Captain Edward John Arnet
"Captain Eddie Arnet and the 202"
September 18, 1930 - April 4, 2005
Edward John Arnet was the son of Karl Peter Arnet and Amelia Signe Eik of Tofino, British Columbia. He lived in Tofino for 65 years before retiring to Sidney, British Columbia. His paternal and maternal grandparents were early settlers in Tofino emigrating from Norway in 1894. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Arnet, was one of the first salmon fishermen in Clayoquot Sound. Jacob Arnet received one of the first fishing licences for Clayoquot Sound in July 1898. His father, Karl was also a fisherman in the Tofino area from 1927 to 1972.
Edward's career with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) began May 11th, 1966 when he was posted to Tahsis to run the fisheries patrol vessel (FPV) Gull Rock. In August 1966 he was transferred to Tofino to replace his paternal uncle, Harold Arnet who retired after ten years service as master of the FPV Attola.
During Edward's career he was master of several vessels:
1969
FPV Attola was retired and replaced with FPV FD202. Edward rescued the FD202 from being sold to Crown assets, as he preferred her wooden hull over the fibreglass hulled vessel that was destined for Tofino.
1976
FPV Warrior Rock while FD202 was in refit.
1978 / 1979 / 1982
Periodic relief Captain of the FPV Comox Post and the FPV Atlin Post.
1981
Jim Foster, deckhand / cook joined Edward on the FPV FD202. Edward had previously worked alone in Clayoquot Sound and travelled alone to New Westminster Marine Depot.
1987
FPV FD202 leaves Tofino on way to retirement at IOS Marine Depot and is relaced by FPV Brama. Edward captained the FPV FD202 for eighteen years and was known on the West coast as "Captain Eddy Arnet and the 202."
1989
FPV Brama replaces the FPV Seal Rock.
1992
In May of that year the FPV Seal Rock left Tofino and was replaced by the FPV Bonilla Rock while waiting for the new vessel FPV Estevan Reef. In July the Estevan Reef was brought to Tofino by Captain Arnet, Chief Engineer Gary Babin and Deckhand / Cook Jim Foster.
From 1996 to 1992 Edward worked with Fishery Officers John Bentley, Nick Seymour, Rob Wilson, Randy Branuik, Kevin Smiley, Dean Miller, Brad Rushton, Doug Swift, Ritchie Rath, Dave Alger, Neil Arnstrong and Brenda (Peppin) Spence.
Obituary
In his 75th year our beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away, after a valiant four-year battle with multiple myeloma. He maintained a positive outlook and his sense of humour throughout his cancer treatment.
He leaves to mourn his premature passing, his wife of 23 years Dorothy, daughter Kathryn, husband Tom, daughter Theresa, husband Tracey, Arlene, mother of Kathryn and Theresa; stepson Gordon, wife Yvette, stepson Brent, wife Jill; grandchildren Joel, Colter, Jordan, Chase, step grandchildren Marcelle, Stewart, and Regan; twin sister Norma Adams, husband Bud (Campbell River); cousins Roland Arnet, Edgar Arnet, Beverly Cook (Tofino), George Arnet, wife Sue, Edna Simpson (North Vancouver), Lorraine Murdoch (Vancouver), Marjorie Sallaway, husband Tom (Victoria), and many nieces and nephews. His sister, Bernice, predeceased him in 2000.
As Captain of Fisheries Patrol Vessel FPV FD202, "Captain Eddie Arnet and the 202" were well known on the West coast for twenty-seven years.
He was a member of the Manoah Lodge No. 141in Tofino as well as the Sons of Norway.
He was the son of Karl Peter Arnet and Amelia Sigma Eik. His paternal and maternal grandparents emigrated from Norway to Tofino in 1894. He lived in Tofino for sixty-five years before retiring to Sidney.
A celebration of Edward's life will be held at St. Columba Church in Tofino on Tuesday, July 5th, 2005 at 1:00pm followed by a reception at the Legion Hall. Please bring your reminiscences. Relatives and friends may wish to remember Edward by donating to the BC Cancer Foundation, 2410 Lee Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 6V5, specifically for multiple myeloma research.
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