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Olands Brewery Limited was a brewery based in Saint John, New Brunswick. It was a subsidiary of Oland and Son Limited. Robert Keltie founded a brewery in Saint John in 1833. In 1848 Keltie partnered with Simeon Jones to operate the brewery and it was named the Simeon Jones Brewery. Jones' sons bought the brewery in 1892 and renamed it the Red Ball Brewery. In 1918, George Bauld Oland bought the brewery from the Jones family for $31,000 and became President of the company, while John Culverwell Oland became the head brewer. Geoffrey Oland eventually took control of the company from George Bauld Oland. Sidney C. Oland was a member of the Board of Directors. In 1958, the company ran into financial difficulties and Oland and Son Limited agreed to assume the liabilities of the company. It became a subsidiary of Oland and Son Limited and was renamed Olands Brewery Limited. The brewery primarily brewed Olands Export Ale for sales and distribution in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

In 1964, a state of the art brewery was built in Lancaster, New Brunswick to replace the aging Red Ball Brewery in Saint John. The $4-million brewery significantly increased the brewing capacity of Oland and Son. The company existed until June 1, 1971 when Oland and Son Limited sold its brewing assets to John Labatt Limited. John Labatt Limited merged the brewing assets of Oland and Son Limited and its affiliated companies into Oland's Breweries (1971) Limited and continued to operate the Halifax and Saint John breweries. See the Oland's Breweries (1971) Limited series for more information. After the sale, Olands Brewery Limited became Lindwood Holdings (N.B.) Limited, a subsidiary of the investment and holding company Lindwood Holdings Limited. See the Lindwood Holdings series for more information.

Oland's Brewers Grain and Yeast was incorporated in Nova Scotia on May 23, 1961 to sell by-products from the brewing process to farms and grain dealers and brokers. Through an agreement with Industrial Estates Limited, a crown corporation of the Government of Nova Scotia, a grain drying plant was built on Young Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was officially opened on January 17, 1963. The company dried wet, or "spent" grains used to brew beer and packaged and sold them to farmers for bulk cattle feed. It also handled brewer's yeast. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Oland and Son Limited and was managed out of the head offices of Oland and Son Limited at Keith Hall on Lower Water Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

On December 29, 1961, Oland's Brewers Grain and Yeast purchased Lindwood Farms and Northfield Farms from Sidney C. Oland for $257,127.49. Prior to this purchase, Sidney Oland had been acquiring land to increase the size and capacity of the farms. At the time of the sale, the farms occupied over 4500 acres of land in Hants County and Halifax County. Alex Lamond was General Manager of Lindwood Farms and he continued to live on and manage the farm under Oland's Brewers Grain and Yeast.

Oland and Son Limited, the parent company to Oland's Brewers Grain and Yeast, sold its brewing assets to John Labatt Limited on June 1, 1971. After the sale, Oland's Brewers Grain and Yeast became Culverwell Holdings. See the Culverwell Holdings series for more information.

Oland's Breweries (1971) Limited was a brewing company established in Nova Scotia in 1971. The company was established as a subsidiary of John Labatt Limited after Oland and Son Limited sold its brewing assets to the John Labatt Group. Bruce Oland remained President of the company and Don remained a Director. Victor Oland's sons Sidney and Peter became general managers. The company operated the breweries in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick and continued to brew Oland's Export Ale, Schooner Beer, A. Keith and Son India Pale Ale, and other products brewed by Oland and Son Limited and its affiliated companies. Many of the executives of Oland and Son continued to work for Oland's Breweries (1971), including Norman Stanbury, Robert Merchant, and R.D. Mussett, and many of the plant employees remained with the company as well.

In 1977, the company dropped the (1971) indicator and changed its name to Oland Brewery Limited. It remains a subsidiary of the John Labatt Group. After the sale, Oland and Son Limited became Lindwood Holdings Limited, an investment and holding company. See the Oland and Son Limited and Lindwood Holdings Limited Series for more information.

