Mark Edward MacDonald

With great sadness, the family of Mark Edward MacDonald, BSc Eng, LLB, KC, announces his passing from a cancer-related illness, in Halifax at 67, late on May 5th, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Dr. Joanne MacDonald, daughters Dara (Noe Arias Baltazar) and Charlotte (Patrick Duff). He is also mourned by his mother Phyllis, brother Austin (Kathleen), sisters Leah (Gary Kilbride) and Lorena (late Rick Howard) and numerous nephews and nieces in NS and PEI. He was predeceased by his father Frank and eldest sister Paula (Frank Likely).

Mark was born in Charlottetown and raised in Parkdale, PEI, running with a pack of boys including his brother Austin, competing, exploring, and creating adventures and go-karts. His first job at 11 was a paper route he shared with his friend Ray Smallwood, even covering each other’s summer holidays. Always one to challenge himself, he completed Dalhousie degrees in Engineering in 1977 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1980.

After articling at Stewart McKelvey, Mark proudly practiced with the firm, with influential mentors and great colleagues, from 1981 to 2003. His corporate practice centred on technical and resource-based industries, such as construction projects and companies, marine based fisheries, processing and transportation. He often said he represented but was, in turn, educated by his clients. Mark joined one of those clients, Northumberland Ferries, in a management role, going on to lead a management group purchase of the company and expansion of activities to include services to all three Maritime provinces and the State of Maine, with support to ferry initiatives in the Bahamas, Rochester NY, and Trinidad & Tobago. Mark was proud to be involved in transporting people and goods to support local businesses and economies, laying the foundation for the life of communities around their ports, in Eastern Canada and beyond. The fleet’s employees, who he came to know personally, remain the base of businesses success. He negotiated many business partnerships and retained friends from each endeavour. He leaves Northumberland and Bay Ferries as President & CEO, with his intention realized that he would serve as Chairman of Atlantic Ferries Holding Ltd and transition corporate and ferry operations to the capable leadership of Mark Wilson and the company’s senior leadership team.

Mark’s business education and contributions extended to many different sectors, with board service to the Port of Halifax, the Bragg Group, Scotia Investments Limited, Acadian Seaplants and the Murphy Hospitality Group. The family brings his thanks to John Bragg, the extended Jodrey family & Randy MacMillan, Leo & JP Deveau and Kevin Murphy and family. He also sat on the Board of Interferry, a global ferry industry leadership entity.

Mark’s life in business was grounded in his life with his girls, their interests and accomplishments, board support to Sacred Heart School of Halifax, down time on the lawn tractor in summers in Augustine Cove, PEI, and good and bad swings in the game of golf whenever someone was looking to play. He welcomed every opportunity to visit his daughters where they studied and worked and welcomed their partners as new boys to find adventures with. He is remembered as determined, kind, honest and consistent in effort and personality, in work and in life. During his illness he was supported by Joanne and many old friends like Chris MacDougall and some new caregivers like Edgar that the family thanks, who brought the quality to his remaining time. We will so miss him.

Visitation will take place at Cruikshank’s Funeral Home on Windsor Street in Halifax on Tuesday May 21, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. Funeral Mass will be said at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Wednesday May 22 at 12:10 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Missions to Seafarers Halifax or Hospice Halifax.