The Twine Loft – October 2018

Passed On: John MacLeod – Inverness, N.S. fisherman and lighthouse keeper

MacLeod, 80, passed away on August 16 at the Inverary Manor, Inverness. He was born on March 4, 1938 in Glencoe Station to Patrick and Elizabeth (Moran) MacLeod. In his younger years, he worked in construction, forestry, fishing and as a lighthouse keeper on Margaree Island during the summer months.

Passed On: Marshall Rapp – Ingomar, N.S. fisherman

Rapp, 79, passed away at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital on August 11. Born in Ingomar on July 14, 1939, he was the son of the late Murray and Susie Rapp. He worked in the fishery for most of his life and owned his own fishing company, M&F Fisheries, from 1984–2001.

Passed On: Ricky Jones – Clark’s Harbour, N.S. fish plant worker

Jones, 64, passed away recently on Seal Island. He was born in Yarmouth on August 17, 1953 and was the son of the late Arden and Bernice (Smith) Jones. He grew up in Clark’s Harbour but spent his summers on Seal Island where he was always willing to try his hand at anything to help others. He was employed during the lobster season at Simply Fresh Seafoods, Clark’s Harbour.

Passed On: Brian Boudreau – Yarmouth, N.S. fisherman

Boudreau, 69, passed away at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital on August 12. Born in Wedgeport on October 12, 1948, he was a son of the late James and Alma Boudreau of Lower Wedgeport. He was a lobster fisherman most of his life and fished for over 30 years with Bruce LeBlanc. They also went handlining on George’s Bank for a few years. He enjoyed fishing both for work and for sport and would still go out lobstering with friends (just for fun) when he could.

Passed On: Christopher Smith – Lower Clarks Harbour, N.S. fisherman

Smith, 41, passed away at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital on August 13. Christopher was born in Yarmouth on February 13, 1977. He was a lobster fisherman and spent 20 years on the water with Capt. Ronnie Nickerson (MV Belinda Gail) alongside his lifelong friend Ryan Nickerson. He also harvested Irish moss during the summer months.

Passed On: Paul Winfield – Shelburne, N.S. boat builder

Winfield, 63, passed away on August 19, 2018. He was the son of the late Roy (Bub) and Ida (Goodick) Winfield. He proudly worked for DesChamp and Jackson Boat Builders as a wooden boat builder and as changes to the industry took place, he became a very skilled fibreglass fabricator where he built and worked on Cape Island style boats.

Passed On: George Muise – Yarmouth, N.S. fish processor

Muise, 76, Yarmouth, passed away on August 24 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born May 31, 1942 in Yarmouth, he was a son of the late Silas and Margaret (Clements) Muise. He worked as a fish processor most of his life.

Passed On: John Doucette – Wedgeport, N.S. fisherman

Doucette, 76, passed away on August 26, 2018 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born April 26, 1942 in Wedgeport, he was a son of the late Andrew and Thérèse (Saulnier) Doucette. He was a scallop fisherman and captain of his fishing vessel, Mark & Jonathan. He also worked in the Irish moss industry and picked apples in the United States and Canada.

Passed On: James Knott – Northbridge, MA lobster trap inventor and businessman

The Riverdale Mills Corporation recently announced the passing of company founder, owner and retired CEO James Knott, Sr. Knott was 88. An inventor, entrepreneur, industrialist and philanthropist, Knott established Riverdale Mills Corporation in 1980 — transforming it from a startup with a single wire mesh product into a manufacturing giant with more than 3,500 different wire mesh product configurations for customers around the globe. Knott set out to build a more durable lobster trap to keep fishermen on the water making a living, instead of regularly onshore repairing their traps or building new ones. He invented and began manufacturing Aquamesh, the first-of-its-kind marine-grade coated wire mesh. His innovative wire mesh lobster trap fished better and lasted far longer than wooden traps — benefits that eventually won over skeptical North Atlantic and Canadian Maritime fisherman. Today 85 per cent of all lobster traps in North America are made with Aquamesh. Knott was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Maine for his commitment to the future of the lobster industry, innovative spirit, perseverance and positive leadership, willingness to share his knowledge and ideas and his outstanding support of the university’s Lobster Institute.

Elected: FFAW-Unifor Executive Board

Doretta Strickland from Triton was elected as Vice-President, Industrial/Retail/Offshore Division. Doretta is the first woman to be elected to a Vice President position. Kevin Hardy of Burnt Islands was elected to the Inshore position of the West and South Coasts. All other positions in the Board, including the top seats of President and Secretary-Treasurer, were elected by acclamation. The new Executive Board will be installed at the Union’s triennial convention in early November.

Appointed: Dave Stevens – Riverdale Mills Corp. Director of Sales and Marketing

In this role, Stevens is responsible for domestic and worldwide sales and marketing of the company’s 3,500 product configurations for the marine, security, construction and agriculture industries.

Stevens joined Riverdale Mills in 2017 as the director of training and project management. He previously held senior management positions with regional, national and global brands Target, Starbucks, Meijer and Triple-T Truck Centers. A decorated veteran, Stevens served his country for 20 years with the U.S. Army. He deployed to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the former Republic of Yugoslavia, and was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal, in 1991 and 2004. An Indiana native, Stevens earned his Bachelor’s degree at Wake Forest University and his MBA from American Intercontinental University.

Appointed: Sean Casey – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Casey, MP (Charlottetown), was a lawyer prior to entering politics. He was elected in 2011 and has served as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General of Canada and most recently the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Appointed: Bernadette Jordan – Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions

Jordan, MP (South Shore-St. Margaret’s) had been Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.