Barnett, Ronald Alexander, 1924-2015 : Ronald Alexander Barnett was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1924. He obtained a B.Sc at Dalhousie University in 1945 and a B.Eng. from the Nova Scotia Technical College in 1947. In 1948, he married Lenore G.M. Shields of Halifax, NS, and they had three children: Donald A., Linda G., and Bruce M.
Barnett worked at Brownsburg Works, Explosives and Ammunition Division, from 1947 to 1964. He began his career as a junior engineer, responsible for plant maintenance and construction. He then rose to Production Foreman (1949-1952), supervising the manufacture and assembly of metal and sundry parts. From 1952-1954, he served as Project Engineer, responsible for building and equipment design, and construction of a $10 million plant rehabilitation. In 1951, he was temporarily loaned for work on reports to CIL's subsidiary, Defence Industries Limited.
In 1954, Barnett became Design Supervisor, responsible for the design and development of special metal working and assembly machines and their shop fabrication, as well as the supervision of design staff and shop crew totalling 60. Subsequently in 1957, he was made Works Engineer, responsible for the maintenance of shops, design and construction, and the payroll of 100 employees. His final role at Brownsburg was as Production Superintendent, from 1962-1964. As such, he oversaw a plant of 1400 employees working in the manufacturing of metal products, ammunitions, and detonators. He was responsible for production scheduling output, quality and manning of production operations and tool manufacture. He also served as the Superintendent of Special Studies.
Barnett moved to CIL's Head Office in Montreal in 1964, where he was Production Engineer. In this role, he served as the assistant to the production manager of a multi-plant division.
At de Salaberry Works in Valleyfield, Quebec, he was Assistant Works Manager from 1965 to 1969. This work involved him in the purchase of the Valleyfield plant from the Federal government and its expansion from 200 to 1,000 employees. Barnett ended his career with CIL as Works Manager from 1970 to 1971, where he served as head of the plant. He was responsible for all phases of production, technical development, engineering, accounting, personnel and union negotiations, financial budgeting and control.
Following his career in engineering, Barnett was employed by The Montreal Gazette as director of production starting in 1971, and as director of operations at The Hamilton Spectator starting in 1983. He died in 2015 in New Brunswick.
