Twine Loft – March 2018

Passed On: Aaron Christmas – Membertou First Nation, N.S. Fisherman

Christmas, 34, passed away January 27 at home. He was the son of Joyce Paul (Gordie Reid) and Alexander Christmas (Carol Mettalic). He worked for the Membertou Band as a fisherman.

Passed On: Bill Ringer – Shelburne, N.S. Lighthouse Keeper

Ringer, 76, passed away January 13 at the Roseway Hospital in Sandy Point. Born in Louis Head, Lockeport, he was a son of the late William Raymond and Lorena Edith (MacDonald) Ringer. Born a lightkeeper’s son, Billy followed in his father’s footsteps to be a lighthouse keeper himself for over 35 years, working at various light stations including Gull Rock off Lockeport, N.S. and Scatarie Light, off Cape Breton Island. It was a solitary life and not for the faint of heart, but one that he embraced because he knew that so many lives depended on that beacon of light that guided so many to safety. He loved to tell stories of rescues and mischievous pranks that he and fellow lightkeepers would play on each other to help pass the time and especially ghost stories. When Gull Rock was automated in 1987, Bill moved his family to Cape Breton to finish out his last 10 years until retirement with the Canadian Coast Guard working at the Causeway Locks, allowing the boats to pass through.

Passed On: Charlie Messenger – Welshtown, N.S. Fisherman

Messenger, 87, passed away January 25 in Roseway Hospital with his family at his side. He was born December 9, 1930 in Newellton. He was the youngest child of Burrill and Jennie (Newell) Messenger. Except for a short stint of carpentry in Ontario, he was a fisherman all his life. He was known as the 30-Mile Ground Halibut King.

Passed On: Nelson Millett – Liverpool, N.S. Fisherman

Millett, 69, passed away suddenly at home on January 19. Born in Liverpool, he was a son of the late Alfred and Pearl (Peterson) Millett. In his younger years, Nelson worked as a fisherman for Mersey Seafoods and he also painted houses.

Passed On: Loring Clairmont – Yarmouth, N.S. Fisherman

Clairmont, 71, passed away peacefully on January 25, in Yarmouth Regional Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Born January 25, 1947 in Yarmouth, he was a son of the late Lawrence and Leta (Robicheau) Clairmont. Loring was a retired fisherman and truck driver, having also worked in Maine picking apples. In his spare time, he enjoyed camping and going to bluegrass festivals, but his true passion was building model boats. He was also a member of the Sou’West Nova ATV Association.

Passed On: Walter Gillie – Antigonish, N.S. Fisherman

Gillie, 92, formerly of Pine Tree, Pictou County, passed away January 1, in St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, Antigonish.

Born in New Harbour, Guysborough County, he was a son of the late Alfred and Sadie (Henderson) Gillie. He worked mainly as a fisherman and as a labourer at McGregor Bedding and Michelin Tire. He was a veteran of the Second World War.

Passed On: Llewellyn Crane – Corner Brook, N.L. Fisheries Officer

Crane, 85, passed at home on January 25. He was born in Harbour Grace, N.L., on October 12, 1932. After graduating high school, he went on to work for 43 years with the federal government, beginning with the Department of National Defence, then on to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, first as a fishery officer, then becoming Inspection Supervisor for the west coast and the District Protection Officer in charge of the Conservation and Protection Program.

Passed On: Hank Rick Wells – Jacksons Arm, N.L. Fisherman

Wells, 59, passed away on January 21 at the Western Memorial Hospital. A well-known, hard-working fisherman, he will be sadly missed by his family and friends, as well as the fishing community in and around Newfoundland and Labrador.

Passed On: Russell Cushing – Yarmouth, N.S. License Holder

Cushing, 53, passed away after a tragic accident pursuing his passion of kite surfing in the Bay of Fundy. Although Russell spent his life working in and around the fishery, he initially focused on a career in law. By 2005, the pull of the ocean was too strong and he purchased his first vessel, the Don Cadegan, rigged to target haddock off Southwest Nova Scotia. As with many aspects of Russell’s life, he excelled, at one point becoming the largest holder of haddock quota in the fishery. With the arrival of his daughter Ivy, his life changed, and he took every possible opportunity to laugh and enjoy each passing moment with her, however brief it may have been. Recently, Russell had decided to move on from the fishery and entered a new chapter away from the water but kept one foot firmly planted on the deck of his last vessel, the Beau’s Treasure. Russell’s unique perspective will be missed not only by the those in the fishing industry, but his family and the community he helped to shape.