Victor Oland was born in 1913 to Sidney Culverwell Oland and Linda de Bedia. He married Nancy Jane Metcalf in 1939, with whom he had four children: Sidney, Peter, Susan, and Victoria. He was educated at Dalhousie University and Pembroke College, Oxford. Between 1946 and 1950 he served with the Canadian Army Reserves and was deployed in the South Pacific, attached to the United States Forces. He rejoined in 1956 and retired in 1960 with the rank of Brigadier. He was president and general manager of the family business, Oland and Son Limited, and was responsible for convincing Maritime Cans to build their plant in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, which enabled Olands to become the first Canadian brewery to sell their products in aluminium cans. He resigned from the company in 1968 to become the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

As with many of the Olands, Victor Oland was actively involved with a wide range of organizations. He was president of both the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the International Chamber of Commerce; vice-president and director of Canada Council; a member of the Canadian-American Committee; director of the Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition; vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Association; president of the Canadian Tourist Association; a member of the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University; and honorary consul-general of Japan in Halifax. He was also a member of the Corps of Commissionaires; a charter member of the Halifax Junior Board of Trade; president of the Halifax Board of Trade; chairman of the Halifax 1980 Committee (a planning group formed in 1960); and vice commodore of the Nova Scotia Schooner Association. He died in 1983.

Sidney Culverwell Oland was born in 1886 to George Culverwell Oland and Ella Young Bauld. He was educated at LaSalle Academy, St. Andrew's School, Annapolis Royal, St. Francis Xavier College, and the United States Brewers' Academy in New York. He married Linda deBedia in 1912, with whom he had four children: Victor, Bruce, Don, and Amadita.

In 1900, Sidney joined the 82nd Abegweit Regiment. Two years later, he transferred to the P.E.I. Light Horse mounted unit. In 1904, Sidney became Provisional Lieutenant in the 1st Halifax Regiment, Canadian Artillery and competed with the British Artillery Team in Canada and Great Britain in 1907 and 1911. During the First World War, he commanded the 6th Battery at Fort McNab on McNab's Island, Nova Scotia. In addition, as a captain in the Artillery, Sidney mobilized a section of the Canadian Field Artillery. He later served in France as Commander of the 66th Battery, C.F.A., the 144th Brigade, C.F.A., and the 1st. After the war, Sidney reorganized the Halifax Coast Regiment and assumed command.

From 1922 to 1925, Sidney travelled to explore different business possibilities. In 1922, he spent the winter in Havana, Cuba with his family. During this time, he was hired as an agent for the St. John Brewery and had their bottled beer shipped to restaurants and hotels in Cuba. He also spent some time in Holywood, California acting and directing silent films until he settled in Halifax and actively participated in his family's brewery business, Oland and Son Limited and A. Keith and Son Limited.

In 1927, Sidney purchased a house on Young Avenue in Halifax and named it "Lindola" after his wife, Linda. This house was a centre for social activity, as Linda Oland was fond of hosting events. Upon his wife's death in 1966, Sidney presented the City of Halifax with a memorial fountain located in Victoria Park, known as the "Linda Oland Memorial Fountain." He also established the Linda Oland Endowed Scholarship at Mount Saint Vincent University in memory of his deceased wife.

Sidney Oland had many interests, including sailing ships, fishing, rare stamp collecting, and gold-mining. He was an avid sailor and owner of many sailing vessels. In 1905, he purchased a sloop-yacht called "Lady Betty" and used her for local fishing trips and races. He later sailed further on his ninety-foot schooner "Nomad" and later on the seventy foot motor cruiser called "Lady Betty II".

Throughout his life, Sidney was a member of a plethora of organizations and clubs. His many memberships included: Commodore of the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron; member of New York yacht club; Halifax Club; Ashburn Golf Club; Honorary Consul General of Peru; Honorary LL.D. St. Mary's University and member of the Senate (Halifax, NS); Chairman of the Board of Governors Nova Scotia Division Corps of Commissionaires; Director of the Headquarters of Commissionaires in Montreal; founding director of the Theatre Arts Guild; and Director of the National Gallery of Ottawa.

In addition to Sidney's noteworthy memberships, he was decorated by several organizations. His honours and decorations included: Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta; Commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem; Chevalier of the Order of Merit of Peru; Volunteer Decoration of Canada; recipient of honorary degrees from St. Francis Xavier University, St. Mary's University, and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design; and honorary Aide-de-Camp to four Governor Generals of Canada.

As a business person, Sidney held the title of President for Oland and Son Limited and A. Keith and Son Limited. He was also the Director of the Eastern Trust Company, National life Assurance Company in Toronto, Bens Holdings Limited, Maritime Paper Products Limited, Halifax Developments Limited, Canada Permanent Trust Company, and Industrial Containers Limited.

Linda deBedia Oland was born in 1892 as the daughter of parents who had settled in Havana, Cuba. As a teenager, Linda was sent to Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was while attending this school that she fell in love with Sidney Culverwell Oland. In 1912, they married, settled in Halifax, and had four children: Victor, Bruce, Don, and Amadita. Linda was president of the Atlantic War Fund of Halifax.

Upon her death in 1966, Sidney Oland established the Linda Oland Endowed Scholarship at Mount Saint Vincent University in memory of his deceased wife. The scholarship continues to be offered to students attending Mount Saint Vincent University today.

Don Oland was born in 1922 to Sidney Culverwell Oland and Herlinda deBedia Oland. Don was educated at the Jesuit Public School, Beaumont College in Old Windsor, England and he completed his undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University. His work with Oland and Son Ltd. began in 1940. During the Second World War, Don served in the military as a Canloan officer in the Canadian Infantry, serving with the 2nd battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Lieutenant in France and Germany. He was severely wounded, resulting in the loss of a leg, and was officially discharged from the Army in 1946. In 1947, he was appointed plant manager of Oland and Son Ltd. and Administrative Vice-President in 1962.

Keenly interested in agriculture, Don was involved with several related associations. He sat on the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Swine Breeders' Association and was the founder of the Atlantic Winter Fair in 1963. Through his agricultural interests, contributions, and community support, he was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Don's volunteer history is extensive. He was an active council member for the Halifax Board of Trade. Various volunteer titles he held include: President of the Salmon Anglers Association; President of the Tourist Association of Nova Scotia; President of the Atlantic Marksmen Association; President of the War Amputees of Nova Scotia; President of the Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers; National President of the Canloan Army Officers Association; Vice-President of the Canadian Red Cross Lodge; and was Chairman of the Re-organizing Committee of the Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic after the war. Don was also a member of the board of the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children and belonged to Branch #5 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Among his honours and decorations, Don was an honorary member of the New Brunswick War Amputees Association and was decorated by the Legion's National Council with the organization's highest award, the Order of Merit, for Legion Services.

Don Oland was married to Elizabeth M. Shutter, with whom he had three children: Brenda, Jaime, and Jennifer. He passed away in 1985.

David Oland was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in 1910. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Dalhousie University and later studied brewing at Birmingham University in England. David worked as master brewer at Oland and Son Ltd. until 1968 and later worked as Vice-President and plant manager of Public Relations with the company.

As a volunteer, David was active with the United Appeal and Canadian Heart Foundation and he acted as the Director of the Canadian Figure Skating Association.

Bruce Oland was born in 1918 to Sidney Culverwell Oland and Herlinda deBedia Oland. He attended King's Collegiate School (Windsor, Nova Scotia) and joined the Cadet Corps at the age of ten, in which he remained until he attended Beaumont College (England) in 1933. In 1937, Bruce registered in the Royal Canadian Artillery Halifax 1st Coast Regiment, through which he served during the Second World War. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1941 and Major in 1950. By 1951, Bruce decided that his true interests were in the Navy and he transferred to the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, accepting the lower rank of Lieutenant with HMCS Scotian. By 1970, Bruce had climbed the ranks to Commodore and was appointed Senior Naval Reserve Advisor to the Director General, Reserves, and Aide-de-Camp to Governor General Roland Michener.

Bruce was active in the brewery industry throughout his life. He attended the United Brewers Academy in New York and, among his several positions, held the title of President of the Brewery Executive of Oland and Son Limited, A. Keith and Son Limited, Oland's Brewers Grain and Yeast Ltd., and Oland's Brewery Limited (Saint John).

Like his father and siblings, Bruce was devoted to community development and volunteer work. Titles he held with different volunteer organizations include Director of the Eastern Claims Committee; Director of the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund; Chairman of the Board, Honorary Governors, Nova Scotia Division, Canadian Association for Retarded Children; Chairman of the Board, Halifax School for the Blind; Director, Canadian Association for the Mentally Retarded (National Committee); Member, St. George's Society; Member, United Services Institute; Member, Naval Officers' Association; and Governor, Brewers Association of Canada. In addition, he was a rear commodore in the Royal Canadian Naval Sailing Association and an active volunteer for the Maritime Museum and the Halifax Symphony Society.

Bruce married Ruth Hurley in 1956 and had two children, Richard Hurley and Deborah Ruth. He was an avid sailing enthusiast, squash player, deep-sea fisherman, and skier. He was also a numismatist and philatelist. Bruce Oland passed away in 2009.

