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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
BORSTAD, Elmer Elsworth - grew up on a farm east of Edmonton. He went to work on a survey crew on the CANOL pipeline when he was 17. After 18 months in the north, he volunteered for Naval service at HMCS Nonsuch in March 1944. Following training at HMCS Cornwallis, he was posted to shore station HMCS Scotian (December 1944) where he served on HC56, towing and moving other boats around the harbour. After VE Day, he volunteered for the Pacific theatre, but Japan surrendered before his transfer came through. In September 1945, he was posted to shore based training establishment at HMCS Givenchy, where he spent a few weeks on HMCS Gatineau and Sioux until he was discharged in February 1946.
Following the war, he worked as a surveyor in the oil patch, and then owned and operated a large furniture moving firm with his father and brother in Grande Prairie, later a welding supply company for northern Alberta and British Columbia. His interest and experience in the Navy led him to establish the award winning sea cadet corps RCSCC Micmac, for which he was CO for eleven years. Between 1963 and 1983, he served as alderman, mayor and then Member of the Alberta Legislature. He was a Rotarian and Mason, and was heavily involved in volunteer organizations. He died in July 2015. (submitted by Gary Borstad)
Ships served in: HMCS NONSUCH - Enlisted in the RCNVR Mar 1944 HMCS SCOTIAN (for) HC56 HMCS NONSUCH - Demobilized Feb 1946
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