The Canadian Sealers Association has lost one of its major figures and a courageous champion with the death of past president Mark Small, on January 18. He was 83 years old.
To show respect for Mark’s contributions to the CSA, to our home province, and to sealing communities across Canada, Jim Winter, founding CSA president, Eldred Woodford, current president, and Albert Newhook, an earlier president, were present for the celebration of Mark’s life at Trinity Pentecostal Church, in Baie Verte, on the remote northeast peninsula of Newfoundland.
For decades Mark was a major figure in the association’s efforts to counter the propaganda of animal rights corporations and remove the politically motivated bans on Canadian seal products in many countries.
Mark cared. More importantly, he acted on his caring. What more can you ask of a person?
Caring is one thing, but taking action is a much harder thing to do. For decades Mark took action. He took action on behalf of all sealers throughout Canada. His presence made a difference. His presence at events was the presence of the people, in the midst of various Canadian government politicians and bureaucrats. In fact, often his presence was to spur those entities into taking concrete positive steps to resolve the issues that plague the Canadian sealing industry – issues that also plague rural coastal communities like his beloved Baie Verte.
Mark saw the sealing industry not only as a 400-year-old tradition throughout coastal communities in Atlantic Canada, but also as an important contributor today to the continued existence of those rural communities dependent on the mosaic of incomes that provide a living for their citizens. Sealing, fishing, hunting, farming, being a “jack of all trades” – all pieces in the financial mosaic that rural coastal communities depend on for survival. Mark spoke our facts, our realities, in Canada and to foreign politicians and media. He did so clearly, passionately, and concisely.
Mark was a man of great caring, and that caring was rooted in his faith as a pastor in the Pentecostal church. His faith infused everything he did. It made him the man he was.
He was not only an activist for the sealing industry, he was equally active in the fishery and in his community.
Despite the challenges of all those activities, his prime focus was always on his wife, Patricia, and their three sons. As time passed he became a loving grandfather, uncle, and great uncle.
Mark, as you set sail on this new voyage may you have fair winds, full holds and bloody decks. R.I.P.
Well stated, Kirk Smith. You captured the soul of the man.
Apologies for the length of this, but I’m probably the only person from my “side” that will post a comment.
I met Mark in the mid-1980’s when I was the newly appointed Director of Greenpeace’s Ocean Ecology campaign, which included sealing. Our first interaction was at some meeting in Ottawa, where we had a short but civil conversation and I thought “I need to know this man”.
Over the years and despite our differences, which turned out to be few, I grew to respect his intelligence, decency, dedication, honesty, and transparency. He represented you all honourably in Canada and internationally. I am proud to say I knew him.
It was through long conversations with Mark that I learned about the importance of sealing, both culturally and economically, pride of work, sealers’ concerns over how to address humaneness of the hunt, and the issues that bonded us – DFO mismanagement of the fisheries and climate change.
Mark influenced my understanding of the hunt, which I shared with my organisation. My regret is that these conversations should have happened a decade earlier. But I can say that Mark’s input contributed to the Greenpeace decision to stop actively campaigning against the seal hunt.
We also had fun. We once met up in Oslo for a court case. Greenpeace was alleged to have faked footage of seal hunting and Mark was an expert witness. Both our lawyers forbid us from being in contact, so we snuck a few notes back and forth and I skulked down a dark alley to meet him in a pub. We had a wonderful grouse session about DFO, lawyers, and I offered to stich up his trousers, which split when he bent over in the courtroom while demonstrating how to use a hackapik! He declined, telling me that he’d sewn a lot of nets in his day, so trousers were not a problem .
At another meeting I was cornered by some very annoyed sealers. Mark calmly walked up and said “Boys, she’s OK”. Another time a colleague said he was meeting with Mark, and I reciprocated: “Boy, he’s OK – listen to him”.
We lost direct contact a few decades ago but stayed in indirect contact through periodic updates from Alan Herscovici, the former Director of the Fur Council of Canada, another fine man who continues to be a strong advocate for the fur industry, including our Canadian sealers.
My sincere condolences to Patricia (when he talked about her his voice would warm) and to his children and grandkids.
The Sealers have lost one of his strong advocates and inspirational leader. May you rest in peace Mark. You shall be missed.
Mark Small
Mark was initially hesitant to take on the critical task of the CSA’s first President. There were other louder, ambitious and self-assured voices. Mark required some convincing.
But his unassuming reluctance proved to be the foundation for his unassailable integrity and unchallenged authority. Exactly what we needed to launch the CSA.
Within a few fledgling months, Mark’s ability to listen, be firm and weave the big picture for Board Members, vaulted the CSA to national (and international) prominence. Mark’s resolve turned an idea – ripe for the moment – into a viable organization which proudly lasts to this day.
We set it all in motion- travelled across Newfoundland, Canada and Europe – changed history- and stepped back.
In spite of his prominence Mark was never more than quietly proud of his great contribution to Canada’s history. I will always remember him as the very definition of leadership with integrity.
Kirk Smith
CSA’s (initial)Executive Director
Victoria B.C.