Ulysse had a strong faith, a successful career in the air force, countless volunteer hours with the Royal Canadian Legion and was known as a person you could always rely on as he put the needs of his church, community, and family before his own. We learned this through the stories others shared, as he was never one to flaunt his achievements or draw attention to himself. In fact, he is likely looking down at us now saying “va te coucher“. Yet, when the Acadian Flag rose in June on the Pellerin Road, there was a constant stream of family and friends dropping in to say hello to have a friendly chat or with invitations to card games and meals. At the end of the summer, when it was time to return to St. Bruno, one could almost feel the collective sadness wishing the summer could go on.

His children learned so much from Ulysse, particularly the importance of family, community and our Acadian heritage. Summer vacations were spent in the River making the long drive from St. Bruno to visit family, listening to the stories of his youth and being carefree in a beautiful part of the country. However, it was the reunion in 2004, during the Congrès Mondiale des Acadiens and Festival Savalette where the depth of Ulysse’s pride in his Acadian Heritage became evident. The visits to Larry’s River became more than spending time with family. It became about learning the language, listening to the stories, and understanding the resiliency of the people who live in our région acadienne de Torbé. The yearly induction ceremony is a very special part of the festival and a testament to the people who also show pride and determination to ensure the Acadian heritage continues to thrive.

The family was very honoured to accept this tribute to Ulysse, posthumously and his mark on the Acadian renaissance in Torbé will always be remembered.

Vive l’Acadie!

The Levandier family includes Dennis Simon Levangie, Douglas Joseph Levandier, Douglas James Levandier, Joel Douglas Levandier, & Michael Gregory Levandier.

Dennis married Nellie George of Queensport on July 26, 1921. After the birth of their first two children (Viola / 22, Donald / 24), the family moved to the Boston area as several folks from our area have done. During their time in the US, Dennis and Nellie added three children to the family (Virginia / 25, Cyril / 26, Bernice / 29), while the last two were born after returning to Port Felix at the beginning of the Great Depression (Douglas / 32, Earl / 35).

During WWII, Dennis re-enlisted and served in Newfoundland (not yet part of Canada) as part of the Veterans Guard of Canada. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Back in Port Felix, Dennis worked at the local Co-op Store and did carpentry to raise his family. Dennis and Nellie were faithful members of St. Joseph’s Parish. As a child, I lived next door to Dennis and Nellie, and I remember them fondly as kind and caring neighbours who were involved with the community and our parish functions. They had a large family so there was always lots of activity next door, what with grandkids visiting from time to time. For us children in Port Felix, this meant new friends to hang out with.

This story continues with the second generation of military service when Douglas, after growing up in Port Felix and working a couple years in Halifax, followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1952. Early on, his ship, HMCS Iroquois, deployed to Korea arriving after the end of hostilities and in time to serve a UN peace keeping mission. After departing Korea, Douglas’ ship completed circumnavigating the globe. Douglas would rise in rank to Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class, culminating in a stint as Chief Boatswain’s Mate aboard HMCS Ottawa. He retired from the Navy after 27 years and later worked at Citadel Hill in Halifax.

Douglas married Barbara Boudreau of Port Felix, on May 5, 1956, and together raised two boys, Dale and Douglas. Their sons, born in Halifax, began school in Port Felix before the family settled in Dartmouth.

In 2022, Douglas was awarded a Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal posthumously for his service as a UN Peacekeeper at the end of the Korean War. The award was presented in Ottawa by the Korean Ambassador to Canada and was accepted by (then) Major Joel Levandier, Douglas’ grandson and by his son, Captain Douglas Levandier (Ret’d).

Douglas passed away in May of 2011 in Oromocto, NB.

