Regional Storyteller

Laurent d’Entremont


My native village of West Pubnico is surrounded by water on three sides. It is about six miles long and two miles wide. There you will find the
Historical Acadian Village of Nova Scotia and the Acadian Museum and Archives
with the well-equipped research center upstairs. Within this
French-speaking village there are many fish plants, wharves and boats
of all types to compliment the great fishing fleet.

West Pubnico is home to
a 17-unit wind-generating farm producing power for the provincial
grid. It is also home to Canadian Idol hopeful Dwight d’Eon.


Like many others, a few weeks ago I did not have a clue who Dwight d’Eon
was, although he grew up four miles from me. Now his name seems to be a
household word. I know his father and mother and remember his grandparents,
but I have never met Dwight who is now, at 28 years old, making headlines on
Canadian Idol. Not only that, but congratulatory signs of support are now
covering the countryside in southwestern Nova Scotia, and businesses in our
area are also jumping into the game and bandwagon, displaying their well-wishes on their billboards and properties. Even at the Peel Pub on Spring
Garden Center in Halifax fans gathered under the big screen to cheer him
on.

As a note of interest, the parish priest in West Pubnico mentioned
having voted for Dwight d’Eon in his sermon last weekend.


Annapolis Valley readers will be happy to know that they can claim part
of Dwight as one of their own. His mother, Doreen, was from the Aylesford
area before she married Melvin d’Eon and settled in Yarmouth County. She is
the daughter of William Noice and Vivian Gertrude White.


d’Eon is doing very well. So far he’s made the shortlist of the top
performers from an original group of 10,000 Idol wannabes, and he’s gone a
long way since a few years ago when he was fishing for lobsters off our
shores with his father. The former lobster fisherman is known as a “rocker”
and for those of my generation who grew up on the music of Hank Snow and
Wilf Carter, it is difficult to understand the language when Canadian Idol
judge, Zack Werner, said, “You are the first balls-to-the-wall pure
Canadian rocker we’ve ever had on the show…I think you killed that… I’m all
about it, man.”

Apparently this was good news for Dwight and his fans.


On Friday, June 29, a Canadian Idol film crew came to West Pubnico to
capture Dwight d’Eon in his home village and surroundings. The crew was granted special permission by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to
have four lobster traps in the water - the season is now closed - with
strict instructions to return all lobsters caught back into the ocean.

d’Eon also performed for his fans during a family picnic at his parent’s
home, while cameras were rolling, of course.

The CTV Toronto filming crew had arrived at West Pubnico at 12 midnight and
with a very tight schedule and deadlines to meet.

Early in the morning, Dwight,
his father Melvin and hired man Gary d’Entremont were filmed aboard the
’Jacqueline May’ (Melvin d’Eon’s lobster boat, named for Dwight’s sister)
hauling lobster traps that had been in the water overnight. Needless to
say, as stated earlier, officers from DFO were on hand to make sure all
lobsters were returned to where they came from.

Later it was back home for
a private barbecue with family and close friends. The organizers could spare an hour or so for the loyal fans and relatives and Dwight performed for a
large crowd of admirers.


When asked if he felt the judges were harsh with their criticism, d’Eon
said, “I want to take their criticisms and use it to fill the last few
missing pieces that have prevented me from achieving real success so far.” He also believes the Canadian Idol judges will guide him to become a better
performer.


At this writing, Dwight d’Eon is very much in the running, but anything can
happen before this article comes out so let us wish him well
as he aims to follow in the footsteps of fellow Nova Scotians ChadDoucette, Gary Beals, Richie Wilcox, Brandy Callaghan and Kaleb Simmonds.


Congratulations and good luck, Dwight!

laudent@ hotmail.com