The Twine Loft – October 2022

Passed On: Reginald Anstey – Mount Pearl, N.L. labour leader

Anstey, 76, passed away on August 7. Born on October 23, 1945, he will be remembered for being a strong leader in the labour movement and a passionate champion of the fishery and for playing such an important role in the province’s social and economic development. He was most recently appointed to one of the three provincially-appointed seats on the Canada-Newfoundland Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB). He had been named to the board in 2020, just days after retiring as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour. He was a mainstay in the province’s labour movement dating back to the early days of the FFAW. He also spent time with the province’s Fish Processing Licensing Board and was one of the creators of One Ocean, which examined the gaps between the demands of the fishery and the offshore oil industry.

Passed On: Tom Hedderson – Brigus, N.L. former N.L. fisheries minister

Hedderson, 68, passed away on August 8. Born on May 7, 1954, he embarked on a political career that spanned 16 years. He was an educator, working as the principal of Bishop O’Neill Collegiate in Brigus.

In 1999, he was elected to the House of Assembly to represent the district of Harbour Main-Whitbourne. Elected a total of four times in general elections in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, he wore many hats for the Conservatives throughout his political career. In opposition, he served as the PC’s critic for K-12 education. From 2003, he carried several ministerial titles, including education minister, tourism minister, intergovernmental affairs minister and minister responsible for the volunteer and non-profit sector. In 2008, he was appointed minister of fisheries and aquaculture and in 2009, he was appointed minister of transportation and works and minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. In 2012, he became the province’s minister of environment and conservation. He retired from politics in 2015.

Passed On: Alvin Thorne – Thornlea, N.L. fisherman

Thorne, 57, passed away on August 16. He was born in Markland, N.L. on May 29, 1965. He learned to fish at an early age from his father, Eric and the foundation of a lifelong passion for the fishery was laid. His close attention to detail and constant hard work established him as a respected figure in the industry and local community. He was also a member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary for 30 years.

Passed On: Perry Burton – La Scie, N.L. fisherman

Burton, 74, passed away on August 8 at the Green Bay Health Centre in Springdale. He was born in Twillingate, N.L. on June 17, 1948, the son of Dorman and Flossy Burton and began his life on the Horse Islands. He enjoyed growing up on this secluded island 15 miles from Pacquet, where his family resettled. In 1968, he moved to Toronto, but moved back to La Scie in 1974 where he began his fishing career with his brothers Glenn and Wade on the Bayou Queen. Over the years, they built a very successful fishing legacy. He was also a member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Canadian Sealers Association.

Passed On: Robert Brown – Halifax, N.S. fisherman/mariner

Brown, 70, passed away on August 13 at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax. Born on October 12, 1951, in Halifax, he was the son of Howard Brown (Sydney Mines, N.S.) and Joyce Brown (Beck) (Halifax, N.S.).

He spent his career at sea, starting as a deckhand on fishing trawlers in 1970 and through hard work, education and dedication to his craft, he became one of the first men to achieve his class one fishing license. He was a long-term employee of National Sea Fisheries and the Clearwater Fisheries where he retired from in 2021.

Passed On: Sunvar Mortensen – Port Hawkesbury, N.S. Operations Manager, Arctic Fishery Alliance

Mortensen, 69, passed away suddenly on July 25 in Reykjavík, Iceland. Born in Selatrað, Faroe Islands on June 14, 1953, he was the son of Johild Maria Mortensen, Argir, Faroe Islands and the late Daniel Thomsen. He was a hard-working man, who was extremely smart and dedicated to his work. He was a great leader who worked several management positions; specializing in accounting, bookkeeping and lately, worked as an operations manager for Arctic Fisheries Alliance. He was very passionate about the fishing industry and trawling boats. He had a Danish degree of Merkonom in Accounting, Taxation and Audit and for 16 years, he held senior management positions with the shrimp fishing company Farocan Incorporated and its subsidiaries, which harvested Nunavut quotas under royalty arrangements. In recent years, he was employed by Nasaijit Services Ltd., a Nunavut bookkeeping firm located in Iqaluit. From 2011 to 2016, he was the Finance Manager of Inuit Heritage Trust Incorporated (IHT), an organization established in the Nunavut Agreement and located in Iqaluit, NU.

