The Seagull Sou’wester

What’s with the hat?

Originally published 2014. Updated Oct 31, 2022

If you’ve caught a few moments of our annual Telethon at any point over the last 40-plus years, you’ve probably noticed a rather distinctive chapeau: The “Seagull Sou’wester”. Although the history of the hat is usually mentioned (a few times!) during the broadcast, we think it’s past due for some formal recognition here.

The History of the Seagull Sou’Wester

In 1982, the famous Sou’Wester was donated by Jack Campbell of The Sou’Wester Restaurant and Gift Shop at Peggy’s Cove, to Dr Garth Vaughan for use in the Newfie Bullet Show Band, as the members were known to wear hats of different types at their performances. Mrs Marion Reading made the seagull, attached it to the hat, and donated it for the performers to use.

Brian Johnston auctioned Mr Vaughan’s hat in 1983 during the Christmas Daddies Show (now the Christmas Angels) performance, and got several bids – the highest being $60. The highest bidder returned the hat for the next Christmas Daddies Show, who challenged others to bid as well, and the tradition continues to this day.

Bids for the Sou’Wester have grown substantially over the years and contributed tens of thousands of dollars in donations to the Christmas Angels (possibly more!) Between 1982 and 2001, the Newfie Bullet Show Band played on the Christmas Angels show for 18 years and raised $17,000 auctioning the hat during those years.

39 Years and Counting

Our 2014 Telethon marked the 32nd ANNIVERSARY of the “SEAGULL SOU’WESTER”. The Seagull Sou’Wester and the beautiful paintings by Garth Vaughan have raised well over $35,000 over the past 31 years. These funds have directly benefited local children and families of Hants County. The images below are just a handful of recent years.

The Tradition

A Hants County Christmas Angels tradition since 1983. Want to see your name on this list? Tune in to our annual Webathon, or contact our Annual Coordinator for details!