Biography
Hailing from Florenceville, New Brunswick, this triple ECMA-nominated classical crossover specialist has recorded six albums, toured with noted JUNO-nominated jazz singer Matt Dusk, and accompanied symphonies across Canada. She’s also had the honor of collaborating with artists such as Natalie MacMaster, Liona Boyd, John McDermott, Chantal Kreviazuk, the Elmer Iseler Singers, and Carlos Nunez.
McCain’s music has been critically acclaimed from the love songs of Runaway to classical crossover favourite Intimate; ECMA-nominated children’s recording Bundle Of Joy; ECMA-nominated Green Hills Of Home, an album of Celtic balladry to her ECMA-nominated double CD of Christmas music entitled Holiday.
Her most recent project released in May 2017, True North: The Canadian Songbook, is a celebration of Canadian pop songs set to orchestra honouring Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation. Emmy Award-winning composer Don Breithaupt produced this double album of 32 iconic songs reimagined by 14 arrangers from coast to coast and recorded with 10 of the country’s foremost orchestras, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Symphony New Brunswick, Symphony Nova Scotia, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In addition, the performances of 28 Canadian guest artists are also featured.
Along with the album, True North: The Canadian Songbook was released as an award-winning bilingual coffee table book with a double CD capturing many of Canada’s most iconic landscapes by 22 of the country’s most prominent photographers, co-curated by renowned portrait photographer V. Tony Hauser. The award-winning book includes behind-the scenes images by Greg Locke as well as other photographers, song lyrics, commentary from songwriters and portraits by V. Tony Hauser in select Canadian landscapes featuring original Canadian fashion designs.
In 2021, Eleanor became Founder and CEO of Six by the Sea when she purchased two adjoining properties in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia with a vision: to create a “village within a village” that blends both for-profit and not-for-profit ventures celebrating Atlantic Canadian culture and heritage. The result is a charming collection of six lovingly restored historic structures in the heart of Peggy’s Cove. Simply put, the name Six by the Sea reflects these six buildings that are clustered together near the shore of the Atlantic Ocean in St. Margaret’s Bay. Her Atlantic Canadian pride of place has been a constant in her life and is the inspiration behind sharing the rich history of the iconic fishing village of Peggy’s Cove and the culture of Atlantic Canada through Six by the Sea.
Six by the Sea includes a whimsical Maritime emporium called Holy Mackerel; Hunky Dory, a french fry and ice cream take-out; Margaret's, a cozy East Coast café; The Schoolhouse, the original Peggy’s Cove Schoolhouse built in 1839; and Spindrift Gallery, which was converted from a barn to showcase historic and artistic exhibits.
It has been an important part of its mission for Six by the Sea to honour the buildings and their place in the history of Peggy’s Cove. Because of this, Six by the Sea launched This Building Has History property-wide. Visitors can walk through the history of Peggy’s Cove by exploring the heritage of each structure at Six by the Sea. Visitors can follow the story from these early beginnings to the present day.
Eleanor resides in Toronto, Ontario yet spends significant time in Nova Scotia in support of Six by the Sea in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia.