Pekka Emil Salmi

Pekka Emil Salmi passed away after a short stay in hospice on March 27th, 2025, at the age of 83. He had been diagnosed with bladder cancer for the 2nd time this past August. He had several health issues over the last 10 years that he bravely and determinedly faced and overcame. A testament to his true Finnish ‘Sisu’. We know he is sitting on the shore of his most idyllic lake in Heaven, fishing with his grandson Brook.

He leaves to mourn, his daughters, Marjaana and Anne-Mari, grandchildren Kristin (Baron), Taylor (Danielle), Jaxon, Braden, Tyson, Morgan, and 2 great grandchildren, Malcolm and Duncan, as well as close friends and family, including his niece & family in Quesnel BC – Reijo & Marja-Leena Kovanen (Katja, Teija, Asta, Riku), as well as family in Finland.

Pekka was born in Mikkeli, Finland where his family owned a shoe factory – Mikkelin Kenkatehdas. At the age of 24, Pekka and his young family moved from Finland to Canada in 1965, first landing in Dawson Creek BC, and then finding employment at Alcan in Kitimat BC. He worked in the potlines at Alcan until he was able to take early retirement, to live the life he enjoyed. He had many hobbies and enjoyed nature. He had a passion for all things wood. He was a self-taught woodworker and made many beautiful items, and wooden toys for all of his grandkids over the years. He also loved gardening, fishing, camping, working on his lifetime stamp collection, and of course the forever project of his log home. After retirement he bought a computer and figured out how to use it. He enjoyed keeping tabs on his grandkids through social media and dabbled in buying and selling stamps on Ebay. He was also a big hockey fan never missing a Vancouver Canucks game and of course cheering for Canada and Finland at any hockey matches.

He was remarkable and self-sufficient. He was confident and kind. Many of his great attributes, and love of nature were hopefully passed on to his daughters and grandchildren, as a legacy to him.