Allan Rankin Boyd

For a man who lived only 59 years on earth, the amount of people Allan Rankin Boyd impacted is almost unimaginable, and he will forever be remembered through smiles rather than tears. Allan was born on October 3rd, 1950 at St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish, Nova Scotia to Fred and Mary Anne Boyd. He was raised at Cribbons Point in Antigonish alongside his three older brothers, Angus, George and Ross; his older sister, Sheila; younger sister, Rose Marie; and two younger brothers Gerard and Paul. He also grew up with two foster sisters, Adeline and Margie.

While Antigonish would always remain an integral part of Allan’s life, he left the small town for greater opportunity in 1971, joining his uncle and older brothers in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was in Vancouver that Allan’s life really began to take shape. Shortly after moving to Vancouver, Allan met the woman who would change his life forever, Florence May Ianson. The two were married on September 15th, 1973 and they shared a love that could not possibly be matched. Their love never faltered and never struggled; they epitomized what a relationship should be. Together Allan and Florence laid the foundation for an incredible family. They raised two amazing and talented children, Joshua Rankin and Melissa Anne, and Allan left knowing that he had raised them to their fullest; into bright, successful and respectable adults.

After dabbling in small construction jobs and completing an electrical apprenticeship, Allan realized that none of this was for him. In 1980 he started Boyd Enterprises, a company that would fast track to success due to his hard work and ability to push his employees past their own limits. Never one to turn away from a challenge, Allan took chances on people giving many a much needed second chance. For many, including Allan, Boyd Enterprises became much more than a job. While it became a career for some, and just a stepping stone for others it instilled in its employees the values that Allan himself held dear; hard-work, determination and respect.

Throughout his life family remained an important part of Allan; in fact, he went out of his way to ensure that his family was unbreakable. Allan had an incredibly unique ability to create family out of people who had barely met. There were very few strangers in Allan’s life as he always took the extra minute to establish a friendship. It was because of this that he earned such a popular reputation with everyone. Even those whom he had befriended in grade school prided themselves on maintaining a connection with this amazing man.

Allan loved vacations. Every year he managed to take a holiday. Whether it was taking the whole family to Disneyland or simply he and Florence driving through the Okanagan on their own, Allan made it a point to enjoy his life. He also made family get-togethers a priority, often initiating plans for a weekend family camping trip or barbecue, or even a big family gathering in Antigonish. While he worked hard, he knew how to let go and have fun. When he wasn’t on the golf course working on his swing, he was watching sports and studying their statistics. It was rare to come across a sports anecdote that Allan hadn’t already made you aware of.

Allan’s passion was hockey. The excitement and enthusiasm he felt toward the game led him to become an integral part of the Vancouver Minor Hockey Association and in turn made the association a vital part of him. He thought of it as much more than a position, rather an extension of his life, and he wanted nothing more than to see his players succeed on and off the ice; this devotion is what gained him the respect of players and coaches alike and earned him multiple awards for his unending and unmatchable support of the VMHA.

Perhaps the thing that Allan will be best remembered for is his laughter, love and friendship; and his amazing ability to make everyone feel like they were important, a gift that not many people have. Allan was full of life and he knew how to make everyone crack a smile. In short, Allan Rankin Boyd is the epitome of the phrase “It is not the amount of years in your life, rather the amount of life in your years that matters” because in 59 years he touched more people and lived more vigorously than most could in 100.