Twine Loft – January 2016

Passed On: Captain Dan Skinner – North Sydney, N.S. Mariner/Fisherman

Skinner, 76, died at home on November 2, 2015, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness with cancer. Born in Harbour Breton, N.L., on September 30, 1939, he was the son of the late Helen (Mahoney) and James Skinner. Dan was a member of the Northern Yacht Club and the North Sydney Senior Citizen’s and Pensioner’s Club. Prior to his retirement, Dan spent his career at sea — his two long-time employers being H.B. Nickerson’s and National Sea Products. His years of being at the helm of many draggers and being known for bringing in large hauls made him well-known in fishing communities such as Louisbourg, Canso, Alder Point, Petit de Gras and North Sydney. Dan was most proud to be awarded Highliner of The Year two years in a row.

Passed On: Gerald Prole – Harry’s Harbour, N.L. Fisherman

It was with great sadness that the family of the late Gerald Prole announced his passing at the Green Bay Health Centre in Springdale on November 20, 2015 at the age of 66. Gerald retired from the fishing industry in 1997. He was predeceased by Gladys Sarah Prole and Herbert and Effie Prole. Left with fond and loving memories is his wife Joy Ruby Prole and son David (Danielle) of Elmsdale, N.S.

Passed On: Corwin Mills – Clarenville, N.L. Lawyer

Passed peacefully away at Dr. G. B. Cross Memorial Hospital, Clarenville on Friday, November 20, 2015, Corwin Mills, QC of Clarenville, aged 70 years. Corwin received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce Degrees from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1967. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of British Columbia in 1971. He was admitted to the Bar on April 10, 1972. In 1983, he earned a Master of Laws Degree in Marine Law from the University of Wales, U.K., with his thesis on the topic of ship’s mortgages. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1988 and a Master of the Supreme Court in 1998. During his 43 year career, he appeared in all levels of the court in the province and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was the recipient of the Canadian Bar Association Newfoundland Branch Distinguished Public Service Award in 2001, and in 2015, he received the Gordon M. Stirling, QC, Distinguished Service Award, for members and former members of the Law Society, and of the judiciary who have made a substantial contribution to the Law Society, the legal profession or the administration of justice, while at the same time making a significant contribution to the public or one’s community.

Passed On: Austin Trenholm – Cape Tormentine, N.B. Fisherman

Trenholm, 90, of Cape Tormentine, N.B. Austin passed away peacefully at the Moncton Hospital on October 14, 2015. Born in Baie Verte, N.B., he was a son of the late Parker and Winnifred (Oulton) Trenholm. Austin was a veteran of World War II, serving in Canada. He was then a lifelong fisherman fishing out of Cape Tormentine. He was also a life member of the Cape Tormentine Royal Canadian Legion.

Passed On: Carmen Roy – Port Mouton, N.S. Fisherman

Roy, 67, of Southwest Port Mouton, Queens County passed away peacefully at home on, October 3, 2015. Born in Southwest Port Mouton, he was a son of the late Weldon and Lula (Fisher) Roy. Carman worked in the fishing industry all his life, first with C.W. MacLeod Fisheries as a fish cutter, then later as a fisherman.

Passed On: Chris Cooper– Dartmouth, N.S. Naval Architect

Cooper passed away peacefully at home on November 8, 2015. He was born in Kingston, Ontario on March 25, 1943. Chris was a graduate of KCVI in Kingston where he enrolled in metallurgical engineering and the Naval ROTP (Regular Officer Training Plan) at Queens University, graduating in 1965 as a S/Lt with a B.SC. in Metallurgical Engineering. As a young officer he was deployed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1967 to study naval architecture and marine engineering, graduating in 1970 with a Masters degree. Chris held a variety of positions with the Royal Canadian Navy and earned a promotion to the rank of Commander. Chris retired from the Navy in 1982 and joined the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Fisheries Development Branch as a naval architect. After several years of productive work, the Fisheries Development Branch was downsized with Chris becoming the region’s staff naval architect and the fishing gear engineer responsible for fishing gear innovations, including the evaluation and adoption of square mesh netting to facilitate escapement of undersized fish, the introduction of separator grates for the shrimp fishery and the successful development and exploitation of the silver hake fishery. Chris retired from Fisheries in 1995 and opened a used bookstore, Dustjacket Books and Treasures, employing a full-time staff of two employees which he successfully operated until he sold the company in 2013.

Retiring: Con Dunphy – St. John’s, N.L. Marine Electronics Sales

Dunphy, of Atlantic Electronics Ltd., has announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2015. Con has 40 years in the marine electronics business, 32 of them as manager of AEL in Newfoundland and Labrador and as a senior partner with the parent company, based in Dartmouth, N.S. During his career, he has seen vast changes in equipment such as radars and fish finding equipment. Navigation in the 1970s relied on Loran A, Decca Navigators, radio direction finders and dead reckoning. Today’s sophisticated GPS, charting systems and satellite communications systems were just science fiction in 1976. He has handed the reins over to Seamus Power, a very capable young man who is well respected and trusted in the industry.

Appointed: Matt Sullivan – Executive Director of the P.E.I. Aquaculture Alliance

Matt grew up working in various roles at his father’s mussel farm and processing plant in eastern P.E.I. Most recently, Matt had been working in the information technology sector building traceability systems for the fisheries industry. The Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance (PEIAA) is a non-profit organization, established in January 1998 as an umbrella organization representing the P.E.I. Cultured Mussel Growers Association, the Island Oyster Growers Group and the P.E.I. Finfish Association.

Appointed: Susan Farquharson – Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA)

Farquharson, a former executive director of the Canadian Rivers Institute, recently began her new role. A Charlotte County N.B resident, Farquharson is in the final stage of her Masters of Arts in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University. A Project Management Professional (PMP) certified project manager, Farquharson has brought her skills and talent to a wide variety of organizations, including the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency, the New Brunswick Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Canadian Water Network and most recently the Town of St. Andrews where she developed the Southwest New Brunswick transportation model. Farquharson is actively involved in her community – volunteering on both a local service district advisory committee and serving as a past director of a regional service commission. Her work and volunteer activities have been acknowledged with awards, including the New Brunswick Environmental Leadership Award and the Gulf of Maine Visionary Award. Farquharson replaces outgoing executive director Pamela Parker who finished her over six-year tenure at the ACFFA’s annual Fall Forum. The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) is an industry-funded association working on behalf of the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia salmon farming industry in addition to a wide range of service and supply companies and organizations.

Appointed: Seamus Power – Branch and Deep Sea Manager, Atlantic Electronics Ltd., Newfoundland and Labrador

Seamus holds a business degree from Memorial University. He hails from Branch, N.L. and is the son of a fisherman and is no stranger to fishing boats himself. He has worked with AEL for over 12 years. He has worked in nearly every job position at AEL from service technician, to technical salesman, to Deep Sea Projects Manager and Assistant Manager.