Executive Council
March 17, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Keith Russell, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs:

Minister Pays Tribute to Mel Woodward

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House to pay tribute to businessman and a former Minister of Labrador Affairs, Melvin Woodward, who passed away yesterday morning at the age of 81.

Mr. Woodward was born on the Northern Peninsula in North Boat Harbour but, as a young man, he made the move to Labrador because he saw great potential for Labrador. He was a successful entrepreneur who grew the Woodward Group of Companies from one truck in the 1960s to a business with $750 million in sales. He employed 800 people in his six companies including Woodward's Oil Limited, Woodward's Limited, Coastal Shipping Limited, Woodward Motors Limited, Labrador Marine Services and Arctic Fuel Delivery. Mr. Woodward hired locally and treated his employees as if they were family.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Woodward was well-loved by all those who knew him and those touched by his generosity and his contributions. My family, as I am sure many others, spoke in admiration of Mr. Woodward’s beginnings and his success story. We looked up to him.

Mr. Woodward has been an important part of the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and believed strongly in giving back to his community. Mr. Woodford has always been supportive of our youth, through sponsoring numerous sporting events and he has supported countless other community events including medical and environmental fundraisers.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Woodward’s accomplishments were many. In addition to his service to the people of the province as MHA and Minister of Labrador Affairs, Mr. Woodward, always generous in service to others, was also a founding member and head of the Labrador North Chamber of Commerce, a director for the Bank of Canada, a member of Memorial University’s Board of Regents as well as many other public and community service roles. In 2003, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from MUN for his distinguished public service and outstanding contributions to the development of business and the economy of the province.

Yesterday, Newfoundland and Labrador lost a valuable member of our society and an inspiration for many people including me. Mr. Woodward was a true Labradorian whose legacy and accomplishments will live on in Labrador and, indeed, the whole province. He will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know him. I, along with all members of the House of Assembly, send our condolences to Mr. Woodward’s wife of 57 years, Sibyl, his three children, five grandchildren and their families.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

2015 03 17                             1:55 p.m.