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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
UPTON, Harold Vincent - It is symbolically fitting that very shortly after the White Ensign of the Royal Canadian Navy was taken down and laid to rest for the winter season on the last Sunday in September, Harold Upton passed from this world following a short but very courageous battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully at North Bay General Hospital, Scollard Site, Wednesday, October 3, 2007, at the age of 75 with his beloved friend Claudette Demers at his side. In June of 2006, in conjunction with the Royal Canadian Naval Association in North Bay, Harold was very instrumental in instituting the raising of the white ensign and the placing of a plaque honouring men and women who have served aboard ships and at shore establishments of the Royal Canadian Navy from 1910 to 1965. The flag and plaque were placed at the North Bay waterfront From June 2006 onward the white ensign is raised during the Battle of Atlantic ceremony held the first Sunday of May and continues to fly until the last Sunday in September. Harold was born to Marg and Lou Upton on August 27, 1932 at the Town of Atholville, New Brunswick, where he received his grade school education. Harold attended Campbellton High School in New Brunswick following which he obtained a diploma from the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation as well as diplomas in Export Marketing and Customs & Excise from the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association. He also earned his credentials in Accounting from the Department of National Defense and in French, Levels A, B & C. This knowledgeable, articulate, friendly and gentle man went on to follow many varied and interesting paths in his life. Harold joined the Royal Canadian Navy while in his early twenties. He served on various ships including: the Wallaceburg Mine Sweeper, the Cornwallis, the Scotian, the Brunswicker, the Stadacona and the Naden. Harold was an extremely proud Royal Canadian Naval Veteran. Although he left active service many years ago, the Royal Canadian Navy was very close to his heart throughout his lifetime and he retained his connections with it. He was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He served as President of the Royal Canadian Naval Association in North Bay for five years, retiring in February, 2007 due to ill health. Following his service in the Navy, Harold took employment with the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal for approximately 10 years. He moved onward and upward from that position to working with the Motor Carrier industry and then, the Hydro Electric Project. He eventually moved from Eastern Canada to Calgary in the West to further pursue his career in the Canadian Transportation Industry firstly finding employment with the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline Project. Harold was well respected in his career and, through his ingenuous and well thought out approach to any problem or situation, he accomplished many major projects, among which he developed mega-project transportation and logistic information systems to monitor and coordinate material movements. In 1966 he was made Supervisor, Transportation & Logistics with the Churchill Falls Power Project. He became Atlantic Canada Manager of Les Entreprises Bussières Ltée. in 1970. Following this, in 1973, Harold became founder and General Manager of the Atlantic Provinces Motor Carrier Tariff Bureau. 1976 saw Harold become Senior Planning Officer with Transport Canada in Ottawa. Three years later in 1979 Harold was appointed Manager, Project Logistics, with the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline Project (Canadian Section - Phase I and II) In 1986 Harold's expertise was again recognized when he was appointed Manager, Transportation & Customs RNC/FW Ltd. on the Syncrude Canada Limited Capacity Addition Program project in Mildred Lake, Alberta. Harold retired from his position as Manager Transportation Systems with Anvil Range Mining Corporation in July of 1996 following a very successful, fulfilling and well-rounded career in the transportation industry in Canada. He was a member of the following professional associations: the Canadian Transportation Research Forum, the Canadian Industrial Traffic League, a former member of the Canadian Conference of Motor Transport Administrators, a former member of the United Nations Economic Council, Transportation Sector, a former member of the Canadian Conference of Motor Transport Administrators and, he was former Vice-President of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association. During his lifetime Harold read extensively, followed the news intently and appreciated all types of good music, in particular, music by Andre Rieu. He was keenly interested in politics and issues concerning the English and French languages and in his 'special love', cooking. Harold was fortunate to live in and experience the following areas of Canada - New Brunswick; Nova Scotia, Montreal, QC; Calgary, Alberta; Whitehorse in the Yukon and Vancouver Island, B.C. as well as the Corbeil/North Bay area in Ontario where he relocated and made his home in 1997. He will be sadly missed by his beloved friend Claudette Demers, and his six children, Ellen Hendrix, Anne Taylor (Cam), Jennifer Weis (Craig), David (Constance), Kelly (Brenda) and Peter together with his 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Also left to mourn are his sisters, Sheila Hill (Wayne), Doreen Haley (Gerald) and his two brothers, Bill (June) and Allan (Irene). He was predeceased by his parents, Marg and Lou Upton. Friends and family are invited to attend the memorial services for Harold to be held on Saturday, October 27th, 2007. Following a Mass to be celebrated at St. Alphonsus Church in Callander at 10:30 a.m. there will be a Naval ceremony held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 445, 345 Lansdowne Ave., Callander, beginning at 12 p.m., following which refreshments will be served. Internment to take place at a later date. Funeral arrangements under the direction of the McGuinty Funeral Home. (The North Bay Nugget 25 Oct 2007)
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