4 Cents Newspapers

 The Canadian Penny no longer exists so I love this obit that referenced it!

Halifax Herald, 21 May 2004
SLATER, James Carrell, Esq. - Mahone Bay, December 27, 1911 - April 26, 2004. Passed away in South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater.

Jim worked his way through school by selling newspapers for four cents each and at Sydney Steel Plant for 40 cents per hour shoveling and carrying red hot slag in a wheelbarrow. 

Jim received his early education at Sydney schools and later in 1936 received his Nova Scotia Land Surveyors Certificate. In that same year, he qualified for a position of instrument man on the founding Engineering and Surveying staff of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. He served four years on the project which ended due to the war being declared. He followed his father's footsteps, his father being the engineer constructing the Sydney Steel Plant. 

Early in 1940, Jim qualified as one of the many engineers assigned to the military overseas construction projects and was appointed to the R.C.A.F. station, Gander, NL. At this time Newfoundland was a British Crown Colony and considered to be overseas. In 1941 - 42 he was part of the engineering crew to construct the hydro-electric dam at Arvida, Que., to provide electricity for the smelting of aluminum to be used in aircraft construction. In 1942 he was appointed and placed in charge of completion of the R.C.A.F. Greenwood Air Base (No. 360TU R.A.F.) in Nova Scotia. As such, he took the Oath of Allegiance to King George VI and his heirs and also a separate Oath of Allegiance to the Royal Canadian Air Force at Eastern Air Command Headquarters in Halifax on May 1, 1942. 

At the end of the war Jim was reclassified as Technical Officer Reconstruction. The Cold War had started and the need to upgrade existing Department of National Defence facilities was obvious to meet the new threat. Jim's duties included surveying the underground tunnels at H.M.C. Naval Dockyard in Halifax, surveying the Royal Canadian Naval Ammunition Magazines at Renous, N.B. and supervising modifications to same, surveying the location site for emergency water supply at Renous, supervising construction of the storage dam and completing this project. Layout of new rhombic aerial towers to provide greater communication and surveillance at H.M.C.S. Coverdale, New Brunswick. 

Finally in 1950, Jim left the Department of National Defence to assume private practice in land surveying in the Annapolis Valley. He also pursued a number of business interests throughout North America. Jim was an early amateur (ham) radio operator with the call sign VE1XO, communicating in Morse Code.

Jim was a son of the late Charles Robert and Effie Belle (MacPherson) Slater, Sydney. He is survived by his children, Sondra, Jim and Fred; several nieces and nephews; three grandchildren; one sister. He was predeceased by his wife, Florence; one brother; five sisters. 

Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, May 25, at 1 p.m. in Garden of Rest Cemetery, Blockhouse, Rev. James Haughn officiating. No flowers by request. Memorial donations may be made to Calvary Temple, Mahone Bay.