Twine Loft – June 2015

Passed On: Ben Francis — Port-au-Bras, N.L. Mariner

Francis sailed the oceans of the world for more than 46 years, first, with the late Skipper Lloyd Bugden aboard the Topsail Star and the Duke of Topsail. Later, he worked with Maersk offshore supply vessels. He was known far and wide in Newfoundland seafaring circles as a good engineer, a great shipmate and a better person. All of Ben’s hard work at sea was to provide for his family in Burin; Mary, his loving wife of 41 years, and his three children, Lori, Wayne and Brian.

Passed On: Frances Stoodly — Former Lunenburg Plant Worker

Stoodley, 82, of Lunenburg passed away on May 4, 2015 at the Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital. Born in Bay de L’Eau Island, N.L. she was the daughter of the late Leo and Laura (Strowbridge) Bullen. Over the years, Frances worked in the fish plants of Fisheries Products International and National Sea Products.

Elected Premier: Wade MacLauchlan — Province of Prince Edward Island

Last month, MacLauchlan led the Liberals to a third straight majority government in Prince Edward Island. The Liberals saw their majority slightly reduced from the 20 seats they held before the election, taking 18 seats to eight for the Tories and one for the Greens. He is the province’s 32nd premier. MacLauchlan, a lawyer, was president of the University of Prince Edward Island from 1999 to 2011. Before that he was dean of law at the University of New Brunswick. He also taught at Dalhousie University in Halifax and studied at Yale University in the United States.

Promoted: Keith Decker — President and Chief Executive Officer High Liner Foods

High Liner recently announced Keith Decker, currently the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, will become President and Chief Executive Officer and that Henry Demone, currently Chief Executive Officer, will assume the role of Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. In connection with these changes, David Hennigar will continue to serve on the Board in the new position of Lead Director and Vice Chairman and Decker will be joining the Board of Directors. These executive and Board appointments were effective following the conclusion of the Company’s annual general meeting last month. Decker has been President and Chief Operating Officer of High Liner Foods Inc. since September 19, 2013. He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of ISF (USA) LLC since November 2008. He served as the Chief Operating Officer of Fishery Products International Inc. and also since May 2007 and served as its President. He has over 21 years of seafood industry experience. He served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at US Marketing and Manufacturing Group at FP Resources Limited (formerly FPI Ltd.) since September 18, 2006 and also served as its Vice President of Sales. Decker served as National Sales Manager, Director of Foodservice Sales, Director of Commodity Sales and General Manager of West Coast Operations at FPI USA.