Bernardin Comeau to be inducted into the N.S Business Hall of Fame

Bernardin Comeau’s entrepreneurial spirit was evident at an early age.

After leaving school to help his father, the Saulnierville, N.S. native started his own lobster fishing operation, which he continued until 1962.

However, he soon realized that opportunities were being missed by limiting himself to a lobster fishing season that ran from the end of November to the end of May. During the summer months he knew that herring could be caught for both processing and as lobster bait for the following season.

That’s how Comeau’s Sea Foods Limited began in 1946. Along with his brother Clarence, who later left the company to start a retail store, Comeau began the company with the goal of maximizing fishing opportunities and maintaining local employment throughout the year, principally involved in herring and offshore scallop operations.

Fast forward to the present day, where Comeau’s dedication to both the economic and cultural prosperity to Nova Scotia’s French Shore region is not being overlooked.

Comeau is to be inducted into this year’s Junior Achievement Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame.

His story is a successful one. After starting Comeau’s Sea Foods Ltd., over time, the Comeaus expanded their company to meet growing consumer demand. In 1976, they acquired marinated herring producer, Frankland Canning Company Limited, then started the Comeau and Saulnier fish processing division in 1978. The Comeau Marine Railway, incorporated in 1981, provides year-round repair and maintenance for their fleet. In 1983, they acquired Skipper Fisheries Limited, then Sea Life Fisheries in 1998, further increasing their harvesting and production capacity.

It was in 1989 that Comeau and his son demonstrated how their dedication to innovation would ensure the success of their business. That was the year they launched Nova West Laboratory, allowing the Comeaus to ensure they are exceeding federal health and safety requirements, while offering consumers high-quality seafood products. It was also the year they established Comeau Foods Division. The division gave them the opportunity to diversify their product offering by producing value-added foods such as fish and seafood chowders, breaded scallops, fillets, mussels, scallop burgers, seafood spreads, salads and fish steaks.

At a time when others in the fishing industry required government assistance to survive, Comeau’s Sea Foods’ innovation allowed them to forego government bailouts and laid the groundwork for a successful future.

Today, Comeau’s Sea Foods is run by Bernardin’s son Marcel and operates five seafood processing plants in Clare and Pubnico, making it the largest employer in the area.

It is one of Nova Scotia’s largest seafood producers with over 350 full time employees.

Comeau was named to the Order of Canada in 1987, due to his focus on improving the future for many of those around him - he has been a major benefactor to recipients such as Université Sainte-Anne, Yarmouth Regional Hospital, IWK Health Centre, Université de Moncton and numerous youth organizations. He also continues to act as a champion for those of Acadian heritage.

The Junior Achievement Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame promotes the activities of Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia, while celebrating the achievements of Nova Scotia business leaders. Since 1993, 52 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

This year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 at the World and Trade Convention Centre in Halifax, with an opening reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. Induction ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. To order tickets contact Lynn Coveyduck at (902) 454-4564.