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Jimmy Allen "Ollie" Chickite

November 24, 2015

OllieChickiteweb

April 9, 1937 – November 24, 2015

He may have been quiet, but he spoke volumes. He may have been small, but his presence on earth loomed large. To many he will be remembered as the one who donated the heritage designated seiner BCP 45 to the Vancouver Maritime Museum when she was retired from the commercial fishing industry, and is now on display at Campbell River’s Maritime Heritage Centre. Not only was Ollie her last owner, he was on board that day back in 1958 when their photo was taken near Ripple Point, and it subsequently graced the back of the Canadian $5 bill from 1972 – 1986; he’s on net table at the stern.

However, to those in his incredibly extended family, he will be remembered as always acting in the capacity of a father rather than a brother or Uncle. His unequivocal love for family and friends established a virtual revolving door on his home. It doesn’t matter when - recently, twenty, forty or even sixty years ago - those who were in his life were welcomed, nurtured, counselled, appreciated and loved. His generosity had no bounds.

Ollie worked in the forest industry at Teakerne Arm between fishing seasons in his earlier days, he planted trees, was an expert net maker and mender in addition to his passion for all types of commercial fishing. He fished cod, halibut, herring and salmon; he gillnetted, trolled, and seined; he filled every position on a boat in his seining career, including that of Captain.

He will be reunited with his parents Albert “Edward” and Annie (Seville) Chickite; brothers and sisters Ralph, Pauline Wallace, Lucy “Diana” Henderson, Brenda Chickite and an infant sister Brenda. Those left to remember their brother are Caroline James, Harold (Katie), Winnifred (“Anita”) Hunt, June Johnson, Albert “Melvin” Chickite, Gloria (Andy) Paul and Geraldine (Keith) Wilson. He has an abundance of nephews and nieces, cousins and friends that will miss him tremendously and in particular, his friend Brian Kyle. Ollie has chosen to be returned to the waters off Greensea Bay, which not only signifies his connection to his lifelong career, but also to the ocean that claimed the life of his father and brother.

He fished with his brother Harold on the Pacific Aggressor right up to the immediate days before his passing. Although his net has been set for the last time, and the rings are up, Ollie’s family and friends take comfort knowing that his life was full of bubbles…



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