2022-01-19

Flags lowered for former RQM councillor

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Flags were lowered to half-mast at the Region of Queens Municipality administration in honour of the passing of the former councillor Moyal James Conrad.

Conrad, who was 81, was a councillor from 1982 to 1991.

He died Dec. 20 at Queens General Hospital surrounded by family and friends.

The resident of Greenfield was a hard-worker and an entrepreneur, according to his daughter, Crystal Hagen.

"He liked to invent, he liked to save, he liked to recycle, reduce and reuse," she said in an interview with LighthouseNOW. "My dad was an interesting guy and, from my perspective, a community-minded guy who liked to reach out and help people who needed help."

Hagen said her father would open up their home to people who needed a place to stay, feed them meals and even give some of them odd jobs to make sure they had money to help their families.

He was also a busy man, she said. In his younger years he did a lot of fishing with his grandfather and uncle before going to work at the Liverpool Dominion Store, where he eventually became the branch manager.

He married his wife Jeanne in 1963,. In 1965 after the birth of their son, Moyal Jr., they moved to Greenfield and took over the Greenfield General Store, later renamed Jeanne's General Store.

After several years Conrad opened Riverview Lodge in Greenfield, which operated as a hunting and fishing lodge and bed and breakfast for many years. He was a licensed master guide who owned and operated Riverview Lures, which sold hunting and fishing supplies.

As a councillor, Conrad was always busy, said his daughter.

"People would call all hours of the night complaining about streetlights and garbage boxes," she said. "He was always on the run, but proud to serve and proud to be a councillor."

Conrad was instrumental in starting the International Woodsman's Competition and Maritime Woodsman Competition in 1986. While operating the store, he and Jeanne also started the region's Christmas tree lighting event that continues to this day.

He also played an integral part in restoring the church at Bangs Falls, the smallest church in Nova Scotia, according to Hagen. As well, he launched the Medway River Salmon Museum in the mid-80s, which was open for a period of time.

Conrad built several homes in Salmon Bay and worked as their caretaker when their owners, who were German, travelled back to Europe.

When not working, Conrad enjoyed salmon fishing, fly tying and bird hunting. An active bowler, he also boxed and played ball.

In 2020, Conrad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and in August 2021 he was hit with pneumonia which, his daughter said, " really sped up the dementia." He was admitted into the hospital, where he stayed until his death.

Conrad was predeceased by his wife Jeanne in 2014. They had two children, Moyal Jr. and Crystal. He also had seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held later this year.