This edition of the Northern Experience magazine is dedicated to Marnie Hoey and Harvey Friesen. As I write this memorial for both Marnie and Harvey together, I realize there is not enough space on the page to explain how important both these people were to the community of Sioux Lookout and what a loss this community has felt since their passing. I will touch briefly on their dedication to the community of Sioux Lookout.
Marnie Hoey and her family owned Sioux Travel, D.E. Hoey Contracting Ltd and The Forest Inn and Conference Centre. Harvey Friesen and his family owned Bearskin Airlines and numerous other companies in the region. They put their heart into their respective businesses and with them at the helm, these businesses flourished.
Although Marnie and Harvey both loved their families and cherished their time with them, to both of them their second family was their community. If they were involved with an organization, they ended up leading the group; if there was Committee, they chaired it; if there was a fundraiser, they spearheaded it and made sure the target was met.
They wanted their community to a be better place not just for business, but for everyone. They were both very active Chamber of Commerce members, both serving as President for more than one term and also sitting as active Board Members right up until their respective deaths. Their biggest and most important local project came when they started the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Foundation in 1994, with Marnie as Chairperson and Harvey as Treasurer. They truly cared deeply about improving Health Care services for the people of Sioux Lookout and the surrounding Northern communities. Both were instrumental in raising the local share of the new hospital project and were passionate about making sure our health facility was the best in the region. They contributed their time, expertise and resources and were role models who inspired us to take part and challenged us to give what we could.
Marnie Hoey
Harvey Friesen
November 16, 1940 - December 4, 2014
March 4, 1948 - February 2, 2014
We will remember both Marnie and Harvey fondly and keep their memory alive as we continue to promote Sioux Lookout and all it has to offer. Christine Hoey
PUBLISHED BY Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce DESIGN & LAYOUT Fifth Hammer Marketing Group (807) 407-7252
WRITER
Kelsey Raynard
PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Beaudoin, James Brohm, Holly Cosco, Mike Lawrence, Charles Pastuszka, Kelsey Raynard, Klaus Rossler, Ashley Webster (Silver Birch Photography)
© SIOUX LOOKOUT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written consent by Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce. Printed in Canada.
Northern Experience Magazine 2018/19
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