Donald Doucette to speak at historical society event

On Thursday, April 16, J. Donald Doucette will be the guest speaker at an event sponsored by the Argyle Municipality Historical Society, to be held at the Club Social des Îles in Surette’s.

Doucette is the author Surette’s Island, West Pubnico & Georges Bank … My Memoirs, published last year, and still available at various retail outlets and from the author.

Doucette grew up on Surette’s Island and, through his mother, was descended from the first settlers of that community. He married in 1962 and moved to West Pubnico, but had been fishing prior to that for two years under Capt. Roger d’Eon on one of the Sweeney scallop draggers. Starting in 1966 Doucette worked for four years for Alfred LeBlanc on one of Wedgeport scallop draggers. In subsequent years he worked on scallop draggers for Comeau’s Seafood, for the Dept. of Fisheries as an inspector out of Barrington Passage and then returned again to work for Comeau’s. Doucette worked continuously in the fisheries until 1986.

The Argyle Municipality Historical and Genealogical Society tries to take various events out into the communities of the municipality and hosting this event on Surette’s Island is part of that ongoing commitment. Doucette will speak on his Surette’s Island beginnings, his years in the fishery and the things that motivated him to write his book. This event begins at 6:30 p.m. and the general public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served.