Douglas’ younger son, Douglas, born November 21, 1959, provides the third generation of military service by the Levandier family. Doug joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1980 and served in both the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army for over 36 years. He served onboard the HMCS Nipigon and HMCS Preserver as a ship’s radio operator before being posted ashore at the Naval Radio Station in Newport Corner, N.S. He went on to serve in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment at CFB Petawawa, 2nd Battalion at CFB Gagetown, and 3rd Battalion at CFB Winnipeg and also at CFB Baden Solingen (W. Germany). After his service in Germany, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Recruit School in Cornwallis, the Canadian Rangers Atlantic, NL, the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in NB. and twice at the Canadian Army Trials and Evaluation Unit, NB. Some other highlights of Doug’s career include being deployed to the former Republic of Croatia serving in Bosnia. He served a deployment on a sovereignty operation in 1996 in the NWT and was also part of Operation Assistance during the Winnipeg floods of 1997, which was Canada’s largest peacetime operation. Doug also spent time in England at the Royal Military College of Science. In 2008-2009 he was posted to the Middle East, serving in Israel and Syria. He was also deployed to the World Leaders G8 / G20 Summits in Toronto. Doug became a Captain in 1989 and retired from the Army in April 2016. The very next day he started work as a Public Servant with the Canadian Armed Forces as the Range and Training Area Development and Sustainability Officer for Atlantic Canada, from which he retired in March of this year.

As you can see, Doug had a very extensive career serving not only our country but spending years in a peacekeeping capacity with the UN. Doug says that peacekeeping operations fall into one of two categories, and he has had the privilege of serving in both capacities: military observer missions and peace-keeping forces.

In 1981, shortly after joining the Navy he married Geralyn Lomas, of Dartmouth, having three sons, Nicholas, Joel and Michael, who joined him in the military and two are still in uniform, and I will speak of their service. Doug and his wife live in Lincoln, N.B. and he would have liked to be here this evening in person but, unfortunately, had another commitment.

Generation four includes Doug’s sons, Joel and Michael Levandier, both currently on active duty in the army.

Joel joined the Royal Canadian Navy Primary Reserve Force in 2002 while he was in high school and transferred to the Regular Force of the Canadian Army in 2003. He has served 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and remains on full time status. He is a Logistics Officer by trade and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His postings include the 1st Service Battalion, in Edmonton, 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown, the Canadian Special Operations Regiment in Petawawa and and Joint Task Force 2 in Ottawa, and the XVIII Airborne Corps of the US Army, at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, holding various roles at the tactical and operational levels. Joel received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the United States of America Meritorious Service Medal in October 2021. He has been deployed on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Indo-Pacific.

Joel currently lives in Ottawa where he works with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command with his wife, Tara Brinston. They have two young children, Liam (7) and Leighton (4). Tara is an Acadian from New Brunswick and works as an executive for Inclusion Canada, a national human rights organization.

Mike Levandier joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a Construction Technician and was first attached to CFB Greenwood, NS, until 2008. He trained at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, in Gagetown, NB, and saw other postings at the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot, in Dundurn, SK, the Primary Reserve Force where he served with the 20th Independent Field Battery in Lethbridge, AB, and Joint Task Force 2, which is a special operations forces unit within the Canadian Armed Forces specializing in counter-terrorism and high threat situations and is part of the Canadian Special Operations Force Command in Ottawa, where he continues to serve.

Along the way, Mike deployed with 4 Engineer Support Regiment to conduct a Habitat for Humanity construction project in 2009. Michael was also a Parachute Demonstrator on Skyhawks for the 2010 and 2011 seasons and was awarded Best Overall Jumper and Skyhawk of the year for 2011.

Mike is married to Courtney Murdock, of Oromocto, NB, and has two children, Logan and Taya, by a previous marriage.

As you can see, the Levandier family have all very impressive careers, each in their own right. They have served our country through the 1st. World War, the 2nd World War, the Korean War, Afghanistan, Iraq, Indo-Pacific and have gone on many peacekeeping missions with the UN and have been involved in humanitarian efforts. They continue to serve and protect our country and not just our country but other countries and areas around the world. With over 100 years of combined experience and duty, they make us very grateful. We thank them for their sacrifice, courage and commitment to keeping this wonderful country of ours safe and free. I know I speak for our whole community when I say how proud and honoured we are to induct them for their significant contributions to ensuring we have the freedoms we have today. So many places around the world do not get to enjoy those same freedoms.

