Lise M. Porter

Lise M. Porter of Dartmouth.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing away peacefully at age 89 of Lise Porter on Saturday, October 3, 2020 in Dartmouth General Hospital with her family in attendance.

Born on the 26th June 1931in Montreal, Quebec eldest daughter of Paul-Etienne Denis and his wife Georgette Devault. Educated in convent (private) schools. She graduated with an Arts and Science Diploma on the 19th of June 1948. Joined the W.R.C.N.S. (Wrens) as a Communicator Special in August 1951 at H.M.C.S. Donnacona and was the first female French-Canadian to do so. She trained in H.M.C.S. Cornwallis and served as a Radio Operator Special in H.M.C.N.R.S. Coverdale. She married Able Seaman David R. Porter on the 14th of August 1953 and settled in Dartmouth, N.S. to raise a family.

She was the first woman to join the Amateur Radio Operator Club in Dartmouth and the first woman in Nova Scotia to obtain licence as a radio operator so that she could participate fully in EMO’s work. She was the first female Sunday School Secretary at her church and was elected to the Board of Stewards. In 1964 she became the Church’s Senior Choir Librarian and established a system for the music library which is still in use and was also adopted by other church choirs. Acted for one year in the early 1960’s as Secretary for the Dartmouth Choral Society. In the mid-1960’s the family joined the newly formed Senobe Aquatic Club in Dartmouth. On the 2nd of July 1972 she was appointed Secretary and Statistician for the Atlantic Division of the Canadian Canoe Association. In May 1978 she was first woman to be appointed National Statistician. In 1979 she became the Secretary for the Pan-American Canoe Racing Society, a post she held until the summer of 1985. In October 1980, while in Mexico for the Pan-American Championships she passed the examinations to become a fully qualified Official of the International Canoe Federation and was informed at that time that she was the first female in the world to achieve that qualification.

In the Autumn of 1984 she became involved with the Clan Farquharson Association of Canada. She served as Secretary, Genealogist, Historian and Newsletter Editor for 17 years. She also joined the Pipes and Drums of Clan Farquharson as a piper.

In her spare time she was a pianist for the Dartmouth Ballet School for 12 years. Her main interests beside her family were crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, reading, especially naval and Middle Ages history, as well as, knitting, embroidery and baking. She was also a member of the Nova Scotia Wrens Association, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, the Halifax South West Nova Scotia Branch of the Monarchist League of Canada and several genealogical societies.

She is survived by her husband David, son Ian (Sandy), grandsons Clark and Alexander, daughter Susan (Darrell Chaision). Sister Ginette Denis Bananno and son Paul, brother Pierre-André Denis and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents and a sister Manon Denis Ecrement.

A private service of remembrance will be held at a future date. Donations can be made to the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre, Dixon Building.