J. H. FOREST

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J. H. (ROCKY) FOREST Rocky was born in 1921 on the family farm in LaSalle, Manitoba. He was the fourth of nine children born to Métis and French parents Elise and Gabriel Forest. He attended the one-room Barkham schoolhouse where he acquired the first of his nicknames: "Harry". He attended high school in neighbouring St. Norbert. Following high school he worked underground in a gold mine in Northern Manitoba - and it was there he acquired the nickname that would stick with him forever: "Rocky". In 1940 Rocky enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. He trained in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec and then served on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans until the end of the Second World War. Returning home as a commissioned naval officer, Rocky used his Serviceman's Grant to build a new home on the family farm for his parents and younger siblings. Near the family farm was the one-room schoolhouse that Rocky had attended in his youth. It was there that he met the beautiful and intelligent, young new teacher Jean Janz who was then instructing Rocky's younger siblings. Jean would quickly become the love of his life and his wife of 69 years. Having first seen the Rocky Mountains on a Navy transfer during the war, he knew he wanted to move west to Alberta. Rocky and Jean were married in Manitoba on December 21, 1946 and set off for Edmonton to begin their new life together. Rocky had apprenticed in carpentry and when he worked at Poole Construction Ltd. (PCL) he developed many friendships that were to last a lifetime. Alberta had recently drilled its first successful oil well. Ever the visionary, Rocky saw the opportunity for growth and struck out on his own. Forest Construction Ltd. was established in 1952. He grew his business and eventually competed against the much larger PCL for construction contracts. It's an interesting story of good things going full circle. Nearing Forest Construction's 50th anniversary, the company was sold to PCL. A match 50 years in the making. Competitors often.....Friends always. Rocky's first construction contract was the building of the Assumption Catholic Church in Edmonton - the first of dozens of churches he would eventually build. As his company grew, so did the size of his projects. Forest Construction Ltd. would eventually build over 700 hundred major buildings in Alberta and British Columbia including schools, offices, shopping centers, arenas, condominium towers, hotels, hospitals, airports, warehouses and industrial buildings. Rocky led several industry associations and served on the Advisory Council to the Federal Business Development Bank. A growing economy, a growing business..... and a growing family. Over the years, Rocky built ever larger homes in Edmonton to accommodate his growing clan. In the end, seven children and great wife make a family. Life was good and he eventually built a summer cottage on Lake Wabamun where he taught his and his neighbours' children to sail and water ski. Rocky loved kids, and home was a good place to be. Rocky was one of seven founding partners of Jas-Day Investments Ltd. and built the Lobstick Lodge in his beloved Rocky Mountains so that more Canadian families could enjoy "his" special mountain range. His friendships in Jasper National Park would endure for decades and the business grew to become today's Mountain Park Lodges hotel chain. Rocky happily taught many kids to ski at Marmot Basin, the ski resort in Jasper that the Mountain Park Lodges Group would eventually be partners in. Rocky was an active member in his church and in the wider community as a founding member of The Marion Centre and of the Edmonton Community Foundation. He was a board member of both the Misericordia Hospital and of CUSO (Canadian University Students Overseas), Chairman of Edmonton Catholic Charities, and President of The United Way. His encouragement of the arts was recognized with his appointment as Honorary Director of Edmonton's Citadel Theatre. Of particular note was Rocky's support for women and children in need - long before this type of support became fashionable. He was a founder of the registered nonprofit society WINGS of Providence: "Women-In-Need-Growing-Stronger". Rocky initially spearheaded a volunteer project to obtain an apartment building and convert it into a safe haven for women and children escaping family violence. Wings has since grown to provide second stage housing, longer term housing, and a beautiful licensed daycare. It's a rare man who gets a children's daycare named after him - especially when that daycare is part of a shelter for women fleeing family violence. Wings surprised Rocky with this honour two years ago. He also had a special place in his heart for the needs of religious sisters. He donated countless hours and dollars to building their convents, schools, chapels, and the spiritual retreat centers they operated for the community's benefit. A project dear to Rocky's heart was the development and construction of a beautiful monastery west of Edmonton for the Carmelite Sisters, who upon its completion came from all over the world to quietly live and pray in Alberta. Rocky and Jean retired to a lovely condo in downtown Edmonton that Forest Construction built, but soon he would fulfill his lifelong dream of living on the West Coast. Who else but Rocky Forest would have the energy to move out of a retirement residence, change provinces, and buy a heritage fixer-upper in Victoria that would take him a full two years to restore! Rocky was a fabulous gardener and a true artist. His intricate and realistic bird carvings are the centerpieces of his children's homes. He was a 50-year supporter of his beloved Edmonton Eskimos Football Club and a long time patron of the Edmonton Opera. In addition to numerous local and industry awards, in 1992 Rocky was one of 25 people to receive The Canadian Citation For Citizenship. At the time of his death Rocky was encircled by his devoted wife Jean and several of their children. Joseph Hyacinthe "Rocky" Forest will be dearly missed by his faithful wife Jean who referred to him as "My Rock". She tirelessly and brilliantly cared for him, cherished him and kept him happy and laughing. She "loved the health and longevity right into him". Jean and her children wish to thank the staff at Berwick House and Sunrise Senior Living for all of their assistance and kindness, Jean and Rocky's Pastors for their spiritual guidance, and Dr. Keith McQueen for his years of encouragement and excellent medical care. Jean's and the family's biggest thanks are reserved for Rocky's youngest daughter Rosalyn, who compassionately and expertly helped care for her dad almost every day during his final years. At the age of 94, on December 16, 2015, Rocky passed away peacefully - his head cradled in Rosalyn's loving arms. In mourning are Rocky's seven adoring children, Ric (Jayne), Leanne (Wes), Dan (MaryLou), Michelle (Peter), Karen, Rosalyn (David), and Tom (Lynne). Rocky never failed to inspire his 11 grandchildren, Michael (Christina), Nicole (Kevin), Brad (Charlotte), Kim (Brigitte), Damian (Christie), Kira (Mike), Dominique, Elise, Adrianna (Brad), Megan and Elodie. Rocky's great delights were visits by his 11 great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Samantha, Ryan, Payton, Warner, Morgan, Kayla, Adelaide, Liam, Gabriella and Keira. Rocky is survived by his brother Gabriel (Marcelle) and his sistersin-law Rita, Anita, Louise and Cathy as well as by dozens of nieces and nephews who have written and phoned often to their special "Uncle Rocky". He was predeceased by his siblings and their spouses Anna and Alphonse Dufault, Laurent, Gerard and Alphonsine, Georges, Cecile and Earl Pickup, Jean-Paul and Robert. Viewing, Vigil and Evening Prayers will be held Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 21 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a lunch and reception in the adjoining church hall. Both services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4049 Gordon Head Road, Victoria, BC. An Alberta celebration of Rocky's life will take place in Edmonton in the spring or summer of 2016. Rocky's ashes will be buried at Holy Cross Edmonton Catholic Cemetery - a beautiful burial park that he himself developed and built some 45 years ago. Condolences can be offered to the family at mccallbros.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider continuing Rocky's work of helping women and children in need by making a donation to his favourite charity: Wings Of Providence and the Rocky Forest Daycare - wingsofprovidence.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 19, 2015