Thank you. Merci.

Nicole knew from day one that she was meant to dedicate her life to helping young people grow—through education, sport, and mentorship. She followed that passion with purpose, earning a Bachelor of Human Kinetics in Science and an Education Degree from St. Francis Xavier University. It was there that her deep love for sport and teaching came together, setting her on the path she’s been walking with an unwavering heart ever since.

Nicole’s life has been defined by her dedication to helping others feel included, supported, and celebrated. Whether she’s teaching in the classroom, coaching on the field, or organizing community events, she leads with the intention of making people feel like they belong. For over 20 years, she has taught at Fanning Education Centre, not only shaping young minds academically, but helping youth see themselves as capable and worthy of achieving great things. For her, these roles have never been just jobs. They’ve been her callings. Her classroom has been a place of learning, yes—but also a place of support, respect, and confidence-building. Her teams have learned how to win, yes—but more importantly, how to work hard, believe in themselves, and have each other’s backs. Her role as Athletic Director and coach has made a huge impact on youth in Guysborough and beyond. Nicole isn’t just a coach—she is a builder of opportunity. She knows that sport can be so much more than just a game. It’s where confidence is born, friendships are formed, and kids learn what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves.

She created the Guysborough & Area Riptide Volleyball Club—the first of its kind in the area—so that girls could compete, grow, and represent their hometown with pride. Her athletes didn’t just walk away with two back to back Provincial Gold medals—they walked away stronger, more confident, and proud of who they were becoming. Her work has extended to coaching the Jr. X-Plosion U16/18 Girls Basketball Team, running the Minor Basketball Program, coaching U15AA Girls Softball, and working with the Guysborough County United Soccer Association. Each team, each athlete, has benefited not just from her knowledge of the game, but from her care, her encouragement, and her belief in their potential. But Nicole’s contributions don’t stop with youth sport. She has also given deeply to the broader community. As Chair of the Guysborough Amateur Athletic Association, she’s supported countless initiatives. And perhaps most notably, Nicole has been a driving force behind Guysborough Come Home Week—an event that brings people of all ages and generations together to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate everything that makes this community special. The time, energy, and heart she pours into this week each year is remarkable.

She knows that when a community comes together, it grows stronger—and she’s done everything she can to make that happen, year after year. Behind every initiative she leads is the same goal: to make people feel connected—whether they’re kids lacing up their cleats for the first time, or older residents coming together with neighbours they haven’t seen in years. Nicole knows the value of inclusion, of giving people a place to belong, and she lives that value every single day. Through it all, she remains grounded in her greatest joy: her family. Her husband has been her steadfast supporter, standing by her through every early morning practice, weekend tournament, and community event. He works hard for their family and cheers Nicole on with unwavering support. And together, they are raising two amazing children—Gracie and Emmett—who are growing up watching their mom make space for others, lift people up, and help them see their own worth. They are learning through her example what it means to give back, to show up, and to lead with kindness. And I know they’re already making her just as proud as she makes them.

Nicole, your impact stretches far and wide. You’ve opened doors for young athletes, brought people together through shared experiences, and built a legacy of community spirit and togetherness that will carry on for generations. You are not only a teacher and coach—you are a connector, a role model, and a champion for others. You are what our community hopes to be: inspiring, driven, and full of heart. And so tonight, we get the rare chance to do something she has done for so many others—we get to celebrate her. Nicole, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition. You’ve spent your life celebrating other people’s wins, their goals, their growth. But now, it’s your time. This honor is more than a plaque or a title—it’s a symbol of the lives you’ve touched, the community you’ve lifted, and the future you continue to shape. Tonight, we shine a light on you, because you’ve spent your life shining that light on others. Congratulations on this well-deserved induction. Thank you for your love, your leadership, and your unwavering belief in what this community can be.

Although he originally aspired to become an electrician, a redirection toward university opened the door to a broader path. Donald has never sought the spotlight — instead, he’s quietly gone above and beyond, guided by the belief that change is constant, and that we’re all living the dash between birth and legacy.

