The Twine Loft – June 2023

Passed On: Roland LeBlanc — Saulnierville, N.S. fisherman and fisheries scientist

LeBlanc, 65, passed away in Yarmouth, N.S. on April 20, 2023. He was born in Saulnierville on December 3, 1957. In his early days, he worked on a trawler and as a lobster fisherman. In 1996, LeBlanc found his true calling when he was hired to be part of the development of an interactive program on the life cycle of Atlantic salmon at École Secondaire de Clare, Meteghan River. The school maintained a functioning salmon and trout hatchery, for which he provided all the technical support. LeBlanc dedicated 27 years of his life to the Salmon River Salmon Association and had three of his research papers published in scientific journals. LeBlanc was also the first to discover a fish parasite that was later named in his honour — Gyrodactylus Leblancii.

Passed On: Jessie Blake — St. Anthony, N.L. fish plant worker

Blake, 85, passed away in St. Anthony on April 5, 1937. She was born in Raleigh, N.L. on November 30, 1937. Blake spent most of her years taking care of her seven children, and in later years she went to work at the fish plant in St. Anthony.

Passed On: Bernard MacPhee — Charlottetown, P.E.I. fisherman

MacPhee, 78, passed away in Charlottetown on April 7, 2023. He was born on August 1, 1944. From Miss Rita to Claire & Lucy, you could see him smile and breathe deeper on the water, doing what he loved to do for over 50 years. He was never happier than May 1 when he could start the lobster season fishing off the North Side.

Passed On: John Robichaud — Saulnierville, N.S. fisherman

Robichaud, 94, passed away at home on April 18, 2023. He was born in Meteghan, N.S. on August 24, 1928. Robichaud was a highly respected lobster fisherman for 51 years. Fishing was his life, and he was a proud mentor to the younger generation of fish harvesters, including his son Kenneth.

Passed On: Estelle Jeddry — St. Martin, N.S. fish plant worker

Jeddry, 63, passed away in Yarmouth on April 2, 2023. She was born in Digby, N.S. on December 13, 1959. Jeddry worked at Comeau’s Seafood for 23 years, Innovative Fishery Products for five years and Riverside Lobster International for two years.

Passed On: Brian Harris — Grand Manan, N.B. fisherman

Harris, 68, passed away in Grand Manan on April 23, 2023. He was born in Grand Manan on July 31, 1954. Harris worked as a fisherman and spent his whole career around the water.

Passed On: Roderick Fiset — Cheticamp, N.S. fisherman

Fiset, 74, passed away in Cheticamp on March 24, 2023. A TIG welder by trade, Fiset fished crab on the side with his brothers aboard the Helene Pierre. In 2008, he dedicated his time to crab fishing with his son-in-law Gilles and daughter Cortney on Carter’s Catch.

Passed On: Wilfred Thibeau — Yarmouth, N.S. fisherman

Thibeau, 78, passed away at home on April 14, 2023. He was born on November 7, 1944, in Range Digby County, N.S. Thibeau spent the majority of his life on the ocean as a fisherman.

Passed On: Guy Ross — Lower Woods Harbour, N.S. fisherman

Ross, 72, passed away in Yarmouth on April 14, 2023. He was born in Inverness, N.S. on June 26, 1950. Ross greatly enjoyed his time on the water lobster fishing and also enjoyed driving to the wharves.

Passed On: Clayton Penney — Lower Clark’s Harbour, N.S. fisherman and fish plant worker

Penney, 67, passed away in Shelburne, N.S. on April 19, 2023. He was born in Lower Clark’s Harbour on November 28, 1955. In his younger years, Penney went fishing with his brother Leslie. He also worked for several fish plants.

Passed On: Ernie Pothier — Lower Wedgeport, N.S. fisherman

Pothier, 90, passed away in Yarmouth on April 6, 2023. He was born on June 26, 1932. After his career in the armed forces, he moved back to Wedgeport to work as a lobster fisherman. Pothier also volunteered at the Wedgeport Tuna Museum and participated in the annual tuna tournament until age 80.

Passed On: Phillip Blanchard — Springhaven, N.S. fish plant worker

Blanchard, 71, passed away in Yarmouth on April 9, 2023. He was born in Yarmouth on July 25, 1951. In his younger years, Blanchard moved to British Columbia until 2005, when he returned home to look after his dad. After his father’s passing, he worked for Comeau’s Seafood and Nova Elite.

Passed On: Arley Atkinson — Jordan Branch, N.S. business owner

Atkinson, 67, passed away in Halifax on April 4, 2023. He was born on March 3, 1956. Him and his business partner, Jack Hayward, ran Twin Seafood for 35 years.

Passed On: Crowell Goreham — Barrington Passage, N.S. fisherman

Goreham, 71, passed away at home on March 29, 2023. He was born in Lower Woods Harbour on February 14, 1952. Goreham was a lobster fisherman all his life and worked at Huskins Fisheries in the summer after his retirement.