The Twine Loft – April 2022

Passed On: Doug Bertram – Gilberts Cove, N.S. business owner

Bertram, 64, passed away on February 7. He was born on September 1, 1957, in Salem, Mass. He spent his younger years growing up in Beverly, Mass., while spending his summers with his extended family in Nova Scotia. After attending high school, he went on to attend Essex Agriculture College studying large animal science. It wasn’t long before he set off to live in Nova Scotia full-time. Although beginning his career in agriculture, his heart belonged to aquaculture. He spent over 30 years heavily involved in the seafood and marine industries there. He worked with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) for over 25 years, participated in numerous R&D initiatives with the department and was a representative on many advisory boards. During this time, he was a pivotal partner and driving force behind Innovative Fishery Products Inc., which is now one of the largest shellfish aquaculture operations on the east coast of Canada. His tenure in the industry helped him hone his skills in keeping with its fast-paced and diverse nature. His presence in this community was amplified by the number of industry boards he was a member of, which included the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, Fisheries Safety Association, Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council and Full Bay Scallop Association. He also founded Zinc Sacrificial Anode Inc. and was very proud to share that his product is on the Bluenose. His most recent business accomplishment was Shore Cold Storage & Logistics.

Passed On: Donald Smith – Bear Point, N.S. fisherman

Smith, 83, passed away on February 21, at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. He was born on June 14, 1938, in North East Point to Samuel and Julia (Ross) Smith. At the age of 15, he moved to Bear Point to go lobstering with Captain Noble Sholds. He remained a successful fisherman, captaining many of his own vessels, until the age of 80 when his health started to decline.

Passed On: Jeffrey Hutchings – Halifax, N.S. fisheries scientist

Hutchings, 63, passed away on January 29. Born on September 11, 1956, he was known as an eminent researcher and defender of science, as well as a professor, mentor and inspiration to countless students and lifelong friend to many.

Passed On: Enos Muise – Quinan, N.S. fisherman

Muise, 71, passed away on February 17 at the Digby General Hospital. Born on July 11, 1950, in Melbourne, Yarmouth Co., he was a son of the late Francis and Frances (Saulnier) Muise. He began working as a carpet layer, after which he worked as a lobster fisherman until his retirement. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and also enjoyed fishing.

Passed On: Ralston Kenney – Port Clyde, N.S. fisherman

Kenney, 94, passed away on February 16 at the Roseway Manor in Shelburne. He was born on October 10, 1927, in Doctor’s Cove. He lived most of his life in Bear Point, Atwood’s Brook and Port Clyde. He was the son of Kathleen Marie (Shand) Kenney and Ernest Clarence Kenney. During his working life, he spent it lobstering, as well as working in fish plants and lobster plants.

Passed On: Wallace Deviller – Plymouth, N.S. fish plant worker

Deviller, 91, passed away on February 9 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born on October 6, 1930, in Pinkeny’s Point, he was the son of the late William and Lena (Deveau) Deviller. He was a well respected and hard-working man who was known as a jack-of-all-trades. He worked as a fisherman in his younger years, then worked for Kenny’s Construction and finished his working career with Alfred LeBlanc’s Chebogue Fisheries.

Passed On: Murray Huskins – Wood’s Harbour, N.S. business owner

Huskins, 87, passed away on February 9. Born on October 5, 1934, in Stoney Island, Cape Sable Island, he was a son of the late Ralph and Alice (Malone) Jeffery. At the age of 17, he moved to Ontario, where he worked at Roundtree’s Chocolate Factory and returned to Wood’s Harbour in 1954. He drove the Butternut Truck making delivers in Shelburne County. At a young age, he started working at fish plants in Wood’s Harbour and in 1985, he built Huskins Fisheries. In 2002, he formed Murco Fisheries, both companies he owned and operated until 2015.

Passed On: Ronald Crowell – Wood’s Harbour, N.S. fisherman

Crowell, 86, passed away on January 30 at the Bayside Home in Barrington. He was born on June 10, 1935, in Woods Harbour to the late Ashton “Pony” and Kathleen (Banks) Crowell. He was a fisherman all his life; swordfishing, handlining and lobster fishing. After his retirement, he pursued a new hobby of gardening which he grew to love. He was known for growing giant pumpkins and won many ribbons and prizes over the years.