Oland Investments Limited was an investment trust company established by Sidney C. Oland in 1935. The company was created to consolidate Sidney Oland's personal holdings and his shares in A. Keith and Son Limited and Oland and Son Limited.

The company built a diverse investment portfolio by purchasing shares of a variety of Canadian and international companies, including Abitibi Power and Paper Company, Bank of Montreal, British American Oil Company, International Paper Company, Moosehead Breweries, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The company also had a significant stake in Ben's Holdings Limited, a food manufacturing company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Members of the Oland Family served on the Board of Directors of Ben's Holdings Limited.

In 1962, the company opened offices in Vancouver, British Columbia under the corporate name Oland Investments (Vancouver) Limited. Oland Investments Limited was controlled by Culverwell Holdings Limited, which owned 88% of the company's shares.

The company became inactive in 1993. After this occurred, Seahorse Investments Limited changed its name to Oland Investments Limited. That company is still an active investment and trading company.

The Oland family was involved in the brewing industry for more than one hundred years. John James Dunn Oland and Susannah Woodhouse Culverwell immigrated from England to Nova Scotia with their nine children in 1865. By 1867, they began brewing beer in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The family tradition of brewing continued until they sold Oland and Son, Limited and A. Keith and Son Limited in 1971.

Members of the Oland family were active philanthropists and contributors to their Nova Scotia communities, supporting a variety of activities and organizations, including sports, art, education, agriculture, and the Army and Navy. Members of the family continue to reside in Atlantic Canada.

A comprehensive diagram of the Oland family tree can be found in G. Brenton Haliburton's What's Brewing: Oland, 1867-1971, A History (Tantallon, NS: Four East Publications, 1994).

Oland and Son (Que) Limited was a subsidiary of Oland and Son Limited. The company was incorporated in 1948 and licensed to sell beer throughout the Province of Quebec. At the time of incorporation, Sidney C. Oland was President and Director, Victor Oland was Vice-President and Director, H. Norman Stanbury was Secretary-Treasurer and Director, Bruce S. Oland and Don J. Oland were Directors, Phillippe Langlois was Sales Manager, and Joseph Diano was the Montreal distributor. The company was a wholesale office and warehouse, with headquarters at 2345 Viau Street in Montreal. Pierre Quenneville was appointed provincial manager and regional sales agents operated under the Sales Manager.

Acceptance was slow and the company never obtained the market share it enjoyed in the Maritimes, but the company eventually became recognized by the Quebec Brewers' Institute. Management and operations of the company was overseen by Oland and Son Limited. See the Oland and Son Limited Series for more information.

Oland and Son Brewery was founded in 1867 by Francis deWinton and John James Dunn Oland. George Culverwell Oland and Sidney Oland purchased the Halifax brewery, Highland Spring Brewery. By 1914, the company was incorporated and officially named Oland and Son Limited. It had a capital stock of $100,000 divided into 1,000 shares of $100 each.

In 1917, The Halifax Explosion destroyed the Oland and Son Limited brewery and their associated plant in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Following the explosion, George W. C. Oland went to Saint John, NB and purchased the Simeon Jones Brewery, and carried on the business there under the name of Olands Brewery Limited. The Halifax plant was partially rebuilt in 1920 and used as a storage unit until financial matters were secured with help from the Saint John, NB; Oland's Brewery Limited. The Dartmouth brewery was never rebuilt.

By 1925, after several years of trying different business options, Sidney and his father, George Culverwell Oland, decided that Sidney's best bet for a successful business venture was to return to Halifax and rebuild the brewery. The building was completed in 1931 and was known as the most modern brewery in the Maritime Provinces. Sidney became the managing director of the company after his father's death in 1933.

In 1927, Sidney purchased A. Keith and Son Brewery and became the managing director. A. Keith and Son eventually became a wholly owned subsidiary of Oland and Son Limited. See the A. Keith and Son Limited Series for more information.

By 1945, as a result of heavy wartime demand for beer to supply the troops and limited resources to maintain the breweries, the Oland and Son plant and the A. Keith and Son plant were run down. An expansion and renovation program of several million dollars was carried out and the breweries were re-equipped with the most modern equipment, including stainless Steel fermenting tanks and glass lined storage tanks, as well as, the latest in mashing and brew house equipment. In 1946, the company made its first public offering of shares.

