Arisaig mourns loss of community pillar

Stevie Macinnis dies in fishing accident

It would be safe to say that no one adored Arisaig more than Stevie Macinnis.

“He was a wonderful guy who loved everything about his comtuna munity – the ocean, the fishery, the forest, the park, the people and his family,” Municipality of the County of Antigonish District 1 Councillor Mary Maclellan said of her friend.

Macinnis, who lived his whole life in the Antigonish County coastal community, died Oct. 6 in a fishing accident off Port Hood, Cape Breton.

He was 68.

A commercial fisherman for more than 50 years, he was owner and operator of Macinnis Bluefin Charters.

As a highly-respected member of the industry, he was wellknown for helping others, giving generously of his time.

“He would always share the information with people [about the lobster fishery] – he wanted everybody to do well,” Donnie Ross, a fellow fisherman and friend of more than 50 years, said.

He also noted his great knowledge of the tuna fishery.

“Stevie knew it very well,” Ross said, recalling some of their trips around the province.

Macinnis was a member of the Harbour Authority of Arisaig, Gulf Nova Scotia Tuna Association, Canadian Auxiliary Coast Guard, an industry representative for ALPAC (Atlantic Large Pelagics Advisory Committee) and part of the bluefin tuna tagging project – Tag-a Giant.

“He was terrific – he would do anything for you,” Ross said.

As an example of that selflessness, he remembered Macinnis offering his boat after Ross blew the motor on his vessel.

“He would drop everything to go help,” he said, noting Macinnis’s countless efforts in helping colleagues land tuna.

Macinnis, who played softball