Arthur "Art" Baglot

Art remains in our hearts and memories as a deeply loved husband of nearly 70 years to Ellen, strong, knowing and loving father to Jim, Lorri, Terri, and (predeceased) Bill, loving grandfather to 12 grandchildren and to 7 great grandchildren, friend to many, and special neighbour. He often referred to the days with his grandchildren as the happiest days of his life and enjoyed the reflection of his children in them.

Art was born March 24, 1932, to his parents Beatrice and Daniel Baglot, in Lac La Biche, Alberta. He was the oldest son, having three brothers, Rene, Alcide, Dan, and three sisters, Rita, Alvina, and Laura. Art was proud of and close to his siblings, their partners, and families his entire life.

Art was known for his ability to learn quickly and master skills efficiently from the time he was an 8-year-old and worked at his first job, rapidly and precisely building watertight fish boxes in the local fish plant. Art always wanted to be a carpenter. He continued to earn money as a child while attending school, spending time before and after school raising mink, training sled dogs, and driving a horse-pulled dray for delivery services. Art started working on the railroad when he was 14. Because of height and stature, he passed as a 16-year-old. He worked his way through many positions, getting his carpenter and bridge-building papers while working on the Northern Alberta Railroad. As his advanced skills were recognized, he was transferred to Dunvagen Yards in Edmonton, where he was in charge of planning and building prefabricated log railroad bridges that were specifically made for locations throughout Northern Alberta and shipped by rail to be erected in place. This was the beginning of an interesting career in construction and large building maintenance.

Later he and a friend responded to the call of the major construction boom in British Columbia. On his way, while visiting friends and passing through Kimberley, BC he met Ellen who was to become his wife in the years ahead.

He experienced a variety of large construction positions as foreman on major provincial projects such as the principle bridges of the North in Prince George and Fort St. John, the Provincial Ferry Slips, Second Narrows Bridge, Deise Island Tunnel, several large Hospitals, the large project at Celgar Complex in Castlegar.

Throughout these busy years Art and Ellen were married and began their family. Son Jim was born in Vancouver, followed by Lorri, Bill, then Terri who were all born in Kimberley. In the late 1950s Art and the family went for a visit to Kimberley where he sought short term work for Cominco as a timberman and miner. We stayed for 20 years. During that time, he went back to school and earned his fourth and third class steam engineering tickets. He then began working as a steam engineer for Cominco in Kimberley controlling large air and underground water systems for the mine, concentrator and fertilizer plants and in connection with Cominco in Trail.

Living in Kimberley offered the family many opportunities to enjoy and experience a happy, supportive community, to develop friendships and to learn about the wonderful outdoors. Together we enjoyed skiing, skating, hockey, curling, snowmobiling and all methods of sliding, as well as many hours of exercise spent shoveling roofs, driveways and sidewalks. All of these were orchestrated by Art. Summers were spent water skiing, boating, swimming fishing, hunting, and hiking. As a family we spent many hours of enjoyment where Dad spent the entire day manning the boat and towing water skiers. Prior to commercial motor homes, we enjoyed traveling in the school bus he converted into a state of the “Art” motorhome, which we fondly referred to it as the Baggy Bus.

Art was able to understand physics and employed that knowledge when playing pool so well he often had to use only one hand just to level the playing field, though he still won most games. He was a great bowler, enjoyed curling, playing hockey for The Green Machine, skiing, waterskiing, golfing, running, and stayed fit throughout his life. He supported all his children through their sports and recreation as well. He always had time to cheer on his favourite hockey team the Vancouver Canucks.

Once the three oldest children had graduated and moved on Art, Ellen and Terri moved to the lower mainland where Art was quickly hired as a Supervisor of Maintenance for the Federal Government buildings in Vancouver which included YVR Airport, the Main Canada Post Office, the RCMP Headquarters, the RCMP Crime Lab, the Library, the Waterfront Station Building and numerous office buildings for nearly 20 years. Art eventually retired in 1996 and became a full-time Grandpa and at home husband. He helped his kids with their home renovations through the years and could build or fix anything. He enjoyed making wine and was always up for a full belly laugh and a great joke.

In his later years, especially, Art was quick to tell his family he loved them and that he was proud of them. Art appreciated his wife and her skills, expertise and advocacy. He spoke often of how grateful he was to have had Ellen on his side his entire life. Art made sure to thank us for coming to see him to tell us he loved us every day through his last months of his life.

Even though times were difficult for him in this past year after suffering through many health challenges he demonstrated his tenacity and determination to overcome difficulties. He taught himself to walk again several times when he was told he could not. He was suffering through and continuing in a way to overcome. This was the way he always led his life. Art was noted for his many original quotes. In reverence to him, how he lived and what he stood for we would like to say, in his words, “We’ve heard of better men, but we haven’t seen ‘em!”