Portfolio Category: 2002-2007

Alec. D. Moores Born at Blackhead, Conception Bay in 1919, the son of Oscar and Elizabeth Moores, Alec D. Moores began a career in banking at age 17 with the Bank of Nova Scotia in Fogo. He later left the bank to pursue private business interests with Steers Limited in St. John's and Montreal, and returned to Newfoundland in 1947 to begin…

William James Herder As the founder of Newfoundland’s first daily newspaper, William James Herder became a household name and established a tradition of journalistic excellence that lasts to this day. The son of John and Sara Herder, W.J. Herder was born at Old Perlican, Trinity Bay on October 6, 1849. When his father was killed in a hunting accident in 1852, W.J.…

Aflred & Harold Harmsworth Alfred Harmsworth was born in Ireland in 1865, the son of an English barrister. Educated in London, Alfred developed an interest in journalism when he began editing the school magazine. On leaving school, he worked for different magazines and then started Answers to Correspondents with his brother, Harold, in 1888. In 1894 they obtained their first…

Raymond F. Hopkins A former banker and teacher, Raymond F. Hopkins was instrumental in the growth of the Credit Union movement in Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally from Bishop’s Falls, Mr. Hopkins began his working life in 1959 as a teacher. In 1961, he joined the staff of a Canadian chartered bank and occupied several positions, up to and including the branch manager…

Charles & Susan Patten Charles Patten served with the Royal Navy during World War II. While living in St. John’s he met Susan Harvey and they married in 1954. He was president of A. Harvey & Company Limited, Browning Harvey Limited, Harvey’s Oil and C.N. Patten & Company Limited. Susan Patten is chair of the…

Albert E.P.Hickman Albert E. P. Hickman is the chairman of Hickman Group of Companies which includes Hickman Motors, Hickman Leasing, Hickman Saturn SAAB, Budget Rent-A-Car, and Body Works. Mr. Hickman’s directorships include Buchans River Limited, Environmental Control Corporation, and Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation. Mr. Hickman recently retired from the National Board of Directors of CIBC. He has served on the Boards of FPI…

Ches Penney Born in Carbonear in 1932, the eldest of twelve children, the President and CEO of Penney Group learned to accept a leadership role early. Mr. Penney began a career in banking,moving into private business several years later. Over the years, Mr. Penney's business interests have grown into a number of companies which stretch…

Marie Penny Marie Penny of Ramea was president of John Penny and Sons, Ltd. After the death of her husband in 1949, Marie took control of the business including operations of the fish plant and a fleet of 10 vessels that roamed the Grand Banks. She was known as “Queen of the Fishing Fleet” for her…

Basil Dobbin Born in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 2, 1939, Basil Dobbin has played a pivotal role in construction and real estate development in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1966, Mr. Dobbin graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from St. Mary's University and Dalhousie University (Formerly Nova Scotia Technical College), both in Halifax. He later went on to form construction companies such…

Sir Robert Gillespie Reid Perhaps best known for his role in the Newfoundland Railway, Sir Robert Gillespie Reid was involved in everything from the lumber, mining and electrical industries, to shipping. He constructed a hydroelectric facility at Petty Harbour to provide electricity to St. John's and topower the street cars which ran along Water Street,…

Cluny Sheppard Cluny Sheppard was born in 1946 in Stag Harbour, Fogo Island. He showed his entrepreneurial spirit as a young boy selling newspapers, and later as a door-to-door salesman. In 1962, he began working with Riffs Limited in Lewisporte, and ten years later was recruited by Barwood Holdings to manage their operation in Lewisporte, Notre…

Boyd Cohen The founder of the Cohen’s furniture chain, Boyd Cohen was born in 1930 in Windsor, Newfoundland. The Cohen family history in the province dates to the turn of the century when Boyd Cohen’s grandfather Simon emigrated from England to work with the Newfoundland Clothing Company in St. John's. In 1919, he established a general store at Grand Falls Station, which later…

Joseph Thomas Swyers Born the son of a fisherman, Joseph Thomas Swyers was determined to become an entrepreneur. At the age of sixteen young Joseph had saved $20.00 and wanted to enter the world of business. He approached well-known Bonavista businessman James  Ryan and asked Ryan to sell him $20.00 worth of provisions and extend…

Joseph V. Butler Joseph V. Butler grew up in St. John’s. In 1950 he started his career at VOCM, a small radio station started by his father, Joseph L. Butler in 1936. However, after his father’s untimely death, Joe found himself managing the radio station at 22 years of age. During his time as president, VOCM became a powerful radio station,…

Daniel E. Williams Born in St. John’s, Daniel E. (Danny) Williams was the eldest of four children of Thomas and Teresita (Galway) Williams. A Rhodes Scholar, Mr. Williams received Arts in Law degree from Oxford University in England, and a Bachelor of Law from Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is a founding partner of the firm…

Roger Bidgood Roger Bidgood is the founder and president of Bidgood’s Wholesale Ltd. Bidgood’s was started in 1947 when Roger took over his mother’s general store and home in the outport community of Petty Harbour. Bidgood’s grew into a wholesale business, fish plant operation, a retail supermarket, shopping plaza and producer and exporter of its own Newfoundland product line. The…

Michael F. Abbott A master tinsmith and entrepreneur, Michael Abbott established his first business in western Newfoundland in 1886. Abbott went on to build and operate a general store which provided food, clothing, household furnishings, fishing supplies and farm tools to all of the settlements on the Port au Port Peninsula. He later became involved…

Victor L. Young Vic Young was born in St. John’s. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. He began his career in government with Treasury Board and became Deputy Minister. He was also special advisor to the Premier. He went on to become the chairman and CEO of Newfoundland…