His journey into the tech industry began with a chance encounter at a hardware store with the chairman of a high-tech company called Cognos. Recognized for his innovative thinking, Donald immersed himself in the business and went on to build his own successful technology firm from the ground up.

Beyond tech, Donald is passionate about building — not just businesses, but places. He transformed vacant land in Ottawa into a thriving property, and later returned to Nova Scotia, restoring and repurposing a Parish Hall to become “Dance Hall Daze”. Whether it’s developing a business idea or property, he brings vision and craftsmanship to everything he touches.

A lifelong hockey player and organizer, Donald’s love for the game runs deep — from outdoor rinks in Charlo’s Cove with borrowed gear to St. F.X intramurals and pickup games with NHL alumni like Laurie Boschman and Brad Marsh. He’s also an adventurer at heart: skydiving at 10,000 feet, skiing Lake Louise’s peaks, climbing volcanoes in Hawaii, and winning golf tournaments at legendary courses like Torrey Pines.

His travels span Hawaii, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, the Caribbean, and Australia — yet he never loses sight of his Nova Scotian roots. Memorable moments include crossing paths with Willem Dafoe over a drink and giving Cape Breton music icon John Allan Cameron a lift home after an East Coast benefit.
Generous with his time and insights, Donald uplifts others by helping them help themselves. He’s a quiet leader with a rare talent for uniting people toward a common goal and turning vision into reality — including the successful relocation and reconstruction of a historic Parish Hall, rebuilt from the ground up under skeptical local eyes.

Donald is not driven by money, but by meaningful success and inner peace. Once shy in high school, he has grown into what he calls an “extroverted introvert” — speaking with purpose, not noise. He has overcome setbacks, reinvented himself, and quietly built a legacy defined not by recognition, but by impact.

At the heart of it all, Giselle , the girl from the other side of the tracks, and he married. She is the grounding presence in a life of movement, meaning and grit.

Blair was most happy when people were enjoying something that he helped to organize, such as dances that he DJ ‘ed (Sound Wheel), variety concerts, sports events, etc.

He was also a horse lover and owned many horses over the course of our childhood years. He highly enjoyed taking people on sleigh rides and horseback riding, and often brought his horses out for the annual Labour Day parade.

Blair’s life was one of giving; he was a living example of the Christian teaching “give until it hurts.” Blair did this all his life – he gave even when he believed he had nothing to give. He gave his time to entertaining others, but also to mowing people’s lawns, cutting people’s wood and giving donations to people and groups that he believed in. He often did these things at the expense of leaving his own properties and belongings at risk.

St. Augustin often asked, “what are the 3 most Christ-like qualities?” and he said “humility, humility, humility,” and Blair possessed an abundance of that. He never boasted about his skills or deeds; his aim was to help the least of his brothers, at all times, and he wished for no credit or payment of any sort for his help. If anyone had physical challenges or just needed a helping hand – it made no difference if they were strangers, old friends or new friends – he was always there to help.

Buried in Blair’s good qualities was his impatience – he had a very short fuse, when production was slowed down at the wood block or at any community project. He always sought results and wanted them yesterday.

A repairman he was not; for example, when he had a leak in the roof due to a missing board or broken shingle, that shingle stayed broken and the board stayed missing. He would use 5 gallon buckets to catch the leakage.

Never a man to show emotions, he attempted to hide the deepest of pains and the worst of disappointments. He internalized everything and never publicly complained or expressed his emotions – this, to him, was a sign of weakness, and would never reveal that. But above all, Blair was a proud Acadien. He was proud of his history of survival. He was a model community member who would rally to any needy cause and give his all to improve a bad situation. Money meant nothing to Blair; he was willing to help a stranger as much as a neighbor, any time of the day or night.

