Harvey Antoine Bourassa of Fort Macleod, passed away peacefully at the Community Support Beds in Fort Macleod on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at the age of 94 years. He is survived by his special lady friend Janet Watmough, his children Kathy (Ted Kerber), Ken, and Terry; grandchildren Kory (Sandy), Derian (Sophie), Austin (Saya), Morgan, Angelica, Juliette; great grandchildren Tyler, Tanner and Aiden. He is also survived by brother George Bourassa (Margaret), sister Annette Seymour (Harold), and sisters-in-law Gloria, Irene, and Rita Bourassa, and Valena Thibert.
He was predeceased by his wife Kaye, daughter Jeannie, grandson Cole, his parents Leo and Jeannette Bourassa, brothers Leo, Lawrence, Albert and Edgar Bourassa, sisters Beatrice McMurren, Eveline Jensen, and brothers-in-law Robert McMurren, Al Jensen, and Jon Thibert.
In 1957, he and Kaye (Chester) married and took over the farm when his Mom and Dad retired. He continued with the farming while also working at the Auction Market, but eventually decided farming wasn’t for him. In 1974 they sold the farm and moved to town, while he continued to work at the Auction Market.
Harvey started in the livestock business at the age of 14 for Gene Chivilo, a livestock order buyer, sorting and shipping cattle and hogs. After 7 years, he then went farming with his dad, taking turns with his brother Lawrence, for the next 3-4 years. He then went to work at PFRA for a year, followed by Ellison Mills in Lethbridge. Harvey’s work ethic got in the way of Union regulations, as he’s always been known to be a hard worker. He just could not wrap his head around taking a break when you’re busy doing something, and only lasted a year before he quit and went back to the livestock industry. He started his long career with Fort Macleod Auction in 1960 in the yards as an ‘alley rat’, penning cattle on sale days, becoming the Yard Foreman in the fall of 1960 until 1972. In 1972 he took over the Order Buying Division, becoming a partner in Fort Macleod Auction after the market burned down in 1974. He remained as the Order Buyer until 1998 and semi-retired in 2001, fully retiring in 2003. He continued to go watch the sales long into his retirement. He and a couple partners in the 1990’s also showed cattle in the Calgary Stampede International Stock Show Alberta Fed Beef Expo, winning either Grand or Reserve Champion 10 years straight with both steers and heifers. Dad loved the cattle industry and spent his lifetime enjoying his choice of work. He met people from all over North America and made many long-lasting friendships. His words were “if you love your job, it’s not work”.
His other passion was rodeo, and in his younger years, he was a calf roper, and he built an arena in a shelter belt behind the farmhouse. Many cowboys from the surrounding area came out once or twice a week to rope, and great times were had by everyone. In his later years after retirement, he built a program to track the pro rodeo stock scores, buckoffs, etc. and did that for a couple years, enjoying still being involved in rodeo.
As a retirement project to keep him busy, he started a town-wide Lottery Group of over 150 people who paid their $50 into the pot with the hopes of winning the ‘big one’. They won enough to keep it going for over a year and a half, but never got the Big One. Everyone involved had a blast though.
He enjoyed many sports, and was involved in hockey, baseball, curling and golf. He was the draw master for the Curling Club Bonspiels for many years. He curled right up to the age of 88, but after seeing another old timer fall on the ice, he decided he’d better retire from it before he was next. You didn’t dare interrupt him if he was watching curling or hockey on TV, he was pretty serious about his favorite sports.
Dad was always so supportive of each of his children and grandchildren’s activities, whether it be sports, school, or something they were involved in. He was always their biggest fan. He was heavily involved in the community he lived in, organizing and supporting many different activities. He was awarded the Citizen of the Year by the Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce in 2011. He was a Life Member in the following organizations – Fort Macleod Curling Club, Canadian Livestock Curling Assn (President 10 yr.), BPOE Elks, Knights of Columbus, Southern Alberta Curling Assn. (District Convenor 10 yr.), and Fort Macleod Golf Club. He was also a member of the Fort Macleod Senior Citizens Welcome Mat, Royal Canadian Legion and the 4H Beef Club (Leader & Judge).
Mom passed away in 2014 and Dad continued to live in the little house they’d bought on 21st street until 2020 when he turned 90. He decided he was now old enough to move into the Pioneer Lodge. He thoroughly enjoyed it there and was treated like the elder statesman who everyone loved. There are no words for the appreciation we have of the kindness of all the staff and residents at the Lodge. It was definitely ‘home’ for Dad and he enjoyed every minute there. He always had his humor on full display and joked with everyone. There was always lots of laughter and great times, great food, and superior staff who endeared him with the title of Grandpa. “Grandpa” was always fun to be around, and his traits were kindness, integrity, generosity, humor, always a gentleman, storyteller, mentor, hard worker, family man, teacher, and acceptance of everyone. We will miss you Dad, but you left a legacy for everyone you’ve touched in your lifetime.
If you wish, in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either: Willow Creek Foundation (Pioneer Lodge) Box 790, Fort Macleod, AB. T0L 0Z0 or Fort Macleod Community Support Beds Box 520, Fort Macleod, AB. T0L 0Z0
Eden’s Funeral Home has been entrusted with his arrangements.