Noteworthy: John Bragg

A Hello Oxford series on the movers and shakers, sometimes loud but often quiet, who contribute to our community.

Introduction

Driving through the town on the way to the north shore beaches, Oxford looks like a sleepy little village without much of a future. Victim to shopping malls and easier transportation to larger hubs, the community —like so many others in rural Nova Scotia— features empty shop windows or spaces where stores and gas stations once dotted the riverside. The grocery store, pharmacy, and bank remain as does the major employer of the region, Oxford Frozen Foods; but even with its seemingly downcast fortunes, Oxford does share the same quality as that of so many other communities: citizens with heart.

Over the next months, I aim to learn about and share with you the lives of the sung and unsung heroes who understand that living in a place means more than having a house there. It means contributing to the betterment of the community at large. 

John Bragg, a man of his motto

If there is one person who has put and kept Oxford on the map, it is Mr. John Bragg, founder of Oxford Frozen Foods. At close to 85 years of age, when most people have long since retired, John is up every day and working. His pleasant nature and sincere smile are testament to one of his core values: respect. 

In an online conversation where every technological bug that could happen did, John waited patiently for me to get my sound up and running and then shared his stories as if we had seen each other last week instead of 40 years ago.

Philanthropy

John and his brother, Doug, grew up in Collingwood, at that time a community of 300 souls. His parents owned a store, and it was there that the boys learned that in order to have repeat sales, customers had to be treated with civility. From their mother, they understood the importance of sharing. “If there was a problem, you helped out because that’s how it was,” John stated. That lesson has not gone to waste. Today, the River Philip Foundation provides funding and grants to empower “individuals to reach their full potential… by supporting initiatives that address social, economic, and community challenges, making a lasting impact on lives.” In fact, every graduating high school student from Oxford is eligible for a 4-year or 2-year bursary allowing them to pursue higher education. 

But to give money, you have to make money and to make money in a rural food processing plant, you need employees. For a small town like Oxford, this amounted to a roadblock because of the lack of housing. Employees coming to work at the frozen food plant in Oxford have had the chance to receive low-interest loans for housing. Nearby, plans are afoot in Amherst to build small affordable homes. While some of the money for these projects comes from various levels of government, the River Philip Foundation has made significant contributions. 

Community 

As for the rest of the Bragg family and the administration of Oxford Frozen Foods, they have followed John’s lead. His advice is to “find a project you believe in and provide the service you can.”  Whether it has been as the Chancellor of Mount Allison University, a company or bank president, or a telecommunications developer, Mr. Bragg’s focus has been to go towards what he knows.

In 2025, he is less involved in the day-to-day plant operations, but that does not mean he is not interested in the projects that he and his family have contributed to. The $24M Oxford Community Centre is well underway and the ground will soon be broken in Collingwood for a new 18-hole golf course and housing project. The golf course, a legacy project, will cross over the River Philip a number of times and offer the possibility for people to settle in the now 100-strong village. John’s hope is that other entrepreneurs will see opportunities for cottage industries to spring up around the new development. 

Other communities have benefited from Mr. Bragg’s passions. A history buff, he wanted to bring recognition to people who have made significant contributions to Atlantic Canada. In collaboration with History Canada, the John Bragg Award for Atlantic Canada has granted up to $50,000 each to three organizations to carry out a project celebrating a special honoree. The purpose goes beyond learning about these people; it brings visitors and their disposable incomes to museums and communities.

Other interests

John’s interest in building a golf course was not a life-long dream; He started playing  in his 60s and claims that he has a lot of golfing to make up for. Having played with a former American president and a current Canadian prime minister, it seems that he has had more interesting games than many of us.

During a recent podcast with the Knowledge Project, John mentioned that he often consulted books and articles about business and investing, but I can say that if he had his druthers, he would be happy to share a lunch or an afternoon with Abe Lincoln or Harry Truman, two American presidents who shaped their societies for the better. We can say that John Bragg has done the same.

Oh, and his personal motto: Add value. He has done that too.

Do you know someone in the Oxford area, who through their actions and efforts, has made a positive difference in the community? It is someone who has long ago passed or a person who is still plugging away at life and finding time to give back? Send us your suggestions and some contact information. Let’s recognize those people and their stories…  remind the community that there are plenty of citizens with big hearts.

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