Jude, his best friend, has a story: “There was once a motorcyclist who was traveling through LR, and had an unfortunate ordeal happen. He blew a tire while riding. But in that unfortunate happening was a silver lining for that stranger – for it happened at Blair’s driveway. Blair saw the man working on his bike outside his kitchen window and immediately went to investigate. The man was driving up the eastern shore from Halifax; no service stations were open as it was Saturday, and he could not find a tire anywhere near LR. He finally found one in New Glasgow. Blair hopped in his car and took the man to NG to pick up the tire. They came back and had someone install the tire, and the man spent the night at Blair’s house before heading back out the next day with a fully repaired bike.” How much more Christian, and Acadien, does it get? That was Blair; if it had happened 5 days a week, he would’ve done the same thing. If you didn’t have gas and not gas stations near, he always had gas for his machines as well as his vehicles, and would gladly donate a jug or two if someone needed.

Losing a person of that integrity affected not only the community, but the entire region, as many people knew him. At the time of his death, he had suffered through a stroke, and had visitors with him almost every day – he enjoyed this immensely. There was a lady in his ward from the Pao’tknek nation, and he asked her to help him pronounce the name correctly, as well as expressing to her the appreciation that the Acadiens had for the Mi’kmak people and what they did for us before, during and after le Grand Derangement.

I will close with 2 quotes that I believe best describe Blair, my father, as a person. The first is “leave the world better than you found it,” and he was living proof of that. The second is a phrase he always quoted to me: “If you help someone, forget it. If someone helps you, never forget it.”

Growing up in Larry’s River was a simple existence without all the electronic distractions of today’s children. Toys were supplied mostly by mother nature and much time was spent outside playing with other children in the community. Indoor games were often playing school or church. As a teenager baseball was a favorite pastime as was skating on the river in winter. When she was 12 years old Yvonne travelled away from Larry’s River for the first time taking a trip to Halifax to visit cousins.

Alongside her siblings Yvonne helped with chores both in and outside the family home. Washing dishes, helping with younger siblings, cutting the hay and picking berries. Although she minimizes her contribution to the family at a young age, she developed an uncompromising work ethic that she maintains to this day. From a young age faith was very important. Yvonne recalls attending mass daily during lent and praying the rosary as a family every night. Both French and English were spoken at home though most was French. Mom recounts that prayers and the rosary were said in French though they did not always understand the words.

Yvonne attended school in Larry’s River from grades primary to 10, then travelled to Mabou, Cape Breton for grade 11. The following year the high school in Guysborough opened and Yvonne was able to attend grade 12 closer to home.

Following high school Yvonne moved to Halifax with her older sister Margaret. She got a job at the Royal Bank where she met her future husband, Dennis. They married in 1966 and by the end of the following year, with the arrival of her first child, Mom left her job at the Royal Bank and embarked on a long and very successful career as a domestic engineer. In 1970, with two young children in tow, Yvonne found herself living in an old leaky house in Golboro. She remained rooted in her parish community and the family travelled to Larry’s River every Sunday to attend mass and visit with family. In the summer of 1974, now with three children, the new house was ready and the family moved to Larry’s River permanently. Yvonne would go on to have two more children raising all five in the community of her birth.

Yvonne’s main focus has always been family, faith and community.  She became an Associate of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame in 1981 – the first year it started an Associate relationship. Yvonne was a member of the first group of Associates to meet with the sisters in Montreal when decisions were being discussed on moving forward.  Her commitment to St. Peter’s Parish over the years has been unwavering and Yvonne continues to work towards keeping the parish alive and thriving. Promoting and supporting others in the Catholic tradition, Yvonne actively works to ensure the spiritual life of the community continues.

Her commitment and support of her children and her siblings over the years has been fierce and unwavering. In talking about her own parents Yvonne said, “We always felt loved and well looked after. We were taught to be kind, inclusive, non-violent and compassionate. We had unconditional love.” My siblings and I are so blessed that we are able to say the very same about our mother. I think her siblings would agree.

Yvonne is a humble woman with a huge heart who is not good at “tooting her own horn”. Please join me in showing her the recognition she deserves for her years of service to her family and her Acadian community.

John spent a few years working at the Co-Op store in LR then a few years as cook on a fishing boat out of Port Bickerton before leaving to work for the Canadian Hydrographic Service. This work took him to many places in Canada and he shared many fond memories of his adventures in the northern communities.  After 30 years working out of Ontario, John missed his family in Nova Scotia and in 1976 he moved back to Larry’s River with his wife Margaret and their son Jean-Pierre. John delighted in spending time with his siblings, sharing memories and many a crib game.

After a brief time working carpentry, he decided to start a convenience store in the former Co-Op store site.   The building was deteriorating and after 5 years he had to find a new site.  With the help of his brother Raymond, he was able to set up a new location which we remember as Village Grocery.

For 40 years John was able to provide groceries, odd and ends, meals when needed, snacks, directions to travellers and he was always ready to engage tourists, especially when it called for him to use his French.  He was photographed many times with passing tourists who delighted in his “quaint” store.   His signs were unique but we always knew what he was advertising.   He didn’t need to correct the spelling; it was the way he wanted it. No matter what time he decided to head home when his day was done, he would spend time with Jean-Pierre, feeding him a snack and telling him stories. Finding himself alone when Margaret died and JP went to Nursing care, John’s social life was the “Store” and he held on to the end.

Village Grocery provided employment to many young persons over the years, a drop in spot for people to gather to have a chat and visit, and welcoming place for children to get penny candy. He always looked forward to seeing all the visiting children. John supported the community in many ways and could always be counted on to have a Village Grocery sponsored float in the annual Labour Day Picnic parade.

John is deserving of recognition not only for the longevity of his entrepreneurial spirit but also for the contribution of his store to the fabric of our community.

Let’s share a little about our joint recipients:

 Lola lives in Whitehead, the middle child of Kristen Conway and Brian Sangster. Her Acadian roots lie in the Richard family of Charlos Cove on her maternal great-grandfather Sonny Conway’s side.  Her mom was born and raised in Whitehead and her dad hails from neighbouring New Harbour.  Lola’s maternal grandparents are Pat and Marina Conway and her paternal grandparents are Danny and Lori Sangster.  Lola’s obsessions currently start with hotdogs and end with fluffy kitties – if she has both in her life at the same time, she is more than content.  Lola enjoys a good challenge, mostly in trying to get and achieve her own way (she has a 99.9% success rate).  Lola has a passion for the ocean, tiny sea creatures and is taking an interest in marine science.  Lola is a strong-willed young lady, she develops her own opinions on situations, though not easily swayed she can be reasoned with.  She is a good example of just adding “a little” bit of spice.  She can be counted on to keep things interesting and fun.  Lola plays hockey and volleyball.  Pomquet hosted Les Jeux de l’acadie this year and Lola represented the school on the volleyball team, she has a large circle of friends, she is a beauty, inside and out.

 Kyle lives in Larry’s River, the youngest son of Jennifer Richard and Damien Delorey.  His Acadian roots are deeply embedded in Larry’s River and Charlos Cove.  Kyle’s grandparents and great grandparents are as follows: Brian and Mary Richard, Debbie Richard, Raymond Delorey, Charlotte and Raymond Richard, Clarence and Viola Richard and Frank and Mamie (Gerrior) Delorey.  Kyle has many passions, he loves hockey and baseball, both in which he excels.  Kyle can’t be with us in person this evening as he is currently in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan representing Nova Scotia in the U15 Fastpitch National Tournament, selected to join the East Hants Mastodons, playing in the short stop position.  Kyle loves music, and has been performing since the age of 4, he never turns down the invitation to perform publicly and has taken the stage in Larry’s River, Charlos Cove, Port Felix, Canso, Guysborough, and Antigonish – he also had the chance to visit Nashville and got to record in the famous Ryman Auditorium and visit Graceland, the home of one of his favourites, Elvis Presley.  During his school year in Pomquet he played hockey, softball, soccer, floor hockey, ground hockey, basketball, as well as ultimate frisbee at this year’s Les Jeux de l’acadie.  Kyle has a large circle of friends and is very mature for his age.  He has been running his own lawn care business for the last number of years with the help of his grandfather and has been an active member for many years with La Société Acadienne de Torbé. 

 Kyle and Lola are community leaders, they have shown their families, their friends, their communities, as well as the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP) and the Province of Nova Scotia that the Torbé Region deserves to be on the map as a place where current and future generations can receive French first language education.  Wow!!! This is a moment in history that has significant impact on preserving our Acadian culture and language.  The communities along the shores of Guysborough County and Acadian Region of Torbé thank you!!  Looking towards the future, these are exciting times! 

On one particular day when Brian was about 8 or 9 years old, his father came in with a large load of mackerel.  When he arrived at wharf, he went home for something. Brian, in his juvenile wisdom thought it would be a good idea to jump in the boat and turn it on.  What he didn’t know is that the boat was left in gear which caused the boat to take off with Brian flying off the back and landing in the water.  His father heard the commotion from home, ran back to the wharf and quickly grabbed the gaff, hauled him out of the water by the scruff of the neck, threw him onto the wharf. He was pretty upset with Brian and told him to go home to be dealt with by his mom, Charlotte.  Later on, Brian obviously didn’t learn his lesson because he went back down to the wharf but this time, he decided to jump on the boat between the vessel and the houseboat but got his foot caught and again fell into the water.  He couldn’t swim so he hung onto the wharf until someone came back to the wharf.  Luckily for him, it was his father who came back to the wharf about an hour later and grabbed the gaff again, tossed him on the wharf and gave him such a scolding for being so daft.  Again he sent him home for his punishment.  Raymond was the type of father that would be strict but hated hurting the feelings of his children.  Raymond was fiercely protective of his only daughter Linda, especially since at times, her brothers would do what brothers do, such as push her off the back of a moving truck but he tried his best to ensure that her three brothers treated her right.  He had a soft spot for Neil who was the baby in the family and was immensely proud of his eldest son, Eric who had the same personality and character as his father who loved serving his community.  Only difference with Uncle Eric is that he enjoyed Olands beer, not a drink of rum.

For most of Raymond’s life, he was influenced in some way by the sea.  He was a fisherman, a naval seaman, a hydrographer, a lighthouse keeper and a member of the Canadian Coast Guard.  In 1940, Raymond enlisted into Active Duty during WWII in the Naval Forces.  He proudly served on the HMCS Lachine in the North Atlantic Mine Sweeping Operation.  HMCS Lachine was a Bangor class-minesweeper and was assigned to the Sydney Force in 1942. Shortly thereafter, the ship was transferred to the Western Local Escort Force and in June of 1943, Lachine became one of the force’s newly created escort groups which served until Victory Day. 

After the war ended, he served with the Canadian Coast Guard until his retirement.  Raymond was an avid community member who volunteered for many community events and services. Along with several of his war-time comrades, he founded the local Legion, Branch #117.

 In 1942, Raymond married Charlotte who was his best friend, soulmate and his sidekick for many community events, whom he affectionally wrote love letters to addressed to his dearest C .  They raised four children, Eric, Brian, Linda and Neil.  Raymond was the proud grandfather to eight grandchildren, and he has thirteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. 

 He was widely known in his community as someone you could count on, whether it was someone who needed help cutting wood, or extra food on their table, to helping out at the parish picnics or at Legion functions.  Raymond was most often the first one there and the last one to leave.  He took pride in helping his community along with his wife of 51 years, Charlotte.

For us grandchildren, we each have special memories and stories from our time with Grampie.  He loved spending time with each of us, and he enjoyed teaching us how to make things and paint things in his shed.  But it was a running joke in the family that Grampie only seemed to enjoy doing work that involved painting something only if he was wearing his good Sunday clothes, which our grandmother always gave him heck for.  He ruined a good many pants and shirts teaching one of us how to paint, and it was always a marine paint so you know how hard it is to remove that.  He was a creature of habit.  He loved to play word puzzles, eat ice cream in the porch sitting in his rocking chair.  He went to bed early and got up early.  He loved a good bed lunch and had an incredible sweet tooth which kept our Nanny baking each day.

Raymond served his country, his community, and for that, our family thanks you for this honour.