The company continued to expand and purchased the Red Ball Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick. The brewery was renamed Oland's Brewery and the factory underwent a major renovation project in the 1960s. Rising costs and competition from breweries from Western Canada made the operation of the company increasingly difficult. On June 1, 1971, Oland and Son Limited sold its brewing assets to John Labatt Limited. Oland's Breweries (1971) Limited was established by John Labatt Limited to continue operating the breweries in Halifax and Saint John and Oland and Son changed its name to Lindwood Holdings Limited.

Oland and Son has a long history of philanthropic contributions to the province of Nova Scotia. The company sponsored numerous sports teams and leagues, fairs and exhibitions, and other activities, made charitable contributions to organizations all over the province, and was a strong support of Royal Canadian Legion halls, mess halls, and military bases. The company constructed the Bluenose II to help market its Schooner beer and represent the province internationally. In 1965, Sidney Oland and Oland and Son Ltd. contributed to Sidney's Alma matter, St. Frances Xavier University. The generous contribution allowed the university to build an auditorium-gymnasium-stadium complex that was named Oland Centre.

The M/V "O.K. Service XI" was a motor vessel built by Canadian Vickers Limited of Montreal, Quebec in 1949. The vessel was originally owned by C.A. Venezolana de Navegacion of Caracas, Venezuela who named her the "Carabobo." The vessel was fitted with refrigerated cargo installation and had a sheltered deck..

La Have Shipping Limited bought the M/V "Carabobo" from the Venezuelan government in 1962 and renamed her "O.K. Service XI". She was managed by Himmelman's Supply Company and the vessel's primary captain was C. William Gillet. Canadian National Railways chartered the vessel until 1969 when they terminated their contract due to slow business and new ferry servies being added between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. From April 1, 1969, the vessel was charted by Newfoundland-Canada Limited Steamship Company, who operated a federal government subsidized run between Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John's, Newfoundland. Due to an increase in competition and high charter rates, they ended their charter of the "O.K. Service XI" on March 31, 1972. The vessel was sold to a buyer in Costa Rica in 1972.

The "O.K. Service X" was a motor vessel built by DeHaan and Oerlemans-Heusden in 1948. It was originally owned by Damers and VanDerHeide Shipping and Trading Company of Rotterdam and named "Elisa." The vessel was purchased by O.K. Service Shipping Limited in 1955 and renamed "O.K. Service X" in 1956. It was registered in Nassau, Bahamas under the British Flag and operated by Himmelman Supply Company. Captain Cecil Parsons and Captain C. Williams Gillet were the primary captains for the vessel. During its operation, the vessel sailed from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean carrying explosives and returning with alcoholic spirits for the liquor commissions in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Edward and Nova Scotia.

The O.K. Service X was sold to Galleon Shipping Company of Tampa, Florida in January, 1975 and renamed the "Barma". It left La Have, Nova Scotia on January 5, 1975 on route to Kings Bay, George. On January 6, 1975 it was abandoned at sea and sank.

The M/V "O.K. Service VIII" was a wooden auxillary schooner built in 1944 by S.B. Company Limited in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. The hull was 75% sheathed with 1.25" greenheart. She was 124" long; 23-8"wide, and 149 deep gross tonnage. She had a 320 horse-powered lister generator with a 32 volt system.

The vessel was registered in Saint John, New Brunswick and owned by Himmelman Supply Company. The ship transported Rum and explosives, such as; dynamite, forcite, thermalite, capsules, and fuses. She travelled throughout Eastern Canadian waters, to Newfoundland, Labrador, the St. Lawrence River, Nova Scotia,and New England. In addition, it made over thirty voyages to the West Indies, Central and South America. The vessel was put up for sale in 1958, with the asking price of $80,000.00.

The M/V "O.K. Service V" was a 144-ton wooden auxiliary vessel built in 1940 by W.C. MacKay and Sons in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. It was rebuilt in 1945. The vessel was operated by Himmelman Supply Company and O.K. Service Shipping Limited, and it was owned by various members of the Himmelman family and other shareholders.

The M/V "O.K. Service V" was used extensively as a general cargo vessel on the East coast of Canada. In later years, the vessel began carrying explosives from La Have, Nova Scotia to the Caribbean and Central and South America. The vessel was primarily Captained by Moyle Randall. Arthur D. Himmelman also acted as ship's master for some voyages.

