Thorburn, Nova Scotia, was the birthplace of, the hockey great, Lowell MacDonald. The fast shooting forward received his first accolade playing for East Pictou Rural High School when he was named the leading scorer on the Nova Scotia Headmasters trophy. His career took him to Hamilton, Tulsa, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.

His achievements reflect not only his prowess as a player but his contribution to the game. MacDonald retired at the end of the 1977-78 season with an NHL career total of 174 goals, 201 assists for 375 points in 484 games. Lowell MacDonald was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1982.