Twine Loft – November 2015

Passed On: Chesley Carter – North Sydney, N.S. Marine Engineer

Born on Ship Island, Newfoundland on November 3, 1922, Carter was the son of the late James and Maude (Keeping) Carter. He was a veteran of the Second World War serving with the merchant marine. Carter was employed for many years with the CN Railway, CN Marine and later with Marine Atlantic. In 1975, he left the vessels and joined marine engineering in maintenance until his retirement in 1983. He was a faithful member of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in North Sydney, where he sang in the church choir, was a member of the Married Couples Association and Brotherhood of Anglican Churchmen. Carter could always be found in the kitchen cooking for church functions and for many years at Camp Bretondean. He was also a member of the Royal Albert Masonic Lodge, the Lodge of Perfection, Grand Imperial Conclave of Canada, the Order of Eastern Star, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry & Rose Croix and Philae Temple of Shriners. In 1994 Carter was awarded the Volunteer of the Year for North Sydney for over 40 years of volunteering in his community.

Passed On: Stafford Stoodley – Springdale, N.L. Fisherman

Stoodley, age 108, passed away September 7, 2015 at the Valley Vista Seniors Complex, Springdale, N.L. Affectionately known as Uncle Staff by most who knew him, he was born to John and Lucy Stoodley on July 25, 1907 in Indian Burying Place. He had one brother Albert and one sister Wilhelmina. Indian Burying Place is where Stoodley grew up and began fishing with his father at the young age of 11. He continued to fish with his brother Albert after his father’s death. After Albert’s death he carried on the fishing tradition with his nephews and was well into his 80s before he retired from fishing for good.

Passed On: Cecil Green – North Sydney, N.S. Mariner

Green, 84, was born in Burgeo, N.L., in July 1931. He was the son of the late George and Bertha (Strickland) Green of Burgeo. Green stated working as a fisherman on Newfoundland fishing schooners at the age of 15. At the age of 19, he joined the MV Josephine, a rescue vessel responsible for rescuing distressed vessels in the North Atlantic. Following his tour with the Josephine, Carter joined the MV Wabana, an iron ore transport vessel, as a bosun which took him all around the world and later he would be a wheelsman on the Great Lake boats. In 1965, Green decided to hang up his sea hat and don a hard hat, working in construction as a cement finisher and carpenter. He loved working with his hands and designed and built from scrap wood several Bluenose replicas which can be found in homes from Nova Scotia to Ontario and beyond.

Passed On: Capt. Patrick Miller – St. John’s, N.L. Mariner

Captain Miller docked at his final port of call on September 28, 2015, just a few months short of his 87th birthday. Being the youngest son of 11 children raised on Fogo Island, Miller was not afraid of work. As a young boy he looked forward to spending his summers fishing on the Labrador with his father, Captain Paddy Miller. As a second generation in the marine industry, he forged his way to new and unique projects. Miller was known throughout his life as an honest businessman where a handshake meant more to him than a paper contract. From sailing schooners carrying salt fish and rum, seal hunting, moving various cargo from port to port and being the founder of the ferry service to Fogo Island, Miller always had a sparkle in his eye for the sea and adventure.

Passed On: Cyril Whitten – Petty Harbour, N.L. Fisherman

Whitten, 89, passed away September 18, 2015. He was born on May 14, 1926 in ‘the green house on the Stand,’ Petty Harbour to Cecil and Phoebe (Andrews) Whitten. From a young age until his retirement in 1992, Whitten fished the waters of Motion Bay. He was the first mayor of Petty Harbour and an advocate for the inshore fishermen and for his hometown. Whitten was a lifetime member of the Petty Harbour Fishermen’s Cooperative and the Society of United Fishermen (SUF), including serving terms as the Grand Master of the SUF.

Hired: Jamie Baker – Executive Director Fur Institute of Canada

The Fur Institute of Canada recently announced that Baker has assumed the responsibilities of the Ottawa-based organization. Baker brings more than 20 years of experience as a journalist and rural issues advocate to his new position. He has a long history and connection with the seal harvesting and processing industry and long-standing family and personal connections to the fur trapping and farming industries. Baker is the former host of CBC’s Fisheries Broadcast, the longest running current affairs radio program in North America, focused squarely on issues in the fishery, sealing and coastal communities. In his media career he has served as the managing editor for the Navigator Magazine, covering marine issues throughout Atlantic Canada and the north-eastern United States. He has also served as the managing editor of The Labradorian in central Labrador and as a reporter with The Telegram in St. John’s, N.L. Outside the media he has also worked alongside the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union as a worker advocate and communications director.

Awarded: Maura Hanrahan – Canadian Coast Guard Newfoundland Region Alumni Association’s Polaris Award

Flanker Press author Maura Hanrahan was recently presented with the Canadian Coast Guard Newfoundland Region Alumni Association’s Polaris Award “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the presentation and public awareness of the marine heritage of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.” Given only every two to three years, the Polaris Award consists of a framed scroll for the recipient and a brass porthole in the recipient’s honour in the Canadian Coast Guard’s Southside Base in St. John’s. These portholes will eventually be displayed at Cape Spear. Hanrahan is the author of several books, including The Alphabet Fleet: The Pride of the Newfoundland Coastal Service, Domino: The Eskimo Coast Disaster, The Doryman, and Tsunami: The Newfoundland Tidal Wave Disaster. She is the award-winning author of nine books. Originally from St. John’s, she now lives in Corner Brook, where she is an assistant professor and chair of the Humanities program at the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University. She is also co-owner of HB Creativity, a full-service research and writing company. Maura has a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.

Awarded: Nathan Hodder – Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer of the Year Award for 2014 and 2014 Shikar–Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year for Newfoundland and Labrador

Prior to joining the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division, Hodder worked as a fisheries inspector with the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. He worked seasonally for 10 years with Sea Watch and also spent time offshore as an at-sea observer. During 2014, Hodder was involved in investigating a number of illegal salmon netting operations, illegal trapping, and incidents of big game poaching. With the assistance of fellow officers and through information gathering, planning and surveillance, several alleged salmon poachers were apprehended and charged.

The Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer of the Year Awards are presented annually to provide formal recognition for officers who through high standards of work and dedication exemplify what it means to stand out amongst their peers. The Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award is presented annually to wildlife enforcement officers in North America in each of the 50 U.S. states, the 10 Canadian provinces and all related territories. The award honours outstanding wildlife enforcement officers whose efforts during the previous year reflected outstanding performance and achievement amongst sworn fish and wildlife personnel.