(3 May 1901-12 May 1996), member of religious community. (Baptismal name was probably Cecelia Macdonald; Sister M. Clair Macdonald, Sister Clair) Born on Lot 16, 4th Concession of Kenyon Township, GC (now Hillcrest Farm). Parents: Dan A. (Alex Donald) MacDonald and his wife Mary Catherine MacPherson. She attended the local primary school, Alexandria High School, and normal school at Ottawa, then taught for six years before entering the Holy Cross community in 1926. Two years later she took her vows as “Sister Mary Clair.” Over a long teaching career, she taught at Iona Academy at St. Raphael’s, at St. Laurent, Que., and Grand Prairie, Alta, and then again at Iona. She received her B. A., University of Ottawa, 1944. In her later years, she lived at St. Margaret’s Convent, Alexandria. She died at the Holy Cross Pavilion at St. Laurent, Que. Known for her personality and character, she was also, in her later years, a revered and sought-after source of information on the history of her native county and the significance of the changes she had seen there during her long lifetime. She wrote a valuable short history of Iona Academy (published Glengarry News 24 April & 10 July 1975). For a scrapbook of great historical value which she owned in the 1970s, photocopies from which are designated ASC i and ASC ii in the notes to the present dictionary, see ASC in the Abbreviations list of this dictionary. Her oldest brother, A. Clare MacDonald, was killed in France during the closing stages of WWI. (GN 1 Nov. 1918)

Glengarry News 19 & 26 June 1996, with obituary tribute by Sister Donalda Moore * GHS Newsletter June 1996 * biog. sketch of her by Sister Kathryn Cameron, Glengarry Life 1976 * interview with her recorded at St. Margaret’s Convent, Alexandria, 5 Jan. 1978, for the Multicultural History Society of Ontario * celebrates 50th anniversary as Sister of Holy Cross, GN 10 May 1978 (biog. details, with portrait) * Bibliography of Glengarry: index * letter by her on Dornie & Delisle River, GN 28 Nov. 1974