Obituary for Brian Charles Muise
We are saddened to share news of the sudden passing of Brian Charles Muise, aka Puppa Brian. Brian died unexpectedly of a heart attack on New Year’s Eve while attending a concert in Brockville, Ontario with his wife Maggie, brother Joe, and sister-in-law Mary.
Brian was born in Sydney, NS on October 14, 1948 to Nelson and Nellie (Mahoney) Muise. He is survived by his wife of forty-nine years, Margaret Muise (Crossman); daughter Victoria (Bruce), grandkids Oscar and Tashi, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC; daughter Jo Anne (Jonathan) and grandkids Léo and Olivia, Montreal, QC; his siblings Paula (Onni), South Bar, NS; Michael (Linda), Sydney, NS; Margaret (Roger) Brown, Sydney, NS; Robert (Susan) Elmsdale, NS; Helen (Stephen) Joseph, Sydney, NS; Joe (Mary) Prescott, ON, and 28 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Janine, mother Nellie, brother David and father Nelson.
Brian was the eldest son of nine children, growing up on Cabot Street. A born scientist, he was always curious about the world around him, studying, collecting, recording and classifying animals, birds, plants, and rocks. His pocket contents were frankly alarming on wash day. Brian was happiest in the woods, fishing, exploring, and investigating. While there were trees and streams close to home, Margaree was a special place to him where he could roam free in the woods and on the river. These interests earned him a chest full of badges on his way to becoming a Queen Scout. Brian excelled at Constantine School, Park Junior High, Sydney Academy and Little X, before going on to study Forestry at UNB and earning his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Saint Mary’s.
Brian began his aquaculture career in 1972 at Cape Breton Marine Farming (DEVCO), when the industry was just in its infancy in Nova Scotia. He spent the first two years at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre (DFO) in St Andrews NB, working and studying small scale fish farming with Dr. Dick Saunders and Gene Henderson, to develop an aquaculture industry for rural Cape Breton. While in Saint Andrews, Brian and Donnie MacLean discovered that fish could be overwintered for the first time in Denas Pond on the Bras d’Or Lakes and escape super chill. Their demonstration provided the foundation for commercial fish farming in Canada.
After his time with Devco, Brian joined Nova Scotia Fisheries Department developing oyster and mussel farming throughout the province. During that time, he became Executive Director of Aquaculture for the province, where he stayed for a decade. Brian developed many progressive policies in this capacity at Fisheries, but wasn’t fond of the political aspects of government life and went on to start his own businesses, including mussel farming and consulting. He formed Brian C. Muise & Associates, which took him all over the world as an advisor to the aquaculture industry, including projects with the Canadian Executive Service Organization in Peru and Jamaica. Brian also spent a good part of his career working with First Nation communities in Cape Breton and across the Maritimes.
In the 1970s Brian worked with and developed a friendship with the late Charlie Dennis, former Chief of Eskasoni Mi’Kmaw Nation. This friendship lasted many decades and brought Brian to work closely with Charlie and his team at Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission from 1997-2008. Brian always said his most rewarding accomplishment was the work he did with Charlie. He strived to provide assistance to the community for the advancement of opportunities in aquaculture, and economic development in general. He helped create the community’s fishery license portfolio, laboratory facility and oyster hatchery, and was always keenly watching for opportunities that would have the most economic value for Eskasoni. He is remembered fondly at Eskasoni as a man always ready to provide advice, guidance and support to those around him and a generous spirit who will be remembered for his contribution to the community.
Brian was one of the founding members of the oldest aquaculture association in Canada, The Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS), where he served as President and Executive Director from 2006 to 2010, formulating progressive policies for the industry despite frustration with the lack of support for aquaculture from government. Brian was a vociferous advocate for the industry, knowing there is great potential in Nova Scotia for a thriving and profitable aquaculture industry.
Brian was married for 49 years to Maggie (Margaret Crossman). They met in Sydney in 1966, married in 1969, and raised their two girls in and around Halifax. They travelled extensively, at last count having visited 30 countries. They began taking ballroom dancing in their mid-40s and it became a large part of their life together, with Brian going from a reluctant learner to a fantastic dancer. When they both retired in 2010, they found a place to spend winters in the sun in Venice, FL, and spent their summers in Musquodoboit Harbour, gardening and doing renovations.
Brian shared his love and deep understanding of nature with his daughters and much loved grandchildren. Brian taught his girls to fish, chop wood, spot birds, garden, and spot deer in a field at dusk. He was Uncle Brian to 28 nieces and nephews and loved them all dearly. He tied their socks in knots, played with them like a big kid, and each thought they were the favourite. Brian spent a lot of time in Montreal over the last twenty years with his daughters and grandchildren, usually with the grandkids climbing all over him. Just this Christmas, Puppa Brian was happy to stroll along Mont-Royal Avenue in the morning, picking up bread and sweets at the bakery and making the kids pancakes every morning.
He was a scholar, life-long learner, avid reader, birdwatcher, and a kind and generous soul that didn’t suffer fools lightly. Husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, colleague and Puppa to so many of us, he taught us to be smart and work hard, take time to learn and see the world, and to build a life we enjoy.
A celebration of life will take place in Musquodoboit Harbour in the spring when Maggie returns to Nova Scotia. If you would like to receive an invitation, please email Jo Muise at muisejo@icloud.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or The Stephen Lewis Foundation.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Brian Charles Muise October 14 1948 –
December 31 2018..
Death notice for the town of: PRESCOTT, Province: Ontario
It is with profound sadness that I learned today of Brian Muise’s untimely death. My deepest sympathy goes to his wife, Maggie, and the rest of Brian’s family and friends. Our friendship goes back to the time he was first at the Saint Andrews Biological Station, and then later in NS after I was transferred to the Halifax Lab, and through the early days of the AANS.
Aquaculture owes a lot to his imagination and diligence. He will be sorely missed.