The former Harbour Master, President and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority was a good friend, says Federal Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt. Raitt says a few weeks ago she thought she'd be visiting her old friend. Raitt was the first female Harbour Master at a national port in the country, and she says Soppitt showed her how to approach the job as a captain, instead of her background as a lawyer.
She says it was just a few weeks ago when she was last talking to him, and a lot of people from Vancouver and Ottawa are here today to pay their respects. Raitt says he practically built the two cruise terminals with his bare hands. She describes him as full of life, fun, a good Irishman, fair and calm.
A memorial service is being held today at 1pm at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal. Soppitt passed away early this month after battling cancer. He spent 30 years with the Port before retiring in 2011 at the age of 65.
