The purpose of the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design's Excellence in Craft Award is to recognize a craftsperson who demonstrates an ongoing mastery and excellence within their chosen craft. Recently the Centre's first Excellence in Craft Award was presented to Eileen MacNeil, of the Lake Ainslie Weavers and Craft Guild with the words: "Eileen is a weaver who certainly fulfils the criteria to be nominated for this award. Eileen is a generous instructor who has passed along her knowledge and understanding of weaving to the many students she has taught as the weaving instructor at the Scotsville School of Crafts. Having studied with master weavers of international reputation such as Madelyn van der Hoogt, Laura Fry and Peter Collingwood, Eileen is committed to exploring the seemingly never ending techniques and processes involved in hand weaving."

Eileen was key to our guild's textile show entitled The 100 year Old Trousseau. In addition to creating traditional pieces for the hope chest, she wove the silk yardage that became an extraordinary turn of the century wedding dress. A part time nurse, Eileen's production remains small scale yet her commitment to excellence in design and craftsmanship as well as to promotion of weaving in Cape Breton is always apparent. Eileen is also the primary weaving instructor at The Scotsville School of Crafts.