Gifford Cooke, co-founder of Cooke Aquaculture, dies at 85

Gifford Cooke, who founded the now global seafood company Cooke Aquaculture from its humble beginnings in southwest New Brunswick, died on Sunday at 85.

Cooke founded the company with his sons, Glenn and Michael, by setting up their first salmon farm at Kelly Cove in 1985, Cooke's website says. They purchased their first hatchery in Oak Bay in 1989, and Cooke Aquaculture was established four years later.

The company's main brand, True North Salmon, has been used since 1994. Today, the company has nearly 13,000 employees and oversees a family of 13 brands, and Cooke Aquaculture remains based in New Brunswick.

"As far as I'm concerned, Eastern Charlotte is indebted to him and his sons for making sure that this company grows and prospers and keeps so many people here in the community working," said John Craig, mayor of the Municipality of Eastern Charlotte, which includes Cooke's hometown of Blacks Harbour.

Cooke's company now has over 13,000 employees and 13 brands globally. (Associated Press/Robert F. Bukaty)

"He was always a fair person, he comes from old school where his word was his bond, he was a good man," Craig said.

Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason said her family grew up with Cooke's, and attended the same church.

"He was such a large personality, and the size of his personality could only be matched to the size of his heart," Anderson-Mason said.

Premier Blaine Higgs released a statement on Monday to express his condolences, calling the locally-based company "a global success."

Gifford Cooke grew up in Blacks Harbour and has kept much of his company based locally. (Submitted by Cooke Aquaculture)

A spokesperson for Cooke Aquaculture declined an interview request to speak about his legacy, but shared Cooke's obituary.

Cooke was born in 1938 in L'Etete to Percy and Maretta Cooke, and grew up in nearby Blacks Harbour and Deadmans Harbour.

The obituary said he is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marjorie, three children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

A statement from the company said Cooke was a marine mechanic for much of his career in his hometown of Blacks Harbour.

"At Cooke Aquaculture, he worked alongside the employees to modernize the company's freshwater salmon hatcheries, vessel fleet, and led countless construction projects," the statement said.

Area has lost a leader, mayor says

Craig said Charlotte County wouldn't be as prosperous as it is today without Cooke and his company, adding that it employs many locals and has also brought in foreign workers who now call the area home.

"Eastern Charlotte just lost a leader in the community, a person that had the foresight and the vision to start building a company … and we're the winners for it, thanks to him," Craig said.

He said Cooke was always very hands-on, and could always be seen around the area he called home.

John Craig, mayor of Eastern Charlotte Municipality, says his community is indebted to Cooke for remaining locally-based and employing so many people. (Radio-Canada)

Before local government amalgamation, Craig was mayor of Blacks Harbour, and he said Cooke stopped by the office after he was elected.

"He just showed up one day, 'I want to see the mayor.' He came in and congratulated me, he was one of the first ones to come in and congratulate me," Craig said.

"Those things go a long way."

Anderson-Mason said he will be remembered for his big suppers and unwavering faith.

"Gifford had incredible generosity, and his kitchen table was never empty."

"He never really changed, from before Cooke Aquaculture to after Cooke Aquaculture," she said, adding that he helped his workers when they faced illness or other challenges.

Local MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason says her family grew up with Cooke's family, and she remembers him for his generosity. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

Cooke was also known to support fellow local businesses, "which meant everything to us," said Jamie Graham, manager of Boyd Brothers Home Hardware in St. George.

Back when Cooke was more involved in the company, Graham said he'd be in their store almost daily.

Despite growing to a worldwide company, "they've kept to the roots," Graham said.

"If you were born and raised in St. George, you knew who Gifford Cooke was."

Graham said Cooke made an effort to know locals, joking that he would always ask who your parents were.

"Gifford was a person that wanted to know who you were and what you were."