Passed On: Richard MacInnis – Northeast Mabou, N.S. fisherman

MacInnis, 82, passed away on August 17 in Sydney. Born in Northeast Mabou on June 14, 1940, he was a son of the late Margaret and John James MacInnis. He was known by his family, friends and peers as many things: Captain of the C SHORE MAC, fisherman, farmer, horse racing fanatic, Wii bowling champion, frequenter of the Red Shoe Pub and keeper of the Gaelic language.

Passed On: Ronald MacDonald – Judique, N.S. fisherman

MacDonald, 94, passed away on July 30 at the Strait Richmond Hospital. He was born in Judique South on December 14, 1927, to Douglas F. and Theresa (Chisholm). As a young man, he worked the shipyards in Halifax, was on the lake boats and went on to work in mines in Ontario and Saskatchewan, delivered mail in Cape Breton and fished lobster out of Baxter’s Cove for over 60 years in Judique.

Passed On: John Smith – Lower Clark’s Harbour, N.S. fisherman

Smith, 73, passed away on August 16 at the Roseway Hospital. He was born on September 18, 1948, and was the son of the late Ernest and Judy (Ledrue Symonds) Smith. He was a retired lobster fisherman, who also spent many years handlining and trawling.

Passed On: Wilbert Camus – Cheticamp, N.S. fisherman

Camus, 97, passed away on August 15 at the Foyer Père Fiset Guest Home in Cheticamp. He was a son of the late Isaac and the late Clothilde (Deveau) Camus. He was a fisherman for much of his life and also worked at the Cheticamp fish plant for many years.

Passed On: Frederick Atwood – Bay Side, N.S. fisherman

Atwood, 87, passed away on August 15 at home. Born on January 23, 1935 in Lower Clark’s Harbour, he was the son of the late Arthur and Clara (Stoddard) Atwood. He worked as a fisherman and also worked at the local fish plant.

Passed On: Avril Godron-Sharp – Yarmouth, N.S. fish plant worker

Godron-Sharp, 33, passed away unexpectedly on August 11 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born on August 21, 1988, in Victoria, B.C., he was a son of Ross Sharp, Barons, AB. and Ericka Godron, Victoria, B.C. He worked as part of the cleaning staff at Riverside Lobster.

Passed On: Lovell Smith – West Head, N.S. fish plant worker

Smith, 68, passed away on August 8 at the Roseway Hospital in Shelburne. Born on July 26, 1954, he was the son of Hirtle and Irma Smith of The Hawk, Shelburne Co. He was a long-time employee of Sea Star Fisheries in Clark’s Harbour, where he made many great friends over the years.

Passed On: Corey Mood – Lower Woods Harbour, N.S. seafood processor

Mood, 64, passed away on August 23. Born on November 3, 1957, he was behind James L. Mood Fisheries and was well known and respected throughout the industry and his community. He loved the seafood business; every deal, every scheme, every new opportunity was cause for excitement. He never let the day-to-day issues bog him down and always looked at the big picture. Partners, fishermen and friends knew that his word was gold and his support was unconditional. From Brussels to Beijing, from Boston to Brier Island, his friends will cherish the memories he has left with them.

Elected: Jason Spingle – FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer

On August 31, the FFAW-Unifor announced that 2J, 4R, 3Pn staff representative Jason Spingle was elected as the union’s new Secretary-Treasurer. Spingle defeated another staff representative, Dwan Street, during the recent election. The Secretary-Treasurer position became available when Robert Keenan surprisingly resigned the number two position in the union in late July. Spingle has been with the FFAW-Unifor since 1998.