Donald Armstrong Bates

BATES, Cst. Donald Armstong - Age 78, of Dartmouth, NS, died suddenly and peacefully at home with his family & dog, PUCK, by his side after a brief battle with liver cancer on August 5, 2021. Don was born March 30, 1943 in Long Point, NB. Oldest of seven siblings born to Frank Armstrong Bates & Jean Beatrice Bates (Ganong) both deceased. He was born and raised on a farm. At age 19 joined the RCMP and served in Sydney, Dartmouth, Halifax and Ottawa. After retiring, Don sold real estate. In the 1970s he was a Boy Scout Leader in Cape Breton. He taught Map and Compass. He and Pierrette enjoyed four wheeling and hunting in NFLD. Two of Don’s greatest passions were flying & dogs. He taught flying at Shearwater, Halifax Airport and Debert. Other hobbies included photography & buying, fixing & selling cars, tractors, campers or anything with wheels. He was an avid outdoors man & guide. He started DOINDOGS in the early 1990s He took great pride in breeding the best of the best and his pups were sought after from all over the world from Turkey to Australia. Don and PUCK were inseparable. Don took top honors in many Canadian Kennel Club dog shows & trials. Don later became interested and involved with training service dogs and often took PUCK to Northwood to visit patients. He enjoyed skiing and was always up for anything, He was very proud to say he never in his life had a sip of alcohol. Left to mourn are his companion of 20 years, Pierrette and her family in Quebec, his 3 daughters, Paula Bates, Dartmouth, Heather Manning (Brendan) Chesapeake, Virginia, Brenda MacDonald (Tony) Eastern Passage, and their mother, Pat Bates (Dartmouth) & someone like a son, Terry Provo (North Preston) Don is also survived by one grandchild, Lisa Bezanson, and 4 great grandchildren, He was predeceased by his parents & brother, Richard Bates. Surviving siblings are Linda Pollock (Bill) Alberta, Leah Urquhart (Dale) NB, Anne Ukrainetz (George) NB, Robert “Bob” Bates (Janice) NB, Joan Olive (Roy) NB and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces & grandnephews. We would like to give our sincere gratitude to the amazing Palliative Care team and the RCMP VETERANS for their help and support. Due to COVID restrictions, we will have a visitation Wednesday, August 11, 2021 2-4pm and 6-8 pm. The limit is 50 people per time slot. Funeral is Thursday August 12, 2021 at 1pm and by invitation ONLY. There will be live streaming by visiting www.funeraweb.tv and search Don’s name. Private family burial at a later date and no flowers by request. The family would appreciate donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Kiersteadville United Baptist Church, NB