Tribute

The world has lost an iconic gentleman.  Glen Lawrence Harper went to join his wife, Margaret, and son Laurie, on August 3, 2021.  Supported by his 3 daughters and their families, he passed with his characteristic humour, strength, and courage.

Left with incredible memories of a lifetime of adventures and love-filled family gatherings are his 3 daughters:  Glenda Barrett (Jim), granddaughter Lisa Barrett (Erik Madsen) and great-grandson Liam; Bonnie Segger (ex-husband Huli) and granddaughters Brea Segger, (Todd Howard) and great-grandchildren Ela and Oli; Jen Segger (Norm Hann) and great-grandson Kiel; Cathy Waters (Barry) and grandsons Jason Waters (Diane) and great-granddaughters Harper and Keely; Chris Waters (Bendeliza).  Dad is also survived by his sister Dawn Dickson from Nanaimo.

Dad was born in McCreary Manitoba on March 31, 1929, to parents Ron and Mae Harper, the 4th of 6 children.  A child of the Great Depression, his “nose for scrap” developed at an early age, as he learned that one man’s trash was another man’s treasure.  He moved with his family to the Cowichan Valley in 1947, when they purchased the Riverside Auto Court on Allenby Road.  Dad worked as a cook in the restaurant that was a part of the business.  He met and fell in love with his would-be wife, Margaret Willson, when she started to work as a waitress there.  They were married on November 8, 1949.  Their children began arriving in 1950.

Dad was ahead of his time in having a “green philosophy”.  He turned his innate ability to source out scrap metal into becoming one of Duncan’s first recyclers, establishing G. L. Harper Scrap Metal & Demolition Ltd. in 1963, always knowing instinctively that reuse was the highest form of recycling.

While his vision of recycling came to fruition, Dad worked as a carpenter, a logger and as the manager and icemaker of the Duncan Curling Club on James Street.  Along with an enthusiastic group of founding members, he and his father were driving forces behind getting the curling club organized and eventually built on its new location on Sherman Road.  The Duncan Curling Club was renamed the Glen Harper Curling Centre in 2013.

Even though Dad lost his vision in one eye at the age of 10, he never lost his love of sport and competition.  As his opponents soon came to realize, he was a fierce competitor – an honourable winner and graceful in defeat.  He was a 5-time BC provincial curling champion, going to the Brier twice, to the Canadian Mixed twice, and to the Canadian Seniors.  He was a tireless advocate for sport participation, especially for junior curling.

Dad was honoured with many recognitions, including being a life-time member of the Duncan Curling Club, a life-time member of the Pacific Coast Curling Association, an inductee into the North Cowichan/Duncan Sports Wall of Fame and a Life-Time Achievement award from the Chamber of Commerce.

Dad loved to golf and fish.  He spent untold happy hours with friends and family on his boat, down the Alberni Canal, first at Kildonan Villa and then at Haggards Cove.  He implemented a “family law” – a tradition that no one can drive by Whisky Creek without stopping for ice cream!    No wonder we all loved to fish!  He instilled the love of outdoors into all his family, even if he had to bribe us with ice cream!  He figured his fish cost him at least $1,000.00 a pound!

We want to thank his many friends and family for bringing so much joy to his life.  The management and staff at Cerwydden, Dad’s home for the past four and a half years, were absolute angels in the loving care they provided him with.  Dr. Robinson and Dr. Nielsen were supportive and professional over the many years, and we thank them for their skilled care.  Too many people to thank individually, we hope you know that we are grateful for your friendship to our father.  Special thanks to Andrea…

How do you unpack a lifetime of humility, accomplishment, generosity, success, inspiration, and love into one short article?  How can you put the essence of a giant of a Cheezie lovin’ man into such a small space?  From whistling his way through life to lending a helping hand to everyone who needed it, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, this man has been a part of the heart-beat of the Cowichan Valley for many, many years.

In the words of Dad, that inspired so many people to strive to reach their full potential, a familiar start to every curling game in the Duncan Curling Club for years  – “LET’S GO”.  See you soon, Dear Dad.  We will miss you every day, and though you never, ever complained, we are glad you are no longer in pain.

A celebration will be announced in the near future.

PS We hope the companies who make ice-cream don’t go broke now that Dad has left this world!