and the staff. Peggy was President of two regional tourism boards, CBTA & TIANS, and was appointed to the first Canadian Tourism commission in 1998. Tourism was never far from Peggy’s heart as she and Bruce explored the corners of North America in numerous RVs during which they golfed, hiked, skied, danced, and lassoed others into mass ukelele strumfests. They also traveled to family birthplaces of Germany and Scotland, plus Italy, New Zealand, England, France, Spain, Dubai, Switzerland, and Bermuda. 

Peggy’s most treasured times were those spent with Lynne, James and her grandkids. Never was an opportunity missed to drop in and visit family in Ottawa, Oregon and California, sharing in holiday traditions, attend graduations, and doting endlessly. Her love and grace, her laugh, spark and smile will be profoundly missed by her beloved Bruce; son, James (Lesley); grandchildren, Libby and Jack, of whom she was exceedingly proud, Peggy’s sister, Wendy (Les); brother, Barry (Betty), and daughter, Lynne’s partner (Paul Kendall).

Peggy was predeceased by her daughter, Lynne just last year.

 In Peggy’s honor please support Cancer research and care by giving to the Cape Breton Cancer Center, Victoria County Memorial Hospital Foundation, or a cancer foundation of your choice. 

The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses of VCMH in Baddeck, the Cancer Center (Sydney), and the Hematology Department at Inverness CMH. Their positive impact was immeasurable, lifting her spirit.

The family invites all to visit at 41 Queen St, Baddeck, Friday & Saturday May 26th & 27th between 2 and 6 p.m. Funeral service and committal will be in late June, date to be confirmed. Under the direction of MacAskill Funeral Home, Baddeck, NS.