Passed On: Roy Rose – Indian Arm, N.L. Transport Canada Senior Marine Inspector

Rose, 69, passed away at his home on January 15, 2018. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Harriet Rose and his sister, Mamie Marsden. Left to mourn his passing with fond and loving memories are his wife, Ruth; children, Tracy Parsons (Lorne Byrne), Rob (Christine) Freake, Adam (Valerie) Freake, Andrew (Paula) Freake; grandchildren, Haylee, Carter J., Emma and Titus; brother, Raymond (Cora) Rose; sisters, Florence Hann and Meta Janes; nephews, Lewis Hann, David Marsden, Gary Marsden, Kevin Rose and Bryan Janes; nieces, Deanna Hann and Peggy Hann; brother-in-law, Norman Marsden; special cousin, Clyde Rose and a large circle of other relatives and friends.

Passed On: David Balfour – Ottawa, ON, Assistant Deputy Minister, DFO

Balfour, 65, died at home on January 6. He was born in Kingston ON. on July 24, 1952 to the late Charles Balfour and Jean Morey, both from Newfoundland. David lived several years in Virginia, U.S.A. while his father served the Pentagon in Washington. His father was later posted to the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario where David spent all of his adult life. He served the public for 38 years, mainly with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, rising to the position of Senior Assistant Deputy Minister. During this time, he achieved numerous awards for his accomplishments in developing and implementing innovative program designs and delivery. Most notably, he received the Head of the Public Service Award as well as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and Margaritta Lizarraga Medal.

Passed On: Augustine Dalton – Admirals Beach, N.L. Fisherman

Dalton, 87, passed away January 15, surrounded by his loving family. Dalton made international headlines in August, 1986 when he saved the lives of 150 Tamil refugees about six miles off St. Shott’s, on the southern tip of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula.

Appointed: Carey Bonnell – OCI Vice President of Sustainability and Engagement

Martin Sullivan, CEO of Ocean Choice International (OCI), recently announced the appointment of Carey Bonnell as Vice President of Sustainability and Engagement. This will be a senior management position, reporting to Martin and Blaine Sullivan. In this role, Carey will have leadership responsibility for all sustainability and resource management matters, the company’s high-level innovation agenda and for external stakeholder engagement. He will actively participate with all stakeholders in advancing the strategic priorities of the company in these areas. He will also be responsible to ensure that the company’s main seafood resources are sustainable for the longterm and work towards achieving the corporate objective to have all OCI’s fisheries third-party accredited, which is aligned with the priorities of OCI’s worldwide customer base. Carey has held a broad range of senior management positons in the fishing industry and has been a very active contributor to the growth of the fisheries sector. Carey most recently held a senior management position with the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland as the Head of the School of Fisheries. He has also been Managing Director of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation and held senior fisheries leadership positions with the Government of Nunavut. Carey has also been very active in various committees on fishery matters at both the Provincial and Federal levels and is a current board member of Innovate NL. He has a Master of Marine Studies in Fisheries and Resource Management as well as an undergraduate degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Bonnell is replacing retiring Loyola Sullivan. After leaving politics, Sullivan joined OCI where he was a member of the management team for the past seven years.

Awarded: Wayne Ledwell and Julie Huntington – Recipients of the Tuck Walters Award

Ledwell and Huntington were presented with the award for their work with the Newfoundland-based Whale Release and Strandings Group. This award is named in memory of Dr. Leslie M. Tuck and Captain Harry Walters. Dr. Tuck was Newfoundland’s first Dominion Wildlife Officer and Harry Walters was the Director of the Newfoundland Rangers Force. Following Confederation with Canada, Dr. Tuck headed the Canadian Wildlife Service in the province — a position he held for more than 25 years. In the latter part of his long and distinguished career, Dr. Tuck held the L.J. Paton Research Professorship in the Psychology Department of Memorial University. He was instrumental in the reactivation of the Natural History Society in the 1950’s. Captain Harry Walters served for many years as the Head of the Newfoundland Wildlife Division, which he was instrumental in establishing.