The Twine Loft – November 2023

Passed On: Ernest Selig — Bridgewater, N.S. fish harvester

Selig, 86, passed away in Liverpool, N.S. on September 7, 2023. He was born in Port Medway, N.S. Selig was a fish harvester for all of his life.

Passed On: William Worden — Saint John, N.B. boatbuilder

Worden, 88, passed away in Saint John on September 8, 2023. He was born in Saint John on November 24, 1934. Worden worked at the Saint John Dry Dock as a crane operator for 29 years.

Passed On: Charles Killam — Brooklyn, N.S. fish harvester

Killam, 80, passed away in Yarmouth, N.S. on September 25, 2023. He was born in Halifax, N.S. on August 11, 1943. Killam had a variety of jobs over the course of his life, including being a lobster harvester.

Passed On: Angus Butler — N.L. fish harvester

Butler, 57, passed away on August 24, 2023. He was born in Fortune Harbour, N.L. on April 22, 1966. Butler’s passion for fishing started at a young age, when he began fishing with his brother William. He later acquired his own enterprise in which he mostly fished lobster and crab alongside his son, Ryan.

Passed On: Ronald Vallillee — Nova Scotia mariner

Vallillee, 92, passed away in Kingston, N.S. on September 18, 2023. He was born in Ottawa, ON. on June 11, 1931. Vallillee served in the Royal Canadian Navy for 30 years as a pay writer and retired as a Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class. Vallillee sailed on the ships Kootenay, Nootka, Cap de le Madeline and Saguenay and served in several onshore establishments located in Cornwallis, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

Passed On: Eric Penney — Yarmouth, N.S. fish harvester

Penney, 53, passed away in Yarmouth on September 6, 2023. He was born in Chegoggin, N.S. on January 30, 1970. Penney was a hard worker all his life, serving first and foremost as a lobster harvester.

Passed On: Brian Walsh — Fleur de Lys, N.L. fish harvester

Walsh, 58, passed away near Fleur de Lys, N.L. in a fishing accident on September 12, 2023. He was born on July 26, 1965.

Passed On: Leonard Walsh — Fleur de Lys, N.L. fish harvester

Walsh, 56, passed away near Fleur de Lys, N.L. in a fishing accident on September 12, 2023. He was born on January 1, 1967.

Passed On: Ralston Nickerson — Clark’s Harbour, N.S. fish harvester and fish plant worker

Nickerson, 96, passed away in Barrington, N.S. on September 24, 2023. He was born in The Hawk, N.S. on March 11, 1927. Nickerson spent many hours on the open water as a fish harvester. He also worked for many years with Stoddard Fisheries.

Passed On: Austin Nickerson — Stoney Island, N.S. fish harvester

Nickerson, 80, passed away at home on September 16, 2023. He was born on February 16, 1943. Nickerson spent 60 years as a fish harvester.

Passed On: Richard Ross — Stoney Island, N.S. fish harvester

Ross, 75, passed away on September 10, 2023. He was born on May 7, 1948. Ross enjoyed the 63 years he fished on the ocean. He started lobstering on Ellenwoods Island at the age of 13 and after he married came to Cape Island, where he continued to fish until the end of the 2023 season.

Passed On: Daniel Fry —Clyde River, N.S. boatbuilder

Fry, 69, passed away in Shelburne, N.S. on September 3, 2023. He was born in Halifax, N.S. on November 24, 1953. After spending many years away from Nova Scotia, he returned to open up a boat shop in Hubbards and later in Mahone Bay. Fry then taught himself how to make cedar strip canoes, a craft he taught on two First Nations Reserves in Nova Scotia. He was an artist as much as a builder, and his canoes went all over the world and are hopefully still being enjoyed by their owners today.