Yk's Noel Stanislaus remembered as excellent employer, caring friend
Popular GM of local armoured car company died in tragic boating accident last week
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, July 7, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A man who died in a boating accident on Long Lake last Thursday is being remembered as a one-of-a-kind human being.
Stanislaus was the general manager of Malca Amit, an international armoured car company that specializes in the transfer of diamonds. - |
Noel Stanislaus, 49, died after going over the side of a boat despite frantic efforts by the boat operator and a search by RCMP and Yellowknife Fire Department personnel.
He leaves behind a wife, Rhona, and six-year-old son Neylan.
No autopsy will be done, according to a spokesperson with the NWT coroner's office. It is believed Stanislaus drowned.
Stanislaus was the general manager of Malca Amit, an international armoured car company in town that specializes in the transfer of diamonds.
Mike Bishop worked with Stanislaus for about 15 years, originally with First Air and later with Malca Amit NWT. He said they had been close friends the entire time.
"He was a great guy - genuine. Noel was not a salesman and that's why he was so successful in his job. People can tell when you are being genuine and he was the same with everyone whether it was the president of a large company or a person he just met," Bishop said. "He hated being called boss, which made us call him boss even more. He never treated employees like employees. We were all a pretty close group. He called everybody buddy."
Bishop said that he was stunned, shocked and saddened to hear about Stanislaus' sudden death.
It's still surreal. We're trying to do our best but there are shoes that are impossible to fill. We're doing our best," he said.
A celebration of life was held Monday at the Explorer Hotel. A funeral will be held tomorrow in Toronto.
Stanislaus came to North America in his early 20s from his native Sri Lanka and settled originally in Boston. He eventually made his way to Yellowknife where his sister lived, according to Bishop.
He was very dedicated to his job but his work took a back seat when it came to his family, Bishop said.
"Noel always said he wouldn't be able to function without Rhona. She's an incredible woman. He was very fortunate to have had her and we kept reminding him of that," Bishop said. "His son - once he became a dad - it was a life-changing experience. He was the first one to tell you that. It changed his outlook on everything. Neylan became the number one is the house."
Bishop said Stanislaus has a solid, positive legacy not just here in Yellowknife but around the globe.
"He leaves a group of friends and family that stretches world-wide. His network of friends extends around the world - Boston, Toronto and Sri Lanka. He leaves behind a legacy of a unique, genuine guy who was not only liked by everybody, but loved by everybody," Bishop said. "He'll be greatly missed. He is leaving a big hole in a lot of people's lives."
Kyle Hallett also worked with Stanislaus for the past six years.
"He was the best boss you could ever have. You could not work with a better person. He treated everybody as a buddy, not an employee, and we respected that," Hallett said. "I moved to town six years ago and met Noel. We hit it off and he offered me his right-hand-man job."
Hallett said their job with Malca Amit was to pick up diamonds that had come from the mines to the airport and then deliver them to the sorting facilities. Hallett said Stanislaus ended up at Malca Amit after being cargo manager for First Air.
"Ron Near offered him a job at Malca Amit probably about 15 years ago but he was working at First Air and Brinks and he didn't want to give up his two jobs, but Ron talked him into it," Hallett said.
He added that Stanislaus made friends easily.
"He had zero acquaintances. Everyone he had ever met was his friend. He just draws people in."
