Obituary of John Wallace Ellison

John Wallace ( Wally ) Ellison passed away at The Strait Richmond Hospital on Wednesday, July 25^th, 2018. Born on October 16^th, 1936, in Sydney, Wally was the son of the late Samuel Ellison and Mary Anne ( MacIsaac ) Ellison. Wally attended school in Inverness before moving on to Teachers College. He attended St. Mary’s, Dalhousie and Ottawa Universities furthering his studies majoring in Geography and Geology. He completed his Master’s Degree at St F. X. in Curriculum Development. Wally was a teacher, Consultant, Social Studies and Science Coordinator, founder and director of the Scotsville Nature Center and retired in 1991 from the Strait Area Education Recreation Center after a thirty year career. Wally loved teaching and his greatest moments were on the many field and hiking treks he took students on. Wally had many hobbies and interests both during and after he retired. Wally was a wind surfer and enjoyed boating on the Bras d’Or. He never left his camera at home and was an accomplished photographer accumulating thousands of photos of his many travels. Over the years, Wally was often called upon to take pictures at weddings and other formal occasions. Wally loved to travel especially to The British Isles and over the years gained many lifelong friends. He liked camping and hiking into the many waterfalls he loved to explore. Wally’s travels and interests led to his enjoyment, writing articles for local media and his publishing of a number of articles and books on the geography of Cape Breton. He gained great pleasure in his practice of the Gaelic language and would jump at any opportunity to converse with other Gaelic speakers. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and took in as many gatherings and ceilidhs time would allow. Wally was often called upon to play his pipes at many events. He was one of "The One Hundred Pipers" who marched at the opening of The Canso Causeway in 1955. Wally was a well known gardener raising a variety of vegetables and many beautiful flowers. He was only too glad to share his crops and flowers with those who came to visit. Wally is survived by his wife, Phyllis, son Jamie ( Diane ) and his daughter, Marilyn ( Gerry ), brothers, Archie and Carl and sister Eleanor.  He is also survived by step children, Anne Marie ( Brian ), Gregory ( Michelle ) and Aurel ( Laurie ).  He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Jamie, Michael, Kara, Ethan and great grandchild Aiden. Ethan. Besides his parents, Wally was predeceased by his grandson, Joel. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 29^th, 2018, 2 to 4 pm. and 7 to 9 pm. at the River Bourgeois Community Visitation Room, River Bourgeois. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, July 30^th, 2018 at St. Margaret’s Parish, West Bay Road at 11am, with Father Duncan D. MacIsaac officiating. Internment will follow in the parish cemetery. The family will host a reception at the West Bay Road Fire Hall after the service. Donations can be made to a charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home, Arichat. To send words of comfort to the family or to light a candle in memory of Wally, please visit www.chboudreau.com