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Cyril Parks was a maritime original. He was born in Truro, Nova Scotia on February 17, 1901. He had 2 brothers. His youngest brother, Bill, finding it difficult to pronounce Cyril’s name, called him “Soo” and the name stuck. Cyril was an avid cinematographer. Initially, he created home movies for his family with an 8 mm camera. Later on, supported and financed by local community groups, he used a 16mm film camera and produced the film "Hants County Beautiful". Cyril hoped the film would be used to promote tourism. Cyril began the film with the following poem: I think that there shall never be A county lovelier to see Than Hants with all its flowers fair. Here, there is beauty everywhere. There is no other that ere could be Called “The Land of Plenty”. He goes on to say: Is this little county known to all? No, I am afraid not. In fact too little is known of Hants County. Each year, when the swarm of tourists come to our province, they are not told of our little beauty spot. Instead, they pass us by and go to their respective homes ignorant of what a wonderful county we have. Let’s start now, and advertise the beauty of our County. Tell everyone what we have to offer. It’s a subject that one should never tire of telling. He also prepared and presented to the Nova Scotia legislature a 16 mm film on the deplorable road conditions along the Noel Shore. He advocated for paved highways. Film making provided Cyril with a means to support his community. He was an active community leader. He was involved in the “Home and School” and pushed for fluorescent lighting which gave the children better quality light. He was a great believer in the Hants Co-op and acted on the Board of Directors. The East Noel District Farmer's Association was very active on the Noel shore. He chaired the Association’s Educational Committee. Grace Morehouse, Cyril’s former business partner and friend, said the following of Cyril: Cyril Parks' contribution to the village of Noel has been enormous. He experienced adversity and even hostility but met them head on and forged ahead in spite of the many hardships. He seemed to always have a new scheme in his head, even before the present one was finished. I was called upon, on many occasions, to help in some of these plans, some of which I considered hare- brained. We didn't always agree, in fact, we had some pretty good fights but it never bothered him when I got cross and told him that not only I but everyone else thought he was crazy. I never knew Soo Parks to hold a grudge and when he thought the time was right to broach another idea, I would hear him coming, whistling a funny tune. He would open the door, poke his head in and say, "I have plans for you Gracie", and I would say to myself,"Oh dear, what now”. As Myrtle White observed of her father, Cyril: “He was one of a kind. What he did not know, he read, studied and with determination and perseverance completed the task and realized his ambition