In 1967 and 1968, the vessel was converted to a fishing longliner and used for fishing on the East coast of Canada. Poor catches and low prices in the fishing industry led the company to remove the fishing gear and overhaul the engines to try to sell the vessel. The vessel was sold to Andre H. Listhaeghe on August 19, 1970.

In 1926, Himmelman Shipping Limited purchased a 100-ton auxiliary schooner and named her "O.K. Service." This was the first of 12 ships that were operated by Himmelman Supply Company as the O.K. Service fleet. The vessel was used to transport lobster, fish, and other cargo between ports in Atlantic Canada and Boston. Little is known about the original "O.K. Service."

In 1975, a ship that was originally called "Aina", was bought by Himmelman Shipping Limited and renamed "O.K. Service". It was an 1100 ton dwt. ship that specialized in carrying high explosives from Nova Scotia to ports in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The vessel was retired in 1983 because of the company's poor economic situation.

The M/V "O.K. Service IV" was a 143-ton three-mast wooden auxiliary schooner built in 1937 by W.C. MacKay and Sons in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. The vessel was operated by Ernest H. Himmelman and O.K. Service IV Shipping Limited, a subsidiary of Himmelman Supply Company and O.K. Service Shipping Limited. The vessel was jointly owned by various members of the Himmelman family and other shareholders. It was primarily Captained by W.C. Wilkie, but C. William Gillett, Arthur D. Himmelman, Harold Fiander, and other captains also acted as ship's master.

The M/V "O.K. Service IV" was initially used to transport fish and lobster between ports in Atlantic Canada. Later, it was used to transport explosives from the port at La Have, Nova Scotia to ports in the Caribbean and Central and Southern America. On February 23, 1963 the M/V "O.K. Service IV" was carrying a cargo of explosives and detonators and ran aground on a reef near Mayaguana Island in the Bahamas. The vessel was destroyed in the accident and was demolished in Nassau, Bahamas.

The M/V "O.K. Service II" was a 113-ton wooden auxiliary schooner built in 1931 by J. McLean and Sons in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. According to the Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was originally named "Afachaux-34." The vessel was operated by Himmelman Supply Company and Captained by N.H. Pentz.

The M/V "O.K. Service II" was used to transport lobster and fish between ports in Atlantic Canada and Boston. Little is known about the M/V "O.K. Service II."

Ron O’Dor was a Dalhousie professor and biologist widely known for his contributions to cephalod ecology and physiology, which he achieved through innovated interdisciplinary techniques including behaviour and ecology, physiology and innovative telemetry tracking techniques.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he completed his BSc in biochemistry at University of California, Berkley, and his PhD in medical physiology at the University of British Columbia. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Cambridge University in England and the Stazione Zoological in Naples, in 1973 he was hired in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University. He continued with his work on oceanic squid, developing an active research lab at the university’s Aquatron seawater facility.

O’Dor published frequently in scientific journals and supervised over forty graduate students and numerous honours students. He served as Chair of Biology, Director of the Aquatron facility, and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science. In addition, he was a frequent visiting scientist or research fellow at institutes and with research projects around the globe.

In 2001 O'Dor was appointed Senior Scientist with the Census of Marine Life, a ten-year international program to assess and explain the diversity and distribution of ocean life. In 2006 he was the key figure behind the establishment of Dalhousie’s Ocean Tracking Network, which became one of Canada’s National Research Facilities. Other achievements include an honorary degree from Lakehead University (2011), Canadian Geographic's Environmental Scientist of the Year award (2009), and the Discovery Centre's award for Professional of Distinction (2012). He died in 2020.

The Ocean Production Enhancement Network (OPEN) was one of fifteen networks of Centres of Excellence funded in 1990 by Industry Science and Technology Canada. Network participants included scientists from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Laval University, Dalhousie University, McGill University, the University of Quebec at Rimouski, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Three of Canada's largest seafood companies also participated in the network: National Sea Products, Clearwater Fine Foods, and Fishery Products International.

The goal of the network's research program was to investigate the processes which control the survival, growth, reproduction, and distribution of fish and shellfish. The research program was primarily focused on two species, the sea scallop (Placopectin magellanicus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), which were chosen in consultation with the network's industrial partners. The twenty-nine projects which form the research program involved both laboratory and field studies. OPEN differed from other large scale oceanographic and fisheries research initiatives because it addresses questions of fundamental long-term interest to the fishing industry.