Reflecting on the Legacy of Bruce Wareham
Above photo: Alberto and Bruce Wareham at the Icewater Seafoods plant in Arnold’s Cove. Submitted Photos
The Turning the Tide Marine Industry Awards Gala, held at the St. John’s Convention Centre on September 16, 2021, honoured several individuals and firms for their outstanding contributions to our province’s marine industries.
This year’s Industry Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed posthumously on Mr. Bruce Wareham, Icewater Seafoods, for his excellence in ...
Remembering Harold Small
I got to know Harold Small (Feb. 13, 1936 – May 17, 2021) when the Baie Verte Development Association and the Green Bay Economic Development Association got together to plan some sort of response to Greenpeace which was trying to destroy our seal industry.
With the help of Memorial University, we were able to get some assistance to help plan and organize what turned out to later be the Canadian Sealers Association.
After about a year that was put in place, I became first treasurer of ...
Remembering Gordie Gore
When an obituary describes the deceased as “our professional blueberry picker, baker of pies, weapon on the dance floor and ruthless card player,” you know this was an interesting person.
When friends describe that person with words like integrity, kindness, honesty, humour, respect, caring and trust, you know this was an awesome person.
Those are words we heard over and over again when we asked Gordie Gore’s friends and former colleagues what word comes to mind when they think ...
Henry Vokey: Man of a Thousand Boats
Henry Vokey was truly a legend in his own time.
He was a quiet, unassuming and humble family man who grew up in the small fishing village of Little Harbour, Trinity Bay — certainly not the kind of person we usually think about in a line that includes the word “legend.”
A master boatbuilder, Henry was known as the man of a thousand boats.
Like many Newfoundland and Labrador men, Henry developed a keen interest in the art of wooden boatbuilding when he was a boy. From a family of ...
Glovertown Boatbuilder Bob Davis Remembered
Above: Bob Davis with his good friend and colleague Michele Babstock.
For 40 years, Robert (Bob) Davis has been synonymous with the Glovertown Shipyard in northeastern Newfoundland, both as an owner and in his retirement years, project advisor.
Davis died unexpectedly on April 22 after a brief illness, joining his wife Beverly who had passed away just the month before. The couple had been married for 46 years. Davis is fondly remembered as a mentor, a neighbour and a great friend by ...
Inshore Fishing Industry Loses a Steadfast Advocate
Tom Best: December 31, 1945 – March 31, 2020
Tom Best was a tireless advocate for the inshore fishery, which was once the economy driving Newfoundland and Labrador, and one of the best-known inshore fishermen in this province.
Before I met Tom, I got to know him from open line radio shows and the Fisherman’s Broadcast.
In the 1980s, when the inshore fishery started to decline, Tom like many others, saw the warning signs and the potential demise of the industry that was so important ...
Former Colleague Fondly Remembers John Crosbie
Working for John Crosbie is a time St. John’s resident Ray Andrews remembers well.
“He was a workaholic, a stickler for details, needed all the research from as many as he could get before he made any decisions, so that was the part I really liked about him,” said Andrews in an interview.
“He didn’t work on the fly or do short-term type of stuff. He always wanted the details necessary from everybody and many times he would ask the same question of a bunch of people and take all ...
John Crosbie was an Icon in Newfoundland and Labrador
It is with sadness that I write this tribute to a great man who I got to know and admire.
My first recollection of John Crosbie was in 1966 when he and Clyde Wells walked across the floor in the Government of Joey Smallwood. I believe the dispute was about the Come by Chance refinery deal.
I thought to myself, these are two honourable gentlemen who had the guts to do what they thought was right.
Mr. Crosbie kept on in politics first in the Moore’s Government and later as a ...
My Tribute to James Morgan
I first met Jim Morgan back in the late 70s when he was Fisheries Minister in the Peckford Government.
We were in the process of trying to get a marine service centre in the Green Bay South area, and after a long time we were successful.
We also had meetings with Jim after the anti-sealing group destroyed the market for seal products.
After Jim was finished with politics, he formed an organization called Rural Rights and Boat Owners Association because the federal government had ...
Jim Morgan: A Rebel with a Cause
On August 4, one of the province’s best-known politicians passed away at Pleasant View Towers in St. John’s.
Jim Morgan’s long-standing image in the public eye, even after he officially ended his formal stint in politics/government in 1989, demonstrated the life of a consummate politician.
While I worked with him, I was both surprised and honoured to be called by his wife Denise to pay tribute. I will try to portray his contribution to the people of this Rock and Big Land, primarily ...
