Eric Allaby was born August 7, 1943, on Grand Manan Island, he graduated from Grand Manan High School and Acadia University (B.Sc., 1964). He became a teacher and worked as a diver. A Ford Foundation fellowship enabled him to research maritime history in North America and England. He was an underwater archaeologist with the National Museums of Canada (1973- 1976) and a founding member of the North American Society for Oceanic History. He has written several books and articles on marine history, including Shipbuilding in the Maritime Provinces, The August Gale, two Grand Manan Historians on shipwrecks around Grand Manan Island, and Grand Manan. He is a marine artist and has exhibited his work around the province. First elected October 13, 1987, as the Liberal MLA for Charlotte-Fundy, he was on numerous committees. Re-elected September 23, 1991, and again in September 11, 1995, for the new riding of Fundy Isles. He chaired the government caucus (1997-1999). He was re-elected June 7, 1999, and served on several committees, and as Opposition House Leader. He was re-elected for a fifth term June 9, 2003. His riding of Fundy Isles was merged with the riding of fellow Liberal Rick Doucet to form Charlotte - The Isles in the 2006 redistribution of boundaries. As a result, Allaby chose not to seek re-election in the 2006 election. In 2007, he was named to the board of directors for the New Brunswick Provincial Capital Commission. Eric Allaby and his wife Berneta reside in Grand Manan, N.B. They have a son and a daughter.
Eric was the curator at the Grand Manan Museum and many of his sketches describing underwater archaeology around the Grand Manan Archipelago are on permanent display. This map shows Eric's love for sharing his knowledge with others and he has published many maps describing Grand Manan and her history.
Source: Biographies of Members, Legislative Assembly, New Brunswick, 55th Legislature, 2004.
Source: Wikipedia