HALFYARD, A. Job

Passed peacefully away at the Miller Centre on May 21, 2024, in his 93rd year. Leaving to mourn, the love of his life, his wife of 70 years, Audrey (Burton) Halfyard; his children, Laura Halfyard, Sharon Halfyard (Tony White), Job Halfyard Jr. (Judy), Viola Rice (Carl), Joann Clausen (Bob), Deborah Kent (Derek), Annette Walsh (Joe); his grandchildren, Kieley Beaudry (Alyssa Walsh), Heather Elliott (Chad, Hannah, and Georgia), Diedre Regular (Andy), Dane Rice (Katelyn Elliott), Jessica Clausen (Kevin Bradley), Alex and Anita White, Harrison Kent (Cassady), Dylan Walsh; great-grandchildren, Kyra Regular (Jaydien Walsh), Cavell and Levi Johanson, Nina, Stanley and Burton Beaudry, Cohen Bradley, Emily, and Clarke Rice; his Burton brothers-in-laws, Bond (Rose), Job (Flossie), Ross (Jeanette), Harold (Thelma), Claude (Margaret); as well as many nieces and nephews. Alfred Job Crocker Halfyard—educator, entrepreneur, and passionate promotor of rural Newfoundland and Labrador-- was born in Curzon Village, Bonne Bay on September 15, 1931, the youngest of four children. He left home to further his education at Mount Allison University, and Memorial University College (later Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador) completing his BA. ED. (majoring in Geography and History) through summers at the University of New Brunswick. In his 33-year career as an educator in Bonne Bay, Port Anson (where he met his wife Audrey), Roberts Arm, Tilt Cove and La Scie, he was a progressive thinker, advocating for improvements for rural students and their communities. A Coordinating Principal, he introduced Adult Education Programs on the Baie Verte peninsula, acting on his belief that schools should be community centres, providing opportunities for upgrading and lifelong learning. Noting a lack of housing, he built apartments to attract and retain quality teachers.

Job spoke with great pride about his role in helping form the Green Bay, Islands Branch of the NTA in 1952. In 1990, Job, along with two other educators, received the inaugural Newfoundland Teachers Association (NTA; now NLTA) Bancroft Award for contributions to the grassroots or branch level development of the NTA. He was also involved in the wild fishery, construction, and mining industry, as well as serving on many local, regional, and provincial boards and committees dealing with economic growth, education, health services, libraries, Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage, and recreation.

Job recognized that involvement in organized politics was important for the development of rural regions. He was a delegate at the 1971 Liberal Convention that saw Premier Joey Smallwood’s leadership challenged by an emerging generation of educated professionals taking on new leadership roles. Job was a consummate learner. Provincial and national political, NTA and Kinsmen Club conferences stimulated new ideas for him, ideas that he built upon and took back to the La Scie area.

After retiring from teaching, Job began a second 30-plus year career in Aquaculture. Portnandson He founded two mussel farms: the Sunrise Fish Farms near and Pelly’s Island, and the Connaigre Fish Farms near Hermitage. He was a founding member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Mussel Growers Association in 1991, and later a board member and a President of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association. He was the recipient of the NAIA’S Aquaculturist of the Year award in 2005 and the NAIA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. Once again, he offered his insights about the developing industry at provincial, national and international events, and trade missions. Meanwhile, he would remind you to get him some fresh mussels to cook and enjoy whenever you were near a farm!

In his younger days Job was an avid fly fisher, eager to catch salmon and trout. With a growing family, he used his hunting and fishing skills to fill the mason jars and winter freezers with various game and fish to feed his family and subsidize his then meagre teachers’ salary. He and Audrey enjoyed curling, bowling, dancing, and, of course, conferences. Meanwhile, nothing could beat a good card game with friends, followed by a ‘lunch’ to close out the evening. While Job and Audrey enjoyed traveling to various parts of the world, Job could only spare a few weeks a year for Florida vacations – he always had work commitments or new ventures to explore.

When, later in life, he discovered his mother’s hidden Mi’kmaq heritage (i.e. John’s Beach – Companion/ Prosper and Trout River - Crockers), Job was thrilled and immediately registered his family, applying for membership through the Benoit’s Cove Band in 2004, then voting and becoming a founding member of the Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band in 2008; in 2019 he received his official indigenous status. We always knew his love of the land; the sea and nature came from within. The family will receive visitors at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road, St. John’s, NL on Thursday, May 23rd from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Funeral with celebration of life taking place at the Chapel at Carnell’s on Friday, May 24th at 11 a.m. It will be live streamed for those unable to attend; please go to the Carnells’ Funeral Home link at www.carnells.com Interment will be at a later date. Donations may made be to a charity of one’s choice.