Obituary of John St. Amand

John Raymond St. Amand Jr. 64, Stonehurst South, Lunenburg Co., N.S. passed away peacefully on October 31, 2007after a courageous struggle with cancer. Born in Brantford, Ont he was predeceased by his parents, John Raymond St. Amand (1921- 1971) and Hilda Bernice St. Amand (nee Franklin) (1923 ??? 1971). He is survived by his loving partner of 32 years, Marilyn Keddy, his sisters Priscilla Harding, Doris-Jean, Ruth and his brother Dwight (Patti), Marilyn??s mother Kay Keddy and sister Shirley Landry (Junior) and many loving nieces and nephews who all thought the world of Uncle John. John??s formative years were spent in Brantford, Cambridge and Kitchener, Ontario, where his early schooling was completed. After graduating from Eastwood C.I. in Kitchener, John worked his way through university graduating with a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology from Dalhousie University where he taught from 2000 to 2006. For almost 12 years, John taught sociology at Mohawk Community College in Hamilton and Brantford as where he broadened his interests in teaching to a life of organizing in the all-Canadian grassroots trade union movement. For over 30 years, John worked as a campaign organizer with trade unions associated with the Confederation of Canadian Unions (C.C.U.). These included the Canadian Mineworkers Union (CMU) 1982 ??? 1984; Canadian Association of Communication and Allied Workers (CACAW) 1984-85 (now CAW/CACAW ??? Canadian Auto Workers); and, Nova Scotia Union of Public/Private Employees ??? NSUPE. From 1985 to 1989, John organized in the ???pink ghetto?? helping to establish the Canadian Union of Child Care and Allied Workers (CUCCAW), now named PSAC/CUSEAW at Dalhousie Children??s Centre, Bryony House for Battered Women and Children and Dartmouth Adult Services Centre (DASC). For 10 years (1989-1999), John also had the high honour of working on campaigns with Carl Simpson of the Atlantic Communication and Technical Workers?? Union (AC&TWU). Specifically, during 1989-1990 the AC&TWU finally became ONE BIG UNION at Maritime Tel & Tel (MT&T). By soundly defeating the Telephone Employees Union (TEU), in a democratic province-wide runoff vote, the AC&TWU saw its overall membership increase to well over 3,000. Later, with the AC&TWU John attempted no less than 14 sign-up campaigns at various call centre operations ??? many of them based in the U.S. - that contributed valuable educational experiences for future attempts. From 1994 to 1996 under John??s tutelage the AC&TWU provided an eager helping hand to the CCU affiliate, NSUPE, that witnessed their overall membership numbers almost triple during forced urban amalgamation runoff votes. John owes a debt of gratitude to union leaders such as Carl Simpson and Ron Stockton as well as the many rank and file members who shared his passion for building a strong independent, grassroots, all Canadian trade union movement. Recently, John was most highly honoured by the CCU with the establishment of 3 annual CCU/CSC bursaries each to be named ???The John St. Amand Bursary?? for worthy candidates who demonstrate interest in the goals and aspirations of the CCU. John St. Amand was fortunate to live not just one life but many lives. Thanks to his family and many inspirational role models, John cultivated a keen interest in athletics and music besides his many political interests. In his personal life, John??s greatest passion was his love of the Canadian outdoors which he shared with his loving partner-in-life -Marilyn Keddy. John cherished the years that he and Marilyn lived in Stonehurst. Up until his last days he was thrilled when visitors came and he could take them out in his boat and for walks with his dogs on the Stonehurst common land. Without Marilyn??s love and support throughout the last 32 years, nothing in John??s life would have been possible. Theirs was a partnership and a comradeship in the fullest sense. In athletics, John enjoyed many years participating in recreational hockey and basketball. He also took a more serious interest in university and senior football, having been awarded Lineman of the Year on two occasions, once with Dalhousie (early 60s) under Coach J.T. Rutigliano and later with the Halifax Buccaneers under Coach John Markesino. In music, John enjoyed many years as an amateur violist and clarinetist, playing in community orchestras and bands in Brantford, Kitchener, Prince Edward Island and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. He was a violist with the National Youth Orchestra and enjoyed playing Canadian folk music (especially fiddle) for and with friends and family. With Marilyn, he was a strong and dedicated supporter of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. In his political life, two of the most inspirational role models were Madeleine Parent and J.B. McLachlin. Madeleine Parent was co-founder of the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU). The following quotes summarize why they were guiding lights for John??s work. Madeleine is quoted thus: ???There is a need to organize, but organizing is costly. It often takes a long time and is difficult. It takes a lot of effort on the part of the workers themselves. They need constant support and it so happens that most of the big unions that have the money, but tend to be bureaucratic, don??t give these groups the support, time and technical assistance they need to organize. Neither do they want to be involved in long, difficult strikes for a small unit of six, eight or even twenty workers. Many of these groups feel that they have to organize on their own.?? J.B. McLachlin, the heroic leader of the Cape Breton coal miners contributed so much to the working class struggle for social justice and liberation against American imperialism. J.B. McLachlin was quoted as follows: ???I believe in education for action. I believe in telling children the truth about the history of the world, that it does not consist of the history of kings, or lords or cabinets. It consists of the history of the mass of the workers, a thing that is not taught in the schools. I believe in telling children how to measure value, a thing that is not taught in any school.?? The most remarkable aspect of John??s character and personality, the one that touched the lives of everyone who knew him, was the fact that his principles and lived life were one and the same. Donations in John??s memory can be sent to the Confederation of Canadian Unions, Attn: ???The John St. Amand Bursary??, P.O. Box 1117, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario KIP 3R2. A reception will be held in John??s memory on November 10, 2007 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Mahone Bay Fire Hall. Arrangements are under the care & direction of the Annapolis Valley Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, N.S. On line condolences may be made through www.annapolisvalleyfuneralhome.com