Passed On: John Nickerson – Shag Harbour, N.S. fisherman

Nickerson, 79, passed away on February 9 at the Bayside Home. Born on April 22, 1942, he was a son of the late Marguerite (Brannen) Nickerson and John Cecil Nickerson. He worked as a fisherman most of his life.

Passed On: André Cottreau – Lower Wedgeport, N.S. fisheries officer

Cottreau, 74, passed away on February 14 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born on June 11, 1947, in Yarmouth, he was a son of the late Lellis and Odelle (LeBlanc) Cottreau. He began his working career as a lobster fisherman, but in his 30s he began working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as a fisheries officer.

Passed On: Manfred Stichler – Port Maitland, N.S. business owner

Stichler, 80, passed away on February 15. He was born in Bremerhaven, Germany on March 17, 1941 and was a son to the late Fritz and Herta Stichler. He spent his younger years on groundfish ships off the coast of Europe. Later, he focused on the sale and purchase of seafood, as well as creating his own recipes for herring salads, Solomon Gundy and much more. He then settled in Port Maitland 35 years ago. The remainder of his career was spent in processing and sale of his gourmet herring delicacies, as well as a lobster buyer and was known for his extraordinary work ethic. He was known by a lot of people near and far and enjoyed going to local wharves, fish plants and was still involved in the seafood industry right up to the end.

Appointed: Members of the N.L. Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government recently announced the appointment of three individuals to the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel. All appointments are for a three-year term.

Members of the Panel are:

• Earle McCurdy, Regular member
• Michael Dewling, Alternate member
• Brendan Condon, Alternate member

Established in 2006, the Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel is responsible for annually identifying, in consultation with stakeholders, particular fish species for collective bargaining; collecting and disseminating market information; establishing parameters for negotiations; facilitating collective bargaining; setting hearings and where necessary, acting as an arbitration panel in setting fish prices when the parties have been unable to agree. These appointments followed the merit-based process established by the Independent Appointments Commission Act.

Earle McCurdy (Regular Member)

A graduate of Memorial University, Earle McCurdy worked as a reporter for the Evening Telegram from 1973–77 before joining what was then known as NFFAW (now FFAW-Unifor) as Editor of the union publication, Union Forum. He went on to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the union from 1980 until 1993, and President from 1993–2014. In 2015, he was elected provincial Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party, a position he held until his retirement in 2017. He also served as President of the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters, an umbrella organization representing fish harvester groups from across Canada and from 1993 to 2014 as a member of the National Executive Board of the Canadian Auto Workers (now Unifor). McCurdy was also active in a variety of industry, labour and community organizations, including the governing bodies of the N.L. Federation of Labour, St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital, Memorial University, Workers Compensation Commission and the Coalition for Equality.

Michael Dewling (Alternate Member)

Michael Dewling, a Chartered Professional Accountant, is currently in his seventh year teaching Business Administration at the College of the North Atlantic, Corner Brook campus. He spent over 10 years in the fish processing industry, working with several companies in eastern Newfoundland. He has also worked as a corporate accountant in a variety of industries including the energy sector, aerospace, retail and manufacturing. Dewling received a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University and a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University, Nova Scotia.

Brendan Condon (Alternate Member)

Brendan Condon was born in Calvert and completed his high school years in nearby Ferryland. Following a period of time as an inshore fish harvester, he attended the College of Fisheries (Marine Institute) where he attained a number of certificates in the fishing and marine sectors. Condon joined the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the mid-1970s. During his tenure at the Department, he served as Manager of the Middle-Distance Fishing Vessel Program, Director of the Field Services Division and Director of the Fisheries Adjustment Division. In 2000, Condon became Executive Director of the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board for Newfoundland and Labrador, a position he held until 2005. During his more than 30-year career in the fishing industry, he has served on a number of inter-